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The Old-Fashioned Intercom Is Getting a Makeover New Technologies Are Enhancing Your Building's Intercom System

By John Zurz   3 August 2016 Security Buildings
Intercom systems are now getting more sophisticated (iStock).

The door intercom system is the old standby of apartments, co-ops and condos—a thin sheet of burnished metal bolted on the side of the building and equipped with buttons that control who enters a building. There have been entire stories and jokes written about misunderstandings caused by static interference and faded labels on buttons. But those old stories and jokes aren’t the reality of modern intercom systems that are now incorporating more sophisticated technology.

Video Enters the Picture

Part of the upgrade to intercom systems is the use of video, which allows residents to see who is at the outer door before they're let into the building. Thus it would make it that much easier to keep out folks—such as canvassers or sales people—you may not want walking the halls of your building.

“There are some newer manufacturers that've come onto the intercom scene,” said Joe Cioffi III, vice president of Bergen Protective Systems in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. “They're providing a lot more with integrated video, so that's gotten better. Now we have cameras so people could not only speak via intercom but also see the image of the person.”

As Cioffi noted, a video system would require a different kind of cable to run than an older system. That means if an older building is looking to keep up with the Joneses, that could potentially drive up costs as new cable would need to be installed. Of course that would depend on the kind of cable already running through the walls.

Remote Control

But the advances don’t stop with video, as certain intercom systems are now able to link up with keyless entry, either through or a website or smartphone.

Read More...

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Comments

  • Paul on Thursday, August 4, 2016 12:32 PM
    I have serious reservations about any intercom system that allows mobile devices to be used instead of a direct link to the apartment being sought access to. Here are my concerns: 1) first off MDL 50 a(2) : Every class A multiple dwelling erected or converted after January first, nineteen hundred sixty-eight containing eight or more apartments shall also be equipped with an intercommunication system.  Such intercommunication system shall be located at an automatic self-locking door giving public access to the main entrance hall or lobby of said multiple dwelling and shall consist of a device or devices for voice communication between the occupant of each apartment and a person outside said door to the main entrance hall or lobby and to permit such apartment occupant to release the locking mechanism of said door from the apartment. The emphasis is upon the fact that "to permit such apartment occupant to release the locking mechanism of said door from the apartment". If someone buzzes intercom from outside and the apartment dweller is not in the unit they can still allow the person in. This is a security violation of the highest order, and it has happened already. This opens the door to a variety of mischief that can occur like someone who no longer lives in unit but still has cell phone set up with intercom system. That person can let people in the building still. Perfect example is a relationship break up that did not go well, but the intercom has the phone number of the person no longer living in the unit. That person can send people over (unsavory) let them in via the cell phone and terrorize unsuspecting tenants in the building. 2) The intercom system is the responsibility of the Landlord not the tenants or occupants. By allowing phone systems to be used you shift the responsibility from the landlord to the tenant s and occupants. What happens if they don't have enough minutes to allow access to the intercom 24 hrs 7 days per week? What happens if they do not get cell service in their apartment? What happens if the cell phone is off? What happens if they lose their phone? What happens if they cannot afford a phone, or do not want one?

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