Residents of a multi-tenant apartment building require a method of property protection. Also, they must make it simple for guests and delivery personnel to enter the structure. So that visitors can request entry and residents can recognize the guest, an effective apartment building intercom system is needed.
There are several distinct types of intercom systems. Whereas multi-tenant buildings with a concierge or security desk handle visitor access through a single point of contact, multi-tenant intercom systems allow visitors to speak with specific residents directly. A multi-unit apartment building may have a sophisticated apartment video and phone door intercom system or a wifi doorbell intercom, while a simple buzzer intercom system for a condominium or apartment complex may be all that is available.
This article on apartment building intercoms will teach you about:
What does an apartment building intercom system do?
- What does an apartment building intercom system do?
- Intercom systems for apartments
- Prerequisites for an intercom system in an apartment
- Apartment intercom system installation
- Advantages of apartment video intercom
- Important findings
1. What does an apartment building intercom system entail?
Apartment intercom systems, as the name implies, offer a method of apartment and residential entry control for structures with numerous residents and units. Each apartment tenant can recognize a person asking admission and unlock the door without leaving their home thanks to an intercom system with a door release. Residents benefit from the simplicity and security offered by this kind of apartment intercom entry system.
Apartment intercom access systems can be found in a variety of multi-occupancy buildings or sites, such as:
1. Intercoms in residential apartments
2. Condo intercom systems or condominium intercom systems
3. Intercom systems for gated communities.
The tenants in these buildings must provide access to visitors on a regular or occasional basis, as well as couriers delivering goods or contractors working in the building such as plumbers, electricians, builders, or decorators. Although some residents may not use an apartment intercom and lock release during their tenancy, providing the facility throughout the building is critical because tenants (and their security needs) change. Installing a comprehensive apartment intercom and access control system ensures consistent security throughout the building, regardless of tenant turnover.
Visitors can contact tenants or a security desk to request access or present different types of credentials at an apartment door entry intercom system with a built-in reader using multi-unit intercom systems. Depending on budget and tenant needs, apartment intercom systems use various audio, video, or phone technologies and functionality. All systems, however, share three fundamental components:
1. A base station, which is typically a door panel located at the door entry from which a visitor can request access.
2. A substation, such as a display at a security desk or in each apartment, or a smartphone app to handle access requests.
3. Base station and substation connections, which can be wired, wireless, or networked.
2. Housing intercom technologies
a. Buzzer for the apartment intercom
The most basic type of apartment intercom system includes a buzzer or doorbell on
the door panel that alerts the tenant to the presence of a visitor.
A tenant directory is typically included with a multi-building doorbell system.
A door buzzer system for apartments or a gated community entrance intercom
system with a microphone and speaker allows visitors to speak to the tenant to
request access.
If the tenant recognizes the visitor, they can grant access via an apartment intercom
system with door release.
However, an apartment buzzer system only provides limited security because tenants must rely on voice recognition.
There are no other options for establishing identity.
b. Intercom system for cell phones
The apartment building intercom, which works with cell phones to unlock the door, is another type of voice intercom. The intercom door panel’s directory can display tenants’ unit numbers or names, and the system calls the tenant’s cellphone to request visitor property access. Because tenants must recognize the caller’s voice or phone number before a signal can be sent to trigger the door lock system, the apartment intercom cellphone system provides minimal security. However, because this type of apartment intercom uses a cellphone rather than a wired panel inside each unit, residents may find it more convenient. Smartphone-based apartment intercom systems are quickly becoming the preferred method for allowing visitors access.
c. Video intercom for apartments
Because tenants can see the visitor to validate identity, video intercom systems for apartments or video intercom systems for a multi-unit building provide a more secure form of access control. An apartment video intercom and door entry system includes a camera that captures the visitor’s image as well as a door release mechanism that allows the tenant to remotely open the door for visitors they recognize via facial recognition. When compared to a simple cellpone intercom, a phone video intercom system for apartment building provides an additional layer of security. The most recent video intercom systems use smartphone apps to allow residents to see and communicate with visitors on their mobile device.
d. Intercom that is hardwired
Apartment door entry intercom systems can be wired or wirelessly connected to substations. Wired intercom systems employ dedicated cables that connect the base station to each apartment. Wired connectivity for a multi-unit intercom system that supports a large number of tenants may be more expensive than a web-based multi-unit intercom system or a web-based intercom system for apartments.
