Special Products
Project Overview
A 12-storey luxury apartment building in downtown Melbourne required a complete access control overhaul. The existing intercom system was outdated, keys were frequently lost, and the management had no way to monitor who entered the building after hours. Our brief was to design a modern, integrated system.
The solution needed to accommodate 48 individual apartment units, common areas, basement parking, and provide different access levels for residents, staff, and service providers.
Key Challenges
Working in an occupied building meant we had to minimise disruption to residents. Each floor's installation had to be completed within a strict two-hour window between 9am and 11am. Cable routing through existing service risers required careful coordination with building management.
The existing intercom wiring was incompatible with modern IP systems, requiring a complete rewiring of all 12 floors while maintaining temporary communication for residents during the transition period.
Products Used
The backbone of the system was a Honeywell Vista 20P security panel integrated with IP-enabled door controllers. Each apartment received a video intercom station with PIN code and RFID card access. Common area cameras were upgraded to Hikvision 4MP turret cameras with built-in microphones.
A central management server with cloud backup was installed in the security office, allowing the building manager to grant temporary access codes for deliveries and service personnel remotely.
Final Outcome
The upgrade was completed within two weeks without any complaints from residents. Lost key incidents dropped to zero, and the management team gained full visibility into building access patterns. The video intercom system has been particularly praised by residents.
Energy savings were achieved through integration with the building's lighting system, automatically illuminating corridors when access was granted after hours. The system paid for itself within 18 months through reduced lockout service calls.
Products Used
The following products were selected and installed for this project based on their reliability, performance, and suitability for the specific requirements of the site.
Completed May '26
