BPT video intercom entrance panel with keypad and proximity access reader in New Zealand

Securing Your Apartment Building: A Complete Guide to Intercom, Access Control, and CCTV

Essential Security Supplies

Apartment-building security works best when intercoms, access control and CCTV are planned as one resident and visitor journey. The entrance needs to be convenient for authorised users, controlled for unknown visitors, observable after hours and maintainable for the installer or building manager.

This guide outlines a practical approach using BPT and Akuvox intercom systems, RBH access control, and FERN360 and UniView CCTV. It is intended for security installers, electrical contractors, consultants, body corporates and property managers planning new apartment developments, refurbishment projects or staged upgrades across New Zealand.

Start with the resident journey, not the hardware

Begin by mapping how different people move through the building. Residents may need access through the main entrance, car park, side doors, storage areas, shared amenities and lifts. Visitors need a clear way to contact the correct apartment or reception point. Contractors, cleaners and building managers may require time-limited or scheduled access.

This process helps separate three functions that are often incorrectly treated as one:

  • Intercom: Allows a visitor to request entry and gives the resident or concierge enough information to make a decision.
  • Access control: Identifies authorised users and applies permissions to doors, gates, lift floors and other controlled areas.
  • CCTV: Provides visual awareness, incident review and evidence where cameras are correctly positioned and managed.

A camera should not be treated as a replacement for a controlled door, and an intercom should not be expected to manage every resident credential. A good design gives each system a defined role, then connects the systems where that adds value.

Divide the building into security zones

Most apartment projects benefit from a zone plan covering the street entrance, vehicle entrance, lobby, lift areas, stairwells, bin rooms, service corridors, car parks, loading areas and shared facilities. Each zone can then be assessed for the appropriate combination of communication, access control, monitoring, lighting and recording.

For example, the main lobby may need a video intercom, electronic locking, resident credentials and a camera covering the approach and door. A plant room may only require controlled access and an audit trail. A car park may need vehicle and pedestrian cameras, access control at the pedestrian door and a separate strategy for intercom calls from visitors.

Choose the intercom around the building and the cabling

Intercom selection should follow the building structure, the number of apartments, the required calling method and the available cabling. A new development with structured network cabling may suit an IP-based system. An existing building with constrained cabling may be better suited to a 2-wire or traditional system, subject to the distance, topology and equipment requirements.

BPT for straightforward apartment entry

BPT LITHOS provides a practical option for projects that need a clean entry panel, resident handsets or monitors and a defined number of call buttons. The active LVC01 video entry panel uses an AISI 316L brushed stainless steel finish, supports one to four calls depending on the selected buttons, and includes a wide-angle camera with 680 x 512 resolution. The panel is surface mounted, rated IP54 and specified for operating temperatures from -25°C to +50°C.

For audio-only projects, the active LC-PEC-KIT combines an LC01 entry panel, PEC BI audio handset, push button and VAS 101 power supply. The listing specifies 16/18 V DC operation, IP54 protection and cable runs of up to 50 m with the supplied power arrangement. This can be a sensible fit where residents do not require video at every handset or where the project is upgrading an existing audio system.

For video projects, the active LVC-XTS-KIT combines the LITHOS video entry panel with a 7-inch XTS WiFi monitor. It retains the LITHOS panel characteristics and provides a larger indoor viewing point for the resident.

View our product for the BPT LVC01 video entry panel.

LVC01 BPT video entry panel - stainless steel apartment entrance communication

Akuvox for 2-wire retrofit and SIP-based flexibility

Akuvox is useful where an apartment project needs a compact door station, keypad access, card credentials and a modern indoor monitor. The active R20K-2 is a 2-wire SIP video door phone designed for apartment and office retrofits. It includes a numeric keypad, 2 MP camera, 13.56 MHz NFC and 125 kHz RF card reading, Wiegand and RS485 interfaces, one relay and one input.

The R20K-2 uses 48 V DC two-wire power, has an aluminium front panel, an IP65 rating and supports flush or wall mounting. Its listed flush-mounted dimensions are 226 x 108 x 52 mm, while the wall-mounted dimensions are 185 x 85 x 29 mm. The camera supports video up to 1080p, and the listed operating temperature range is -30°C to +60°C.

The active C313W-2 indoor monitor has a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, 800 x 480 resolution, 2.4 GHz WiFi, two-wire ports, one relay and eight I/O connections. It can be wall mounted or placed on a desktop and is listed at 200.2 x 132.2 x 27.2 mm. The combination of the R20K-2 and C313W-2 is particularly relevant to staged apartment upgrades where existing cabling needs to be reused carefully.

The active AINTKPKit-2W packages the R20K-2 door phone with an indoor monitor for a defined 2-wire apartment intercom solution. Before specifying a kit, confirm the exact monitor version, cable distance, power arrangement and compatibility with the existing building wiring.

Akuvox products use SIP-based communication. The relevant technical reference is RFC 3261, the IETF specification for SIP. The practical design question is not simply whether a system is IP or 2-wire. It is whether the proposed architecture can be supported, administered and maintained across the building.

View our product for the Akuvox R20K-2.

