People Counters and Intercoms – Adapting to this New Normal

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By Neal Bellamy, IT Director at Kenton Brothers

Like many businesses, Kenton Brothers is adapting to the “Stay at home” order and the “New Normal”. While we remain operational, we are changing our operations to reduce risk and exposure for our team and yours. One of the ways we’ve adapted is by looking at our systems and seeing what they can do for us.

With fewer people in the office, we’ve introduced some new challenges.

Commercial Counter - People Counter in ActionOne such challenge is when people come to our commercial counter. The commercial counter is not always staffed like it used to be. The employees staffing our commercial counter are still in the building, but they’re helping out other teams. We don’t want a customer waiting for service, so we looked to our systems to increase alerting.

In this case, we used the Axis “People counter” software to send alerts to our team members when someone gets to the commercial counter. This counter is loaded directly onto the camera and can send alerts from the camera itself or notify the Video Management System (VMS) which can apply more logic to the alert.

The intercoms installed at our main entrances have become even more vital.

Old intercom systems used to be answered by a physical device at one or two desks in an office or retail environment. Today, intercoms are assigned to an extension on your phone system and can be answered by any station.

Most intercom systems have mobile applications where you can see and talk to the person at the intercom from anywhere in the world. We have an Axis 8105-E and 2N Solo mounted at two of our main entrances. The person who usually answers the intercom is at home, but shifting the answering station to another person was as simple as changing the extension in our phone system. We could have enabled the mobile app for after-hours answering if that was necessary as well.

Although these are “strange times” we can look to technology to help fill some of the gaps. These tools and technologies can  increase our ability to do more with less. If you’re faced with some business or security problems in this new world, give us a call. We’re happy to help!

Hands-Free Door Hardware and MORE to Protect Your People, Property and Possessions

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By Gina Stuelke, CEO of Kenton Brothers

Did you know that 80% of germs are spread with your hands? Kenton Brothers Systems for Security offers several types of door hardware that can aid in the prevention of spreading germs and infectious diseases.

Arm and Foot Pulls

Arm and foot pulls are quick, easy and cost-effective solutions to open a door without touching a handle or lever with your hands. This type of hardware is attached to the door and can be used by pulling with your foot, arm or elbow. We offer a variety of options including stainless steel base material, copper anti-microbial material, anti-microbial coating over stainless steel, and multiple finishes. These types of products are perfect in areas such as restrooms, commercial buildings, restaurants, grocery stores, churches, event spaces and healthcare facilities.

Kenton Brothers Hands-Free Security Options Kenton Brothers Hands-Free Security Options

“Healthy” Hardware Options

The door handle of a public facility can be touched by people several thousand times a day. That’s thousands of opportunities to transfer bacteria and infectious diseases. In hospitals alone, there are over 103,000 Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) reported every year! On openings where pushing or pulling a mechanical door handle or lever is necessary, we offer health conscious bactericidal and/or anti-microbial hardware.

Some of the benefits of this hardware include:

  • Kills 99.9% of bacteria in 2 hours.
  • Not a coating and won’t wear off! Will continue to kill bacteria for the lifetime of the product.
  • Looks like stainless steel to match other hardware products.
  • Wide range of hardware and touch surfaces available.

Kenton Brothers Hands-Free Security Options Kenton Brothers Hands-Free Security Options

“Hands-Free” Access Control Technology – Empower your phone to be your credential

Another option becoming popular is “hands-free” access control technology. We offer products that use cellular, WiFi, and Bluetooth technologies to create hands-free credentials. These allow you to walk up to a secured opening with your mobile credential and gain entry without needing to take your smartphone out of your pocket or your bag.

Kenton Brothers Hands-Free Security Options

For more information about these hands-free security options, please give us a call. We would be happy to walk you through these options to find your perfect solution!

VIDEO: Commercial Video Surveillance 2020

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As a business owner, I’m concerned about my people, properties and possessions. A commercial video surveillance system might be the right answer.

Read more

Project Update: Commercial Turnstile Installation

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Kenton Brothers is in the business of protecting people, property and possessions. We’re honored to install many types of commercial security equipment for specific custom applications. When we received a request for a new, large turnstile custom application from a long-time customer, we were excited to tackle the project.

Turnstiles in general can be tricky for several reasons. Some of these include the area of install, requirements of our customer, integration with commercial access control, and the requested timeline. Working with our customers to figure out their specific needs is crucial to an install like this. And the planning always has to have the end goal as the focus.

Turnstile Project Turnstile Project

Some of the specific challenges during this installation included the area the install was to take place. The work had to be done during a plant shutdown or on an approved weekend. The integration of the turnstile with their commercial security system was also important. And the exact placement of the turnstile mattered.

As the installation progressed, our technicians had to use forklifts to move components of the turnstile down a narrow hallway. There was almost no room for error. Once dropped into place, the turnstile had to be anchored correctly, and then the integration of the turnstile began.

The result is that Kenton Brothers was able to provide a custom application to fit their exact needs… on time, and on budget!

In today’s environment, stop bacteria and microbes at the door.

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BacteriaBy Gina Stuelke, CEO of Kenton Brothers.

To protect against the spread of bacteria and other dangerous microbes, it’s important to consider the role of high touch door hardware in a publicly-used building. Visitors and occupants continuously handle door levers and exit devices. Bacteria and other microbes can live on these hardware surfaces for hours, transferring from one person to another. Did you know that door hardware can be protected against the growth of many microbes?

How can Kenton Brothers help?

Kenton Brothers offers locks and hardware with antimicrobial technology that has an added layer of protection against the growth of bacteria to protect the hardware. An antimicrobial is a substance that acts to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and suppresses microorganism reproduction. This provides an added level of protection against damaging microbes such as bacteria that can cause stains, odors and product deterioration.

Why do we need antimicrobial hardware? Because it’s 99.9% cleaner than unprotected surfaces.

Bacteria can double every 20 minutes on unprotected surfaces. Antimicrobial protection works to continuously fight off microbes and protect the hardware.

The antimicrobial coating is incorporated into the finish during the manufacturing process and will not wash off or wear away. The coating lasts for the lifetime of the hardware finish.

How does it work?

When microbes come in contact with the product surface, the antimicrobial protection penetrates the cell wall of the microorganism and disrupts the cell, making the microorganism unable to grow and reproduce.

Antimicrobial protection is effective against most common bacteria that cause stains, odors and product degradation. While this technology is 99.9% cleaner than unprotected surfaces, it is not designed to protect users from disease causing microorganisms.

Consumer safety is a fundamental concern for us. Antimicrobial hardware products are approved by the US EPA and have a history of safe use in door hardware.

To learn more about antimicrobial hardware, please give us a call!