Can home security be maintained when the home owner is wheelchair-bound? The key might be hidden under the floorboards, writes Callum Fitzpatrick.

The issue of home security can throw up a number of obstacles for the residential custom installer at the best of times, but when faced with a physically impaired client, it can present an even more unique challenge.

The need to provide an accessible, easy-to-navigate environment is an obvious necessity, but further care needs to be taken to ensure complete comfort is attained; this requires knowledge of other areas such as correct implementation of automatic lighting and in some instances it can mean integration of the appropriate media solution.

Wheelchair-bound Dean (surname withheld) lives 30 minutes south of Perth. He required a security system that allowed him to navigate around his home without the assistance of carers or family, while maintaining a safe environment.

Ross Campbell, Australian agent for home automation specialist Kristil Technologies, was contacted by an architect designing a home suitable for Dean’s needs.

“We felt that our technology would be able to provide the functionality he required without us needing to make too many changes to what we were already providing for our high-end home automation clients. However, we also knew that keyless entry was an essential element needed to complete the solution,” he says.

To make this possible, Kristil contacted Australian developer of access control products, Axeze. They decided to integrate both their technologies to enable a system that allowed keyless access while being able to simultaneously turn on lights, music and the like.

The use of an Axeze card reader allowed keyless access to the home for family and carers; however, as Dean is physically unable to present a proximity card to the reader, the two collaborators had to design a system that enabled him to unlock doors remotely.

They developed an innovative antenna which was installed under the concrete floor in front of each doorway. This meant that when Dean approached any doorway his chair would activate the antenna, triggering the card reader to open the door through its electric actuator.

Axeze chief executive Shelly Elder says, “The result of what we have been able to achieve is greater freedom for Dean. His family, carers and friends are not bound up in time consuming tasks such as following him around the home to open doors or turn on lights as they automatically turn on and off as he wheels around on his own.”

The lighting system has multiple features, such as dusk level control, automatic lighting and dimming, to improve his comfort. At dusk, the outdoor house and garden lights are automatically turned to a preset level, giving an aesthetically pleasing glow to the exterior of the house and increasing safety and security. When someone enters the front gate, the lights are turned on through activation of the strategically placed movement sensors. After a short period, the lamps return to an energy saving ‘dusk level’, this feature is also carried throughout the passageways of the house.

Automatic double doors are located at the end of each transverse passageway which connects Dean’s separate living area to the rest of the house. As he approaches the doors, they both open automatically; however, when one of his carers or family members approaches the door, only one will open.

“This was done for energy saving reasons. Opening only one door helps save electricity and maintains the integrity of the air conditioning systems.”

Because there are two separate HVAC systems, one for Dean’s area and one for the rest of the house, they are often set at different temperatures. By merely opening one door there is less heat loss and therefore further energy saved.

Another integral part of his daily life is access to TV, DVDs and music. His large library of media was stored on a core PC system which he is able to access from his media room, activity room and bedroom through the use of a Philips TSU9400 remote.

“Dean and his family were looking for us to provide as much independence and freedom for him as possible. Using Microsoft Media Centre along with our special software we were able to give him all that he wanted and more.”

Contacts:
Axeze www.axeze.com.au
Kristil www.kristil.co.nz