R20K-2 Akuvox 2-wire SIP intercom - keypad and RF card reader for apartment entry

Build access control around doors, lifts and permissions

Intercoms help residents make visitor decisions, but resident access needs a separate credential and permission strategy. Decide which openings require controlled access, what type of credential is appropriate, how lost credentials will be cancelled, and how access events will be reviewed.

For apartment buildings, the access plan may need to cover:

  • Main entrance doors and secondary pedestrian entrances.
  • Vehicle gates and pedestrian gates from the car park.
  • Lift controls for apartment floors, service levels and shared amenities.
  • Plant rooms, electrical rooms, roof access and storage areas.
  • Contractor, cleaning and building-management access.
  • Emergency release and fire-system interfaces, designed with the relevant specialists.

RBH for distributed building access

The active RBH-INT-UNC100-132C-360N is a two-door native TCP/IP controller with PoE capability, an onboard battery backup charger, RS485 connectivity and two reader ports supporting Wiegand and OSDP version 1 and 2. The listing specifies capacity for up to 8,000 cards and 3,000 event records, along with four programmable inputs and four programmable outputs.

This type of controller can suit a building where access points are distributed and the installer needs a network-connected controller with local decision-making. The RBH controller also supports connections to readers, alarm panels and other third-party devices through its interfaces. Credential and reader selection should be decided before the controller is quoted, especially where the building owner wants mobile credentials, smart cards, key tags or mixed reader technologies.

The active RBH-IRC-2000 is a two-door controller for Integra32 systems. It supports up to 5,000 card numbers, 3,000 offline transactions, five simultaneous Wiegand or Clock and Data card formats, eight supervised inputs and eight programmable outputs. Its distributed intelligence allows access decisions and schedules to continue at the controller when communication with the server is interrupted.

Do not forget the lift controller

Apartment access control is incomplete if a visitor or resident can enter the lobby but the lift provides unrestricted access to every floor. The active RBH-URC-2008 is designed to control two elevator cabs with eight floors total and can be expanded to 32 floors using additional elevator boards. It stores up to 3,000 card numbers and provides programmable elevator control outputs.

Lift access should be planned alongside the building's resident credential policy. Consider which floors residents can access, whether visitors should be restricted to a nominated floor, how deliveries are handled and how access should operate during emergencies or system faults.

View our product for the RBH URC-2008 elevator controller.

RBH UNC100 access controller - two-door PoE building access control panel

Use the entry pedestal where the site layout demands it

Some residential developments do not have a convenient wall or column for the intercom and reader. The active FERN360 FGAC-RES12-SS is a floor-mounted residential access and intercom pedestal with a listed height of approximately 1,310 mm, a 140 mm width and a 330 mm depth. It is made from SUS316 stainless steel and finished in matt black.

A pedestal can improve the approach to a driveway or pedestrian entry, but it must be coordinated with vehicle sight lines, lighting, drainage, accessibility, impact protection and the final intercom or reader equipment. The pedestal itself does not define the access-control function. It provides the mounting point for the selected system.

Plan CCTV for decisions and incident review

CCTV planning should begin with the decisions the footage needs to support. A camera at the lobby may need to show a person's face and the direction of travel. A car-park camera may need a wider scene for vehicle movement. A loading-zone camera may need a different angle and lighting strategy. One camera rarely performs every task well.

Prioritise entrances, approaches and conflict points

Common apartment-building camera locations include the pedestrian approach, entry panel, lobby, lift waiting area, car-park vehicle entrance, pedestrian car-park door, mail area, bicycle storage, refuse area and loading zone. Avoid aiming cameras at private apartment interiors, neighbouring properties or areas where the intended purpose cannot be explained.

The active FERN360 FGSIP-P5TMVSA-27135 is a 5 MP motorised varifocal turret camera with a 2.7-13.5 mm lens, Super Starlight technology, 120 dB WDR, IP67 protection, PoE or 12 V DC power, audio and alarm I/O, Micro SD support up to 512 GB and listed video analytics including tripwire, perimeter, people counting and human or vehicle classification.

The FERN360 product listing states a maximum IR distance of 50 m. An earlier store metafield showed 30 m, so the current manufacturer datasheet should be checked before using the IR figure in a formal design or quotation. Actual night performance will also depend on mounting height, scene reflectivity, lighting, lens position and the required identification distance.

View our product for the FERN360 motorised turret camera.

FGSIP-P5TMVSA-27135 FERN360 5MP turret camera - motorised varifocal CCTV for apartment shared areas

Fixed or varifocal cameras?

A fixed lens can be suitable where the mounting position and field of view are already known. The active UniView IPC3616SS-ADF28K-I1 uses a fixed 2.8 mm lens, 6 MP resolution, 130 dB true WDR, Smart IR up to 40 m, IP67 protection, a built-in microphone and PoE or 12 V DC power. It is a useful example for consistent coverage of entrances, corridors or other areas where the camera position is repeatable.

A varifocal lens provides more adjustment during commissioning. The active UniView IPC3635SB-ADZK-I0 uses a motorised 2.7-13.5 mm lens, 5 MP resolution, 120 dB true WDR, Smart IR up to 40 m, IP67 and IK10 protection, built-in audio and up to 512 GB Micro SD support. Its listed analytics include intrusion, cross-line, enter-area, leave-area and people-flow functions.

