Aiphone’s Question of the Week:
November 2020

Aiphone offers security communication systems providing versatile solutions for a range of industries. Our wide variety of reliable, high-quality products offers comprehensive security solutions for virtually any security need—large or small.  

As leaders in our industry, it is our privilege to bring you perspectives and considerations from our pool of knowledgeable experts around topics related to technology, security, and business. Each week we will post new and timely answers to relevant topics. 

11/9/20
Question of the Week: What role do emergency towers play in securing an outdoor campus?

Author: Mike Streeter, Business Development Representative

A: Emergency towers, along with our IX Series Peer-to-Peer IP Video Intercom, play many crucial roles on campuses, including educational, corporate, and municipal properties.

Awareness 

Having emergency towers are a visible deterrent that an app-based emergency response tool cannot provide. Students, employees, and visitors can see the towers from a distance and know they have a means to quickly and effectively call for help. Our highly visible blue modular towers are topped with a beacon/strobe light for added discernability. If a different tower color is desired—or different lettering choices are preferred—we can special order any custom color and lettering options.

Notification/Broadcast Alerts 

With an integrated mass notification system, important messages can be broadcast throughout an entire campus, relaying announcements and critical information, such as events, weather alerts, or lock-down warnings.

Cameras See and Record All 

With optional high-resolution built-in cameras, along with third-party camera integration, everything can be recorded 24/7. When the emergency or call button is pressed, the responder can see who they are in communication with and obtain situational awareness. When not in use, the tower is still an invaluable part of the security system. It is like having a security sentinel standing watch. This helps prevent crime that otherwise may take place.

Ensure They are Working 24/7/365 

Our IX Series features time-saving Device Check, which performs vital checks to each component connected to the system. This ensures all emergency stations, push buttons, cameras, speakers, and microphones are working, and at all times. This also saves countless hours of physically testing each tower, which should be done to avoid unfortunate consequences in emergency situations. 

Safety, assistance, prevention, and notification. Emergency towers can be an important layer to any security portfolio. 

Author: Justin Crabtree, Senior Sales Representative 

A: The role of emergency towers on a campus are to provide a fast and efficient way to respond to an emergency or a request for assistance at the time of need. It also allows campus security to monitor the grounds where the towers are located. Added video aids in providing situational awareness of the surrounding environment. Emergency or assistance towers provide a sense of security for staff, students, and visitors while in outdoor areas. Emergency towers are used to get help where it is needed with precise location details and minimal dispatch times to save and protect lives. 

Author: Sean Gaffey, Senior Sales Representative 

A: Having been involved in several emergency intercom applications, there are many key roles these can play in campus security. Blue light call boxes and towers stand out and serve as a deterrent while also giving students and employees a sense of security. These intercoms can also be used for the more common lower–priority calls, like car trouble, campus information if directions are needed, or general campus assistance. One of the major factors, of course, is in the case of a high–priority emergency, from active shooters, to campus assault, to reporting a crime. These calls can go to the security office with location identification while giving the ability to broadcast information to the entire campus. Overall, the hope is to not have high–priority emergencies but just in case, it is important to have these campus security devices to best prepare and react.