

In an office block or campus, for example, a receptionist or security officer might handle access requests.

Substations are installed at various points throughout a building, depending on the structure of the system. In larger campus sites, there may be several base stations at different access points, all connected to a single substation. The base station requires a power source, wired or wireless connectivity to the substations, and a release mechanism to open the door or gate when the occupant authorizes access. Visitors use the base station to communicate with occupants via audio (voice control) or video to request access. The base station or master station is installed at the entrance to a building or front door and is connected to one or more substations inside the building. Intercom entry systems provide a cost-effective alternative to other forms of access control and they can also be used as part of a secure visitor or delivery management system. That makes door intercom systems an important component in a commercial security system to protect people and property across different industries and applications. Their primary role is to enable and manage communication and secure property access. As part of an access control system, an intercom security system allows people within a building to hear or see the person who wants to enter before granting access by opening a door or gate. The mobile phone has taken on that communication role, but modern intercom systems now have an important role to play in security. Earlier intercoms, or ‘walkie-talkies’ as they were known, enabled people to talk to each other within a building or campus. At its simplest, an intercom system is a set of devices that allow two-way communication between two points.
