THE SCENARIO:
There was a network of churches in the southern region of the US that were part of the same congregation. Entrances were unlocked during normal hours, allowing the public to enter at will. Unfortunately, church members and visitors were experiencing a surge of violent acts against them, ranging from disruptions to violence. Anyone with malicious intent could walk into any one of their churches and wreak havoc. This concerned the congregation, and they began locking all entrances 24/7.
Keeping church entrances locked during normal hours had a downside; they became less accessible and welcoming to the public. People could not simply enter these churches anymore. They now had to wait for someone to let them inside. It goes without saying, knocking for access interrupted important sermons or events taking place.
The congregation wanted a quick and simple way to allow authorized members to enter their networked churches. More importantly, they wanted to identify and record any visitors before unlocking the entrance without interrupting those already inside.
THE SOLUTION
The church congregation selected a combination of an IP video intercom and an access control system. Congregants could enter their respective churches by using their authorized codes.
A full‑time administrator was assigned to answer door station calls when church access was requested. Having one person screen calls for all locations eliminated daily interruptions.
When the public requested access using a door station, the video camera recorded the interaction. The video intercom deterred criminal activity with its recording capability and allowed staff to discreetly determine a visitor’s intent before unlocking the entrance.
Read the full Solution Showcase here.