Do not specify resolution alone. Check the required field of view, identification distance, lighting, mounting height, privacy masking, recording bandwidth and storage period. A lower-resolution camera correctly positioned can be more useful than a higher-resolution camera aimed at the wrong scene.

View our product for the UniView IPC3635SB-ADZK-I0.

IPC3635SB-ADZK-I0 UniView 5MP varifocal turret camera - apartment entrance and car-park monitoring

Size the recorder and network for the whole building

Camera count should include future expansion, not just the first stage of the project. The active UniView NVR502-08B-P8-IQ provides eight video inputs, eight independent PoE interfaces, two SATA drive interfaces and support for ONVIF Profiles S, G and T and RTSP devices. The listing also specifies support for up to 16 MP recording input, depending on the configuration.

For an apartment project, document the number of cameras, resolution, frame rate, recording mode, expected storage period, PoE budget, uplink capacity, remote viewing requirements and any redundant-storage requirement. Confirm whether the NVR will be installed in a secure communications room with suitable ventilation, power protection and restricted access.

Connect the systems without making them dependent on one another

Intercom, access control and CCTV can work together, but the building should still remain safe and manageable if one system is unavailable. A door should not rely on a camera recording before it can release for an authorised event. A resident should not lose all access because a viewing workstation is offline. CCTV should record independently of the intercom conversation wherever the design requires reliable incident review.

Useful integration points may include:

  • An intercom call that displays the visitor camera view to the resident.
  • A confirmed door release event recorded alongside the relevant CCTV view.
  • Access-control events linked to camera bookmarks or investigation workflows.
  • Alarm or forced-door events sent to a monitoring platform or building manager.
  • Lift access events associated with the resident credential and permitted floor.

Confirm the actual interface and licensing requirements before promising integration. Relevant details may include SIP, ONVIF, Wiegand, OSDP, RS485, relay outputs, alarm inputs, API support, network segmentation and third-party software compatibility.

Design privacy and maintenance into the project

Apartment CCTV captures residents, visitors, contractors and delivery personnel in shared areas. The building owner or operator should define the purpose of each camera, who can access recordings, how long footage is retained, how incidents are exported and how requests for footage are handled.

Camera views should be checked during commissioning, including at night and in difficult weather. Use privacy masking where appropriate, avoid unnecessary views into private areas, secure recorder access and document who is responsible for reviewing footage. The New Zealand Privacy Commissioner's CCTV guidance is a useful authority reference when establishing the building's operating policy.

Access control also needs an owner after installation. The building manager should know how to issue and cancel credentials, change schedules, review events, respond to lost cards or tags, and provide temporary access for contractors. A technically capable system can still become a security weakness if credentials are not maintained.

Product Specifications

Specification Detail
BPT LVC01 video entry panel AISI 316L brushed stainless steel, one to four calls depending on buttons, 680 x 512 camera resolution, wide-angle lens, IP54, 99 x 207 x 30 mm, 16/18 V DC, -25°C to +50°C, cable-run note up to 50 m with the listed power arrangement.
BPT LC-PEC-KIT audio intercom kit LC01 entry panel, PEC BI audio handset, DP H push button and VAS 101 18 V DC power supply. IP54, 16/18 V DC, 75 mA standby, 120 mA maximum absorption, -25°C to +50°C and brushed stainless steel finish.
BPT LVC-XTS-KIT video intercom kit LITHOS video entry panel with XTS 7-inch WiFi monitor, DP H push button and VAS 101 power supply. IP54, 16/18 V DC, 75 mA standby, 120 mA maximum absorption, -25°C to +50°C.
Akuvox R20K-2 door station 2-wire SIP video door phone with aluminium front panel, 2 MP camera, numeric keypad, 13.56 MHz NFC and 125 kHz RF card reader, Wiegand, RS485, one relay, one input, 48 V DC two-wire power, IP65 and video up to 1080p. Flush dimensions 226 x 108 x 52 mm, wall dimensions 185 x 85 x 29 mm, -30°C to +60°C.
Akuvox C313W-2 indoor monitor 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, 800 x 480 resolution, 2.4 GHz WiFi, two-wire ports, one relay, eight I/O, wall or desktop installation, 200.2 x 132.2 x 27.2 mm and -10°C to +45°C.
RBH UNC100 controller Two-door native TCP/IP controller with RS485, two reader ports supporting Wiegand and OSDP version 1 and 2, capacity for up to 8,000 cards and 3,000 event records, four programmable inputs, four programmable outputs and optional IEEE 802.3at PoE.
RBH IRC-2000 controller Two-door Integra32 controller, up to 5,000 card numbers, 3,000 offline transactions, five simultaneous Wiegand or Clock and Data formats, eight supervised inputs, eight programmable outputs and TCP/IP, RS485 and RS232 communication.
RBH URC-2008 lift controller Controls two elevator cabs with eight floors total and can expand to 32 floors. Supports up to 3,000 card numbers, eight programmable elevator