Alarm systems for the retail sector are designed, installed and serviced in compliance with the applicable CEI 79-3 and EN 50131-1 standards.

Design includes a preliminary step which consists in assessing the customer’s needs and requirements and collecting the general data (site plans, type of activities carried out, existing security measures, risk analysis).

For the final design step, the necessary types of sensors, alarm devices, control units, and transmission devices are selected and their installation positions established.

The project is concluded with the final installation, where all the wiring of the various devices is completed in compliance with the CEI 79 standard, all the necessary commissioning and testing is performed with the appropriate functional tests, and finally the system documentation is checked and delivered.

The process is closed with the definition of a service and maintenance plan.

The system can be subdivided as follows:

• A first part consisting of those devices that detect the physical presence of people in the store. This action is performed by a wide variety of sensors and detectors capable of converting a physical phenomenon (motion, vibration, temperature change, electromagnetic change…) into an electrical signal.

• A second part is when the alarm panel collects the electrical signal of the sensors and processes it to operate the signalling devices. The control unit can perform customized programs, being adaptable to any requirement

The third part consists in the actual emission of the alarm signal by means of various kinds of devices, e.g. external/internal sirens, optical/acoustic hooters, telephone combiners, Smoke Fogging systems. Their function is to disturb the action of the intruder, attract attention and alert the user/security staff of the ongoing criminal action.

A video-surveillance system in the retail sector is designed, installed and serviced in compliance with the applicable EN 62676 standards.

Retail video surveillance has initially played a significant role in the control and prevention of illegal behaviour. Later, with the introduction of video analysis software, video-surveillance has also become a source of information that can make a difference in the management of a store, as it can provide useful inputs for marketing activities that help develop sales, support business activities in general, and manage customer flows.

What can cameras detect?

• Consumer shopping behaviour and higher/lower concentration areas

• Entrance/exit customers flows and monitoring of the time they stay in each area or around each product

• Queue and cash desk control

• Face recognition and information on age and gender to improve the management of the store based on preset targets

The above details make up the typical Customer Behaviour Analysis Function, which uses video Analytics algorithms to detect metadata and then transform them into usable information. With the Hot Zones algorithm, we can estimate and map the presence of people in a given time interval, and then manage the greater or lesser concentration of presence through colour codes.

Specific algorithms can help both in marketing and security:

• Gate Flow: people count
• Counting area: queue management
• Lack Refill: management of empty shelves
• Parking lot: parking management
• Occupancy Rate: management of occupied space
• Panic Disorder: management of disorders due to alarm situations
• Skill Fall: management of individuals on the floor
• Left Object: management of abandoned objects
• Smoke Fire: fire detection

The technology to be used is oriented toward the following solutions:

• Thermal cameras
• Megapixel cameras in Mini Dome, Bullet, 360° Panoramic, Multisensor, PTZ formats
• Video Analytics and Forensic Search
• VMS (Video Management Software)
• PSIM (Physical Security Information Management)

An important option in large-scale distribution is the verification of POS transactions and automatic cash control systems. This function is managed with barcode scan and data retrieval systems by associating the corresponding video with the transaction.

A fire detection system in the retail sector is designed, installed and serviced in compliance with the applicable UNI 9795, UNI EN54 and UNI 11224 standards.

The interruption of operations in large-scale distribution generates risks for people, significant losses and damage to the image of the retailer. A system capable of promptly warning the start of a fire offers the possibility to secure people, assets and, in general, the property contained in a building.

The purpose of a fire-fighting system is to detect any physical or chemical element that may cause a fire as soon as possible, in order to:

• Activate the safety plan
• Favour a rapid exit of people, animals and, where possible, the removal of assets
• Activate fire protection/suppression systems and any other safety measures.

The technology selected depends on the needs of the site.
Multiple technologies can be combined or mixed systems can be installed with the use of linear barriers, point sensors and aspirating smoke detector using laser technologies to detect smoke particles in the air drawn from pipes. The latter solution is commonly used in the management of underground parking areas.

A growing number of shopping centers have installed a rooftop photovoltaic solar farm.

A reliable detection of fire before its propagation is most welcomed, since these are unmanned outdoor areas that are part of the same building complex, therefore representing a potential and not negligible vulnerability.

Checks can be carried out with video control by using thermographic cameras that combine reliability and speed of detection.

However, we should point out that this solution can only be used in situations not regulated by the legislation, because video fire detection by means of cameras must be considered only as an ancillary system in support of a traditional one.