As the new build market continues to slow, installers can find some solace in the high-density apartment market. But what are some of the issues pertaining to MDU installations, and where is market the heading?

As more and more people migrate to the major cities, apartment living is becoming increasingly popular. As a result, the number of multi-dwelling unit (MDU) installations are rapidly growing.

Switch Automation general manager Deb Noller says residents in MDUs on the whole want to be treated as members of a community and, as such, require the provision of facilities and information through services such as intranet information boards.

“In terms of technology, fibre to the node is becoming commonplace, as is the requirement of support for cable TV, telephony and broadband to each resident,” she says.

“Further, energy metering for electricity, hot and cold water and gas is becoming compulsory in some states. This is a great opportunity for installers.”

Despite the economy, Switch Automation has reportedly found a viable market in the burgeoning MDU installation sector. As a result, Deb has recently prepared a white paper on the subject, called Automation and IP systems for residential apartments.

“For the past 30 or so years there has been very little change in the way a residential apartment building is cabled and then fitted off,” she says.

“Traditionally, each apartment has independent 240V electrical wiring for the lighting and electrical needs. A central analogue two-wire intercom provides communications between the entry doors and each apartment, and access control is achieved with simple contacts and electronic door strikes.

“Further services such as telephone, television (free to air, satellite and cable), and Internet are all delivered on independent cabling through the backbone of the building to each apartment.”

But, in recent years, there has been an unprecedented rate of change in the development of technology with regard to electronics and communications, she says.

“These technological developments are now starting to have significant influence in the building industry both in terms of consumer demand and infrastructure improvements.

“For the most part, standalone systems cannot be integrated. They all have different methods of communications or protocol, which leads to a lot of different switches and panels.

“Further, traditional intercoms are impossible to integrate and require dedicated cabling. Retrofitting cabling into existing buildings to upgrade any of the services or facilities can be a challenge, but hopefully Cat6 cabling will future-proof new buildings.”

Locally, Australia’s own Leaf Audio has developed an affordable multi-media solution for MDUs in the form of the Hotel Hub, and now, the Home Hub.

The Hotel/Home Hub turns the room into a user-friendly AV and IT facilitation. It has inputs on the rear that accept the hotel’s traditional MATV system and also outputs the same when in TV mode to the panel via component video. On the side it has an array of AV inputs including composite, S-Video and VGA.

“One of the unique functions of the Hotel Hub is when you connect a laptop to the dock it outputs the laptop to the TV at 720p. As a result you can watch DVDs, listen to MP3s or simply work with an image the size of the panel on the wall. It also has an iPod dock hidden behind a beautifully engineered flap to keep everything tidy,” says A/NZ sales manager Mark Vorstenbosch.

The Hotel/Home Hub can be controlled by simply engaging the buttons through IR or RS232. It can also be added to other Leaf systems and be controlled by Leaf protocol.

“The great thing about the Hotel/Home Hub is the space it saves; it allows for all connectivity and therefore expensive cabinetry in each room is not required.

“As for the installer it is extremely easy. The Hub mounts into its own wall box and is fitted off with only four screws required. The equipment therefore can be fitted off at the last minute. Cabling is minimal and is just conventional speaker cables and Cat5 to the second zone.”

But MDU automation goes much further than distributed AV. Often, these systems have to incorporate access to a central external intercom with door release.

“A door entry system within a multi-dwelling unit is primarily for convenience and security,” says HPM Legrand building automation product manager Curtis York.

“Enabling a home owner to speak with a visitor before allowing them access into the building, combined with an installed door strike that allows the person in the apartment to unlock the front door, ensures that a door entry system is both secure and convenient.

“BTicino door entry systems, for example, are very simple to use and install, and can serve up to 3,900 apartments. A two wire bus cable can be run from the power supply to the entrance panel and to each unit’s audio hand piece. Once this is done, all that is left to do is to assign numbers to the units.

“If other BTicino features were to be integrated with this one, it would be easy because all BTicino products use the same bus cable system and power supplies.”

Curtis says a potential problem with any entrance system, however, might be that if a particular part of the system went down, it would take everything with it.

“Still, if one part of the system does go down, it is simply a matter of getting a new part and applying the same configurations.

“This will automatically get it running again without the need to have a computer or to call a specialist.”

It would appear, however, the future of MDU installations comes in the form of Internet protocol (IP).

“In the past 10 years there has been a digital revolution, and an explosion of services, systems and products that can support IP,” Deb says.

“It is now possible to take a completely different approach to installing apartment buildings using IP-based control systems connected to IP or open protocol sub-systems via simple, generic Cat5 network cabling.”

IP, in its simplest interpretation means the device or system is network capable and can be connected using standard network cable.

“Integration of these sub-systems enables a simple and single interface for the user to control all aspects of their apartment environment. It also empowers the building manager with tools to manage all aspects of the building or complex from one screen or monitor.”

With the provision of IP services in the home and with home networking becoming commonplace, many manufacturers are realising the need to enable their systems for IP.

Some of these systems have a closed protocol meaning they run on Cat5 cable on a standard network but they do not integrate or communicate with other systems.

Deb says it is very important to understand this critical point when selecting equipment for an integrated solution.

“Just because a system or device is IP-enabled does not mean it can be effectively integrated. Many manufacturers now recognise that the true power of IP is an open standard.

“We are now seeing many systems that are IP-enabled and open; enabling integration and automation. IP-enabled systems such as lighting control, security, cameras and DVRs, air conditioners and AV equipment such as amplifiers, televisions and multi-room audio systems are entering the market.”

The types of systems and functionality that can be selected for an apartment building are extensive and flexible depending on the budget and the desired functionality.

Switch Automation has outlined a simple, moderate and high-end approach to apartment buildings to demonstrate the range of options that are available to the developers of apartment buildings.

“At its most simple, an IP based communications solutions for an apartment building may involve an intercom and access control with each apartment having audio or video handsets to communicate with the main entry station and controlling the door release.

“A moderate install takes advantage of the building’s core network infrastructure by integrating a complete access control system and delivering additional services and functionality to each apartment via an interactive touch screen interface.

“A full-featured installation takes advantage of the building’s core network infrastructure by integrating all the common area services such as access control system and delivers an independent and customisable automation solution to each apartment.”

The obvious question asked by every developer is the difference in cost between a standard, traditional multi-unit dwelling installation and a system that utilises newer, advanced IP-based technologies. According to Deb, comparative pricings for a traditional installation versus an IP-based intercom indicate that an IP intercom can be delivered at “the same or slightly less cost than a standard two wire intercom.”

“The addition of interactive touch screens does add additional cost to an IP solution. The attractive aspect of this type of installation is that the developer can deliver a very attractive, but base level of functionality at an entry level pricing of around $5,000-6,000 per apartment,” she says.

“Each resident can then use the original hardware with the assistance of an approved integrator to deliver a much higher level of integration.”

For a full copy of Switch Automation’s Automation and IP systems for residential apartments white paper, click here.