Adam Security specialise in commercial fire security systems

THE fast paced nature of changing technology is something security systems providers have to stay on top of, but it is another element of the job, that keeps it exciting for people like Jonathan Cummins, a Senior Fireman Engineer with ADAM Security.

Ballymount company ADAM Security, who specialise in delivering state-of-the-art integrated commercial fire and security systems, have numerous projects on the go at all times, and also cater for a wide range of clients that include hotels, corporate giants, and schools.

New improved technologies can make a big difference for a security system, and it is this area that people like Cummins “have to keep up to speed with”.

“We have a good relationship with our suppliers, and get one to one training with manufacturers, it is exciting, with the technology always changing,” says Jonathan.

An electrician by trade, Cummins has over 23 years experience working with security systems.

More recently, with ADAM Security, he has transitioned into a more senior office role, involved in project management, logistics and stock management, but it is out in the field where the main nature of his work is still carried out.

“I’m part of a team with three other service engineers, we’re out in the field all day. We do a lot of commercial work for big business, a lot of work for the construction industry, various electrical contractors, a lot of private work including schools, and a bit of residential work, but that would be more for our clients.”

Long gone are the days when a simple alarm system and security camera constituted the main aspects of equipment.

Jonathan and his team cover nine different disciplines, namely gas detection, intruder alarm, emergency lighting, fire extinquisher, fire safety training, CCTV and access control.

It is a varied job, with no one day the same as the other.

“At the moment, I have three/four different projects going on, including a revamp of the Gresham Hotel, who are one of our clients,” he said.

“As service engineers, you could be doing services, breakdowns, callouts, and in charge of projects. We just completely upgraded 120 apartments in Santry with a video intercom, a step-up from a doorstep intercom. That was a three month job, along with the installation and door space, you are contacting tenants to see when they are home, arranging times.”

The intercom system allows the tenant to see who is calling them on the front door, and the tenant can decide to press a button and let the person in.

CCTV quality has improved massively, with the higher costs, securing higher quality imagery, and the ability to trawl back on footage up to 30 days, depending on the equipment employed.

Trying to wind down is not always possible for someone like Jonathan, who even when out in a coffee shop, will find himself inadvertently “looking at the cameras, stress testing the environment”.

He will likely adopt that security approach while on an upcoming holiday with his wife and two kids. We could tell you where he is going, but that would represent a security breach.