Safe Pool Gates Help Save Lives
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA: Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1 – 4 years, with an average of 11 fatal and 22 non-fatal drownings per day. Additionally, 70% of child drownings occur during non-swim times. Children's natural curiosity often leads them to backyard swimming pools, and most children that drown gain access to the pool through a faulty fence or gate.
To help reduce the risk of child drowning the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) has developed five layers of protection. The first and most important layer is a barrier that limits access to the pool and an alarm to alert you if someone enters the pool area unexpectedly. Fencing provides a constant barrier, but the fence is only effective if the gate and gate hardware are in good working order. Checking the pool gate is crucial for drowning prevention, yet only 30% of pool owners do this once a year.
To raise awareness of the problem and provide education on how to check and maintain a pool gate, D&D Technologies along with the NDPA established Check Your Pool Gate Month, starting on May 1 but valuable all year. Check Your Pool Gate Month reminds pool owners to ensure their pool fences, gates, latches, and hinges are secure and working properly, with the aim to reduce child drownings by making it harder for them to access the pool. For every child that drowns, another 7 experience a non-fatal drowning, and 40% of these children require further care. A few minutes is all it takes to check a pool fence and gate, and this simple task done regularly could help save a child’s life.
Safety Checklist for Pool Gates:
- Gate should open outwards, away from the pool
- Gate latch release knob should be out of reach of children under 5. (check local codes/standards from minimum requirements)
- Fence should be at a minimum height to comply with your region and encompass the pool area. (check local codes/standards for minimum requirements)
- Maximum clearance from finished ground surface is no more than 4” (100mm)
- Fence perimeter must have adequate distance from other climbable objects or structures
- Gate must be self-closing and self-latching
- Gate hinges are reliable, self-closing, tension-adjustable, rust free and bind free
- Gate latch must be adjustable for height and width
- Gate latch cannot be key locked in the “open” position
- Gate latch cannot be opened using implements or force
- Gate will shut and latch securely from any position, including from resting on the latching mechanism
- Gate complies with all relevant United States Codes/Standards and legislation for pool safety
If new or replacement gate hardware is needed, the MagnaLatch gate latch and TruClose gate hinge, invented by D&D Technologies®, meet all international and local pool safety codes and fulfill all the safety checklist’s requirements. The MagnaLatch is a reliable, adjustable, and magnetically triggered self-latching safety gate latch. TruClose are self-closing, adjustable polymer safety gate hinges. The MagnaLatch ALERT provides both audible and visual alarms if the gate is left open or not physically latched. Pool owners can see at a glance and hear from a distance if their pool gate is not latched properly.
For more information, visit https://us.ddtech.com/pages/national-check-your-pool-gate-month-consumer
ASSA ABLOY Acquires Pedestal PRO
ASSA ABLOY has acquired Pedestal PRO, a U.S. manufacturer of access control pedestals, bollards, and innovative mounting solutions.
"I am very pleased to welcome Pedestal PRO into the ASSA ABLOY Group. This acquisition delivers on our strategy to strengthen our position in mature markets through adding complementary products and solutions to our core business,” says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.
"Pedestal PRO is an established innovator that seamlessly integrates design, architectural elements, and access control technology, and I am excited for them to be part of ASSA ABLOY," says Lucas Boselli, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of the Americas Division. "Their product portfolio enhances our offering for electromechanical solutions and solidifies our position as a go-to partner for access control equipment manufacturers, system integrators, and security professionals."
Pedestal PRO was founded in 2002 and has some 50 employees. The main office and factory are located in Lindon, Utah. Sales for 2024 amounted to about $11 million with a good EBIT margin. The acquisition will be accretive to EPS from the start.
AtlasIED Launches Rapid Alert Wearable Panic Button System
PHOENIX — AtlasIED, a global leader in the security and commercial audio industries, announced the launch of its new Rapid Alert system, which includes the IP-PB wearable panic button and the IP-RC BLE-controlled relay board. This system is designed to enhance emergency communication and integrates seamlessly with AtlasIED’s IPX IP Endpoints, providing immediate accessibility to trigger notifications during critical events.
The IP-PB panic button is worn on a lanyard and connects wirelessly to the IP-RC relay board via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). In emergency situations, users can press the panic button to activate notifications, including pre-programmed alerts that play throughout the facility. These notifications can be distributed through InformaCast or Revolution, ensuring that relevant personnel are promptly informed of the incident.
“The Rapid Alert system represents a remarkable advancement in enhancing emergency response capabilities,” said Michael Peveler, VP of Sales for AtlasIED. “By integrating reliable wireless communication with our IPX Series, the system ensures quick and effective responses during critical situations. With the new panic button, an immediate and coordinated reaction can be initiated, significantly improving response times and emergency outcomes.”
The system is composed of two core components. The wearable IP-PB panic button utilizes BLE 5.0 Ultra Wide Band communication to provide a reliable wireless connection. It features a lithium-ion battery with a lifespan of up to three years and is IP67 rated, making it both durable and resistant to environmental factors. The IP-RC BLE-controlled relay board connects directly to the IPX Series control boards and offers two relay closures that can be configured to trigger specific actions across the network. This capability enables users to initiate customized notifications for different emergency scenarios.
