Hikvision UK Limited

Spencer Close, a private residential development in Finchley, North London, comprises six apartment blocks housing 109 flats, plus a dedicated concierge outbuilding. This managed community is overseen by an association of flat owners, with decisions made by an elected board. The development's residents rightly expect a secure and seamless access experience that matches the quality of their homes and lifestyle.Over time, Spencer Close’s legacy intercom and access control systems had become outdated and unreliable. Facing rising complaints and mounting maintenance costs, the residents’ association made the decision to overhaul the system. They turned to Galician Security, a trusted installer of advanced access and surveillance solutions, to deliver a futureproofed, high-performance upgrade using Hikvision’s cutting-edge IP intercom technology.“The old system was failing in every way,” says Alex Diaz, Director at Galician Security. “Video dropout, poor audio, failing locks, and fob issues were all regular complaints. Our goal was to provide a new solution that offered real reliability, improved performance, and future flexibility.” The ChallengeThe existing system at Spencer Close had reached a critical point of degradation. Residents frequently encountered poor video quality, muffled or broken audio, and unreliable door lock releases. Administrative difficulties also plagued the fob management system, making it time-consuming and frustrating to add or deactivate users. This created day-to-day frustrations for everyone: residents, guests, delivery drivers, and especially the site management team, which bore the brunt of complaints.Additionally, repair and maintenance costs were escalating. “It was costing them thousands of pounds just to keep the old system going,” says Diaz. “It was clear that the technology needed to be brought up to modern standards.”However, upgrading a system in a live residential environment came with a number logistical and technical hurdles. Firstly, although the existing cabling infrastructure was assumed to be reusable, Galician discovered severe degradation in every block.In addition, cable routes ran in unexpected configurations, not through the typical floor-to-floor risers, making upgrades complex.Replacing the outdoor intercom stations risked leaving visible holes or requiring costly custom backplates, and any downtime needed to be minimised to avoid prolonged inconvenience to residents.

Rodwell House is a specialist dementia care facility in the UK. It has implemented Hikvision's access control system to transform how staff and visitors access the building while improving resident safety and care quality across the facility. Located in the tranquil surroundings of Addlestone, Surrey, Rodwell House serves as part of the renowned Graham Care Group. This 79-bed nursing facility specializes in providing exceptional care for residents with dementia and physical frailties, continually seeking innovative ways to enhance service delivery. Meeting the evolving needs of modern careAs a forward-thinking facility, Rodwell House sought to enhance the entry experience for both staff and visitors. The management team understood that the existing manual entry system, which required staff to remember and input codes throughout their shifts, could be improved to allow more time for resident care. For visiting relatives, many of whom are elderly themselves, the facility wanted to create an entry experience that was more welcoming and accessible. "We wanted to make visiting easier and more comfortable for families," says care home manager, Janet Bromley. "With the nature of the care that we provide, we need comprehensive oversight of people as they come in go out," explains Bromley. “Our commitment to provide excellent care means we recognize the value of having detailed access records throughout the building. These support quality assurance initiatives and provide us with the insights we need to optimize the quality of our service. It was important, for example," says Bromley, “that we could get a clear record of which staff have been in different areas at particular times.”