Listen Up! 7 Ways Sound Detection Delivers
Special sound detection devices are useful and expanding in their applications these days to cover everything from the usual glass breaking to gunshots, graffiti spray, drones, and more.
Scream Detection – Being alone late at night in a large parking garage can be intimidating for anyone. Many security companies have installed systems with emergency panic buttons and call boxes on campuses, but what if you need assistance and cannot get to the duress button stations? Another unique SSDD system is scream detection. Some systems, such as Sentinel Sound Detection from Jeron Electronic Systems, will automatically place a call to the security desk if a scream or shout is detected.
Safe & Vault Detection– Another high-security SSDD application is for break-in sounds in safes and vaults. Care should be taken to follow a manufacturer’s documentation, and UL 639 and UL 681 standards. One popular system is the VSA-2 Vault Sound System from Potter Signal.
Seismic Detection– An SSDD category that might not spring to mind but certainly deserves mention is seismic sensors, which react to vibrations created by sound traveling through protected wall, cabinets and grounds. Devices such as the new SC100 Series from Honeywell, the ISN-SM-50 seismic detectors with SENSTEC signal processing technology from Bosch, and the DV Series vault sensors from Interlogix are some solid choices. One of my favorite little workhorses is the old Sentrol UL Listed 5400 Series, which is now available from Interlogix and is good for seismic detection on metal enclosures. Another type of seismic detection for personnel movement on perimeters is buried geophone sensors from companies like Safeguards Technology.
Finally, an exciting development in the industry is the integration of multiple SSDD features, such as gunshot, screaming and glass break, into one system. Some systems that are doing this are Safety Dynamics Integration module from DVTEL and audio analytics from Zenitel‘s Stentofon brand. Keep an eye out for these and more.
Bob Dolph is Security Sales & Integration magazine’s technical writer and has been in the security industry since 1976.
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