Property developers see the light

For years we have struggled to explain to developers that installing smart home systems in their developments is a great idea. They look at the cost involved, then look at a brochure for their next Range Rover and its all over, says Auckland Smart Home company director Brendon Reid.

But it seems that times might be a-changing with the ultra-modern Pillans Point development in Tauranga. The developer wanted to give his properties a point of difference that would set his homes apart and attract interest from ex-pat kiwis returning home. 

These three cliff-top apartments are equipped with just about every feature available. Designed and installed by Automation Associates Ltd, they boast smart wiring, security, access control, home theatre, multi-room audio and full home automation.

No expense has been spared on either the fittings or the automation system.  The garage even has carpet on the floor.

Smart wiring

All homes feature a complete iNET smart wiring package from Auckland technology supplier, Techstyle. The Panasonic KXTA308 phone system incorporates two phone lines and an intercom at the gate. Sky TV, the gate camera and DVD signals are reticulated to every TV jack in the home. Any piece of source equipment can be controlled from any TV location with the use of an IR repeating system over the iNET Smart Wiring network. 

The construction was the usual slab and block style so there was no hope of ever adding wires at a later date, says Reid. So we went pretty deep on the smart wiring system. There are jacks in most rooms. We now have a good platform to roll services out even after the purchasers have moved in.

Security and safety system

The security system is very comprehensive because at Automation Associates we like to throw in a few extras on our security systems, says Reid. We follow the layered approach, with the panic button as the last resort. Dual technology PiR / microwave detectors cover the main rooms, including the upper floors, creating layer 1. Layer 2 is the use of glass-break detectors and door and window bugs that permit the owners to set the perimeter but wander the house at night without setting off the sirens. Layer 3 is a few sets of well-placed IR beams outside the house that trigger lights and chimes, but not the sirens. This provides early warning to the occupants that someone is approaching the property, and adds extra peace of mind for owners. 

Most builders and property developers now install security systems in their homes, but usually at the lower end of the scale, says Reid. The trick is to reiterate the point of difference, so your client can say my houses offer more protection to a potential purchaser than the two-PiR, one-smoke alarm systems in the development down the road. 

The site also features Nohmi miniature smoke detectors that recess into the ceiling cavity like downlights, providing an aesthetic profile, while providing protection equal to that of its bulkier cousins.

Access control

The Italian-made Farfisa access control system incorporates an intercom at the gate with keypad and camera which links to the house phone and TV system. This does away with the need for video handsets cluttering up the walls. The vehicle gate, front door and garage door can be released with Arrowhead 4xx mhz remote controls.

Home theatre system

The lounge home theatre system is based around a Marantz Hi-Res 42 plasma screen and five tru-audio CP8 in-wall speakers, with matching subwoofer and Marantz home theatre processor. We installed a fully functioning system, including a DVD player, says Reid, but have left plenty of inputs and cabling for the purchaser to install their own equipment such as media servers, games consoles and ipods. 

Multi-room audio system

The Nuvo multi-room audio system features six inputs and six zones, controlled by wall mounted keypads that enable the user to select any input or volume level for any room, independent of the other rooms. The user can turn the zone on or off from the keypad as well as shut down the whole system.

The multi-room audio keypads also relay IR commands to control source equipment such as DVD players, Sky decoders and ipods. 

Reid says he chose Nuvo for the job as it is among the easiest of the multi-room systems to use.  While systems such as MARTIX feature more power and functionality, you cant go past Nuvo for simplicity,  he says.

Home automation system

The Vantage home automation system controls every dimmed or switched load in the house including all lights. Other controlled devices include gates, doors, fireplaces, audio system, air-conditioning and lift. 

On arrival home at night, unsetting the alarm sends a signal to the Vantage automation system to trigger a path of lights from the garage, up the stairs to the kitchen, as well as call the lift to the ground floor in case it might be required.

Interfacing to different types of lifts can be a little tricky, says Reid, but when you get to know a system, they are usually very standard from there on. 

When leaving the house, setting the alarm sends a goodbye signal to shut off all lights, fans etc, as well as power down the plasmas, mute the audio and extinguish the fires.

Reid notes that years of patient chipping away at developers has finally paid off, with this being the first of many systems to come. Automation Associates is using these apartments as examples to other builders and developers of what can be achieved with a little planning and foresight.

Brendon Reid is director of Automation Associates  one of New Zealands largest and longest established home automation companies, and a member of CEDIA.Visit www.aa.net.nz or email brendon@aa.net.nz formore information.