Security & safety
Discover how the right smart tech can help protect your home and safeguard its occupants
The first step to a secure home environment is to make it as difficult as possible for intruders to gain access. So if you’re tackling a major project, before you sink your money into clever gadgets, be sure to get the basics right by investing in good-quality external doors and windows with multi-point locking systems. One reliable way to ensure you’re getting a robust solution is to opt for products that carry the police-approved Secured by Design standard – and to use a reputable installer.
With the essentials in place, you can start to enhance the setup with robust smart technology. “Windows can be fitted with vibration and status sensors, for example,” says Matt Nimmons from CEDIA. “If one is accidentally left open, a message will appear on your smart device to alert you.”
Lighting & sensors
These days, most automated lighting setups offer a holiday mode – often referred to as presence simulation. “Old-school versions on conventional circuits need numerous timers,” says Matt. “With an intelligent smart home, the system can learn your usage patterns and create a more natural programme that reflects your household’s lighting habits.”
You can widen the net out to the far-most reaches of your property using motion detectors. These can be hooked up to the main controller, which can then react by switching on the external lights or activating the alarm, depending on the scenario. And things can get even cleverer. “You could have an all-off function that’s triggered by you setting the alarm,” says Andy Moss from Moss Technical. “When it’s armed, this tells the central controller to turn off all the lights, put the heating on low and activate the presence simulation lighting.”
Cameras & access control
The new breed of security cameras delivers high definition and – backed up by smart tech – can distinguish between people, cars and animals, and alert you in real-time if an unexpected guest comes down the driveway. Netatmo’s Welcome indoor cameras go a stage further. They include facial recognition, so they can identify children, grandparents etc (notifying you with a photo, video and the user’s name) and uninvited guests. Footage can be stored locally or on the cloud, so there’s a near limitless backup. Cameras linked up to your home network can be set up as the trigger to activate alarms, turn on interior lights and more.
High-quality video streaming has greatly improved access control systems. Now you can see who’s coming to the door from the comfort of your armchair – or even from your office. Some versions even allow you to communicate with the visitor remotely; handy if you want a potential intruder to think you’re at home. Keyless entry is also possible, following the lead of car manufacturers. You can use codes as a backup – but be sure to change these frequently.
Safety
Tech can also contribute to your family’s welfare. The latest Nest smoke/co2 alarm includes a speaker so it can alert you to the exact problem – smoke in the kitchen, for instance – both at the source and via an app notification. It also runs self-diagnostics, so you’re not putting anyone at risk if you forget to test it, and can tell compatible heating systems to switch themselves off if carbon monoxide is detected.
Some setups can be configured so that, if the smoke alarm trips, the lights will come on to provide you with an easier egress route. “This kind of thing can be achieved by running a single cable back to our Nico control,” says
Andy. “Two minutes of programming and it’s done.”
Voice control could also be a boon – potentially allowing you to alert emergency services if you need assistance but can’t get to your phone. Meanwhile, features such as automated rooflights take out the risks associated with climbing ladders or using poles to operate the window.