The system is designed to support multiple activation sequences to meet different response protocols. A quick double press of the button on the IP-PB activates one relay, while six or more button presses can automatically trigger a lockdown and immediately notify stakeholders and responders. This customization of emergency responses offers exceptional flexibility.
The Rapid Alert system integrates easily into existing AtlasIED IPX Series devices, ensuring seamless operation across various commercial environments and further proving the capability of AtlasIED’s Security Technology Solutions Ecosystem. It is ideal for schools, hospitals, industrial facilities, and corporate offices, where clear and timely communication is crucial during emergencies. The addition of the IP-PB enables AtlasIED to become Alyssa’s Law compliant, meeting the legislative requirements implemented in select states.
The IP-PB wearable panic button and IP-RC relay board are now available. For more information, visit www.atlasied.com.
ADI | Snap One Opens Stores
ADI | Snap One celebrated with a grand opening event for its new store in Omaha, Neb., showcasing product offerings from the combined business for the first time under one roof.
Sponsored by Episode and Samsung, the event took place on April 10 and gave attendees an exclusive chance to meet the store team, explore the new store design concept, spend time with suppliers, and take advantage of the expanded inventory and combined assortment of ADI and Snap One exclusive brands.
ADI and Snap One teams worked together to develop the new, modern store design, which blends a retail storefront with a state-of-the-art warehouse, featuring products across key categories including security, networking, AV, smart home, fire safety and more.
Additional store highlights include a 15,000+ square foot space, 2.5 times larger than the previous Omaha location, an expanded product assortment featuring 500+ Snap One SKUs, increased inventory and new brands introduced to legacy ADI and Snap One customers, including a dedicated training space for in-store and virtual sessions.
“The Omaha location is a great example of how our teams, strengths, and capabilities come together to bring the Even Better Together experience to life,” noted Christa Dahl, Regional Sales Leader at ADI | Snap One. “Our grand opening was a wonderful success and we’re looking forward to celebrating even more store openings with our customers and team members throughout the rest of this year.”
Along with the Omaha location, the Pittsburgh store is also open and planning its own grand opening event soon, with more locations across the country to come in cities including Raleigh, San Antonio, Atlanta, San Diego and Charleston.
Paxton Net2 Seniors Senior Living Complex
Encore Atlantic Shores is a residential complex of 240 luxurious townhomes for ages 55 and over in Eastport, New York. Completed in 2011, the site boasts an 11,800-square-foot clubhouse with amenities such as a fitness center, heated indoor pool, whirlpool spa, multi-purpose ballroom, cardroom, clubroom with billiards, tennis courts, and an outdoor putting green.
The complex required an update to their legacy security system, so they reached out to CWC Security to specify a new and modern solution for their site. CWC Security, based in Melville, New York, specializes in designing, installing, and monitoring state-of-the-art security systems that offer comprehensive protection for residential and commercial spaces. They chose Paxton’s Net2 access control system due to its flexibility to integrate with multiple other systems that were already on Encore’s network.
Paxton, a security technology manufacturer, designs and develops access control systems, video intercom products, IP cameras, and wireless door handles that are installed and used globally.
Encore Atlantic Shores needed to update all internal and external entry and exit points on the premises, including their access-controlled gates, to allow flexible access permissions. Additionally, multiple areas of the site were on different internet networks, which needed to be managed from one central location.
A clubhouse required permission-based access for summer residents who are not members of the clubhouse but need access to the pool. The property manager utilizes Net2 software to provide temporary access rights during these times for different members. The site’s pool management personnel also require separate access to the basement for equipment storage.
Michael Pittakas, owner of CWC Security, presented Encore Atlantic Shores with Net2 as a solution. Net2 is Paxton’s networked access control system that can be administered using one or more PCs and can be monitored and managed from a central location. The software is designed to easily integrate with other security systems. This made it straightforward to run alongside the site's existing systems and further streamline security for their staff and residents alike.
Net2 now secures all primary entry points to the complex, with key fobs provided to residents to access the front gate. For deliveries and garbage collection, the rear gate is also controlled via the Net2 software. This enables Erin Stewart, the Property Manager, to open the gate for these vehicles when needed.
Pittakas said, “The front and rear gates are relay controlled, so we utilized triggers and actions within Net2 to provide access. We also integrated Net2 with the existing video intercom system at the front gate so that non-residents call the security booth before they can enter the premises. This is then recorded as an event in the Net2 software.”
Since the installation took place, management at Encore Atlantic Shores has been very pleased with the Net2 system and CWC’s assistance and support. “We find Net2 to be the perfect fit for our needs at Encore Atlantic Shores. The software is user-friendly, reliable, and customizable. Having the ability to program key fobs with different access levels has been a tremendous help with vendors who may need access during hours with limited staff. The reporting ability gives you a record of who and when someone uses a key fob to enter the clubhouse.”
