Honeywell enhances Galaxy Flex integrated intruder and door control solution targeted at small to midsized businesses

19 Jun 2013

Solution Includes Advanced Visual Verification Technology and Enhanced Communications Options

Honeywell today announced the addition of advanced video verification and enhanced communications options to the Galaxy Flex integrated intruder alarm and door control system designed for small to mid-sized commercial businesses (SMBs) and large residential sites. Galaxy Flex is a cost-effective security solution (with 12 on-board wired zones to minimize expansion costs), and offers all the key features of the Galaxy Dimension security solution in a fully compliant EN50131-1 Security Grade 2, PD6662:2010 system.

Honeywell’s Galaxy Flex provides installers with a solution that is faster and more cost effective to install due to its flame retardant, toughened polycarbonate housing that can host radio, communications and other features directly within the control panel box. This reduces cabling requirements and the need to install additional boxes. Using the keypad programming configuration is rapid, which saves time in commissioning the control panel. The product also incorporates a ‘plug and play’ feature which automatically detects remote peripherals once the panel is powered up. This reduces training requirements and speeds up installation.

The Galaxy Flex security system enables end users to manage access control and intrusion operations simply and efficiently through a single intuitive interface. Programming functionality is simple and easy for end-users to operate, with a quick start guide and easy-to-navigate menu. A key advantage of Galaxy Flex is the multi-path communication options it offers, allowing IP alarm signalling to take place via a GPRS and/or Ethernet connection in addition to running on a standard PSTN line. Comprehensive diagnostics on the GPRS ensure swift and reliable set up.

Honeywell Galaxy Flex

Beyond providing more flexibility of installation and operation, choosing GPRS dual path communications means installers can eliminate recurring costs currently associated with using third party communicators. Recent integration with the Sentinel Plus software suite from Monitor Computer Systems means that Alarm Receiving Centres equipped with this software can now support encrypted IP signals from Galaxy Flex systems.

Galaxy Flex visual verification functionality provides customers with a more reliable method of verifying alarms compared to existing sequential and audio methods. A customer’s alarm receiving centre (ARC) will receive a series of pre- and post- alarm images, allowing them to quickly and easily verify a threat. By using these images, the ARC can carry out more reliable identification of the cause of the alert; reducing false alarms and avoiding unnecessary use of Police and installer resources, as well as minimising inconvenience and penalties associated with false alarms. In addition, the strong visual evidence of intrusion provided by the associated images means that insurers can process claims more quickly, and the Police have a more robust case to help secure prosecutions.

For security managers using a Galaxy Flex security system in conjunction with an ARC, a key benefit is the ability to carry out maintenance and servicing from a remote location with automatic health report generation. Site visits can be time consuming and inconvenient for a customer, and are a cost to the installer in time, resource allocation and fuel charges. These can be reduced by up to 50 per cent each year as one of the two compulsory annual maintenance checks can be carried out remotely. Moreover, bi-directional remote servicing functionality allows the ARC to check that maintenance work has been carried out successfully, something that most alternative third party communicators cannot provide.

Galaxy Flex is compliant with the European Security Grade 2 standard that installers implementing solutions for SMBs and large residential sites are legally obliged to meet in Spain. Equally, for end users a Grade 2 accreditation is essential for keeping down insurance premiums and ensuring their business or house is adequately protected. “Galaxy Flex is a simple-to-use, cost effective and feature-rich solution for intruder detection and door control that is specifically designed for SMBs and bigger residential properties,” comments Martin Pacitti, Galaxy Product Manager EMEA, Honeywell Security Group. “This is a section of our customer base that considers the protection of its people and its assets of paramount importance. With Galaxy Flex our message to them is clear; there’s no need to compromise.”

For more information, please visit www.honeywell.com/security/uk.