Gulf Construction Online - AFI launches web-based system

Fire Protection

AFI launches web-based system

01 March 2006

Leading Saudi supplier of engineered products and services Alaa For Industry (AFI) – which has recently forged a partnership with electronic security solutions specialist Keyprocessor – has launched a new integrated web-based security and safety management system development by the Dutch firm.

The fully web-based security system known as iProtect offers one integrated control tool for security as well as safety management to detect a fire or an intrusion as well as any other commercial or workplace surveillance and monitoring.
Jolly Joseph, marketing manager for Alaa For Industry, says: “Keyprocessor’s iProtect is an integrator of various security systems into one system. Whether it is fire detection, company parking and access control or any other module, this software integrates the stand-alone individual systems into one module. This integrated security management system is the first of its kind in the world.”
Designed for use in commercial, industrial and residential complexes, the iProtect fire detection module (see full-size image) is a sophisticated system that allows the immediate detection of fire through the integration of one or more fire alarm switchboards. This makes it possible for all doors in a building to be automatically opened in the event of a fire, leading to quick evacuation and saving of lives. The fire detection module’s interactive map can furthermore track the source and immediately make it clear which fire detector is raising the alarm, so that quick action can be taken.
The iProtect web-based security management is developed “in house” and comprises various other modules:
•  An access control module, which provides extensive access control for up to 30,000 users. Its standard features include time and attendance registration, I/O management, disaster report, maps as well as visitor registration;
•  An intrusion detection unit, which manages one or more intrusion panels and by integrating this module with other components such as access control, can prevent needless alarms and verify intrusion alarms immediately;
•  Camera surveillance, which offers complete integration with other iProtect modules to ensure that the correct images from the various security cameras are automatically shown on the transaction overviews. This module also has the capacity for video verification and licence plate recognition.
•  An asset management and people protection module, which makes it possible to keep individual objects such as laptops or beamers secure from theft or vandalism. Integration with access control ensures that only the authorised user has the right to remove an object from the premises. iProtect people protection ensures effective disaster registration and active tags are used to enable the system to determine precisely which individuals are in which areas.
•  A company parking module, which can provide extensive functionality for company parking due to its ability to allocate certain parking spaces to specific blocks. This system is suitable for large office complexes with several occupants, as its detection system makes it possible to charge the lessee for the actual amount of parking space used by its employees and visitors.
•  Time and attendance software, which is user-friendly and flexible in its use with extensive reporting functionality. It is suitable for keeping track of employees with variable working hours, for absence registration and other aspects of a collective labour agreement of an organisation.
•  Keybadge, a software module for iProtect system that enables users to personalise badges. This can be used to include a passport photo, company logo or the card number. The cardholder's details, such as name, job title and department can also be included, if required. This information does not have to be entered separately, but can rather be retrieved directly from the iProtect database.
'With iProtect being fully web-based, both the communication between the hub and the substations and the communication between the hub and the operating personal computers are transmitted via the internet protocol TCP/IP. This enables trouble-free integration of iProtect within existing LAN and WAN networks. Thanks to XML, data exchange with other applications is not a problem any more,” adds Joseph.
iProtect has many beneficial and innovative features such as the following:
•  Modular build-up of software and hardware;
•  Integral and mutually dependent set-up;
•  Centrally controllable, multi-site appliance;
•  Location independent;
•  Low total cost of ownership;
•  Based on open standards and related to 'free-ware' software; and
•  Secured communication.
AFI, headquartered at Dammam in Saudi Arabia, has a wide network of about 17 branches throughout the GCC. Staff at its AFI IT Technologies division have undergon taken extensive training on these specialised products to be able to cater to the regional markets.