e. Wireless intercom
Wireless apartment intercom systems use a Wi-Fi network to connect the door entry panel to the tenants’ substations. This is a cost-effective and practical solution for a multi-tenant access control intercom, such as a wireless apartment intercom system with door release. However, the building’s Wi-Fi network must have sufficient speed, bandwidth, and reach to provide consistent quality of service to all tenants. Most wireless apartment intercom solutions will support a Wi-Fi doorbell intercom for a multi-unit building, but a multi-unit video intercom system must also support reliable video communication.
f. Networked intercom
Apartment buildings with a local or wide area IP network (LAN or WAN) throughout the building can use the network to support intercom communications. An IP multi-tenant intercom system can provide a dependable service to a large community of users. Most LANs and WANs have the speed and capacity to support an IP video intercom system for apartment buildings, despite their more stringent requirements.
3. Specifications for an apartment intercom system
Apartment intercom systems differ from other types of domestic intercom systems. They must protect multiple occupants while also providing convenient but secure access to large numbers of visitors and delivery drivers. A landlord or property manager is responsible for managing and maintaining the intercom system, not the individual owners or tenants. These are some of the most important specifications for a multi-family intercom system.
1. Security for residents
The primary purpose of a multi-unit intercom system is to ensure the safety and security of all tenants. An unauthorized intruder poses a risk to all residents of the building, not just the tenant they initially contact. A multi-family intercom system must provide each tenant with the ability to accurately validate the identity of a visitor or delivery driver, which makes video apartment intercom systems the better option.
2. Capability to accommodate a large number of tenants
There may be busy times when many visitors try to request access at the same time in an apartment building with a large number of tenants and multiple entrances. That is unlikely to be an issue for a simple three-apartment intercom system. However, as the number of tenants grows, a multi-tenant intercom system must have the capacity and routing capabilities to handle multiple requests at the same time.
3. Visitors will benefit from intuitive technology.
Because most visitors to an apartment complex are likely to be friends or family, a residential intercom must be simple to use. Simple operation is essential, whether it’s a traditional apartment buzzer system or a multi-apartment video intercom system. The most recent technological advancements in apartment intercom systems make access requests even easier. For example, the Luchismart Visualpro has a single doorbell button and supports touchless, hands-free voice recognition. This eliminates the need for visitors to search through a directory, dial phone numbers, or enter personal information.
4. Residents will find it simple to learn and apply
Residents do not want to have to learn complicated technologies in order to interact with visitors. An intercom system must be simple to use and not require lengthy instructions. Residents should be able to handle access requests and open doors without having to leave their apartment, especially if it is on the top floor of a high-rise building. A wireless apartment intercom system with door release, for example, combined with a smartphone app, can make the process more convenient. Because they do not have to check a fixed display monitor, tenants can handle access requests from any room in their apartment. Tenants do not even need to be at home with an apartment video intercom to cell phone access system. If they are not available,
5. Facilities for secure delivery
With the increase in online shopping and food delivery services, it is critical to provide delivery drivers with easy, secure access to the building.
They may prefer to deliver directly to an individual apartment in some cases, or they may prefer to leave packages in a secure communal ‘parcel room’ for later collection.
Residents and property managers should be able to provide a variety of convenient access options for one-time deliveries or regular couriers.
Some apartment building intercoms can be used with keyless entry systems that accept pre-authorized PINs or QR codes in addition to voice or video authentication.
6. Event capture and storage
Despite the use of an apartment building security system, incidents can still occur, so it is critical for the apartment intercom to include facilities for recording images of visitors and storing them for analysis. The collected data can also assist building managers in analyzing visitor patterns to ensure the system has adequate capacity. Storing the images in the cloud allows property managers to access the data from any location, while also reducing the cost of purchasing and maintaining on-premise video storage equipment.
7. Connection to prop tech systems
Intercoms for apartment buildings are integrated with environmental and building management systems to form part of a larger smart property management system in modern property management practice. The most recent apartment intercoms, such as the Luchismart Visualpro include open APIs and mobile software development kits to allow for easy integration with other applications. Multifamily property managers can provide better resident experiences for building access, amenity reservations, and visitor access by leveraging these integration capabilities, as well as create more efficient, sustainable operations.
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