Hirsch Integrates Access Control with BACnet Protocol to Support Resident Security and Energy Efficiency

Hirsch, a leading security systems manufacturer and a business unit of Identive Group, Inc., has delivered an access control solution to New York City’s first supportive housing project to be Silver-level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.

Hirsch’s access control system provides security for residents and also tracks and shares occupancy data with the building’s energy management system using communication protocols developed and published by BACnet International, a building industry standards organization. As a result, building systems such as heating and lighting are automatically turned on or off as residents enter and leave their apartments, reducing energy use and providing protection against appliance-related fires and other accidents.

“This project is a good example of the growing trend towards energy efficiency and sustainability in building design and construction,” said John Piccininni, Hirsch vice president of business development. “Integrating access control with the BACnet protocol allows us to communicate with and augment a wide variety of building automation and energy management systems that reduce energy use, saving money and minimizing a site’s carbon footprint. With the increased focus on energy-saving initiatives, we see our ability to interoperate with the worldwide BACnet protocol as a key competitive advantage, both for Hirsch and for those who deploy Hirsch systems.”

Developed in partnership between the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and Common Ground, The Lee uses sustainable design and materials to optimize energy efficiency, a healthy living environment, and reduced use of natural resources. The 99,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility on Manhattan’s Lower East Side provides affordable housing linked to on-site social services for its 263 residents, which include adults with special needs, low-income working adults, and young adults aging out of foster care and at risk of homelessness.

In this application, each resident is required to present his or her individual ID card to pass through Hirsch reader-controlled turnstiles when entering and exiting the building, which helps ensure the safety of all residents in the facility. Upon entering through the turnstile, heat and electric power circuits are enabled in the resident’s apartment. Upon leaving, the exit reader at the turnstile switches off those services.

Energy costs are reduced by turning off unnecessary lights, heating and other electrical services, and life safety is enhanced by ensuring that residents cannot leave items cooking on the stove, electric irons turned on, etc.

For this project, Hirsch provided the access control and security monitoring system backbone for the building, ongoing computer-based monitoring and control, as well as integration to the facility’s video surveillance and building automation and control systems.

Developed under the auspices of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), BACnet is a data communication protocol for building automation and control networks. BACnet is an American national standard, a European standard, a national standard in more than 30 countries, and an ISO global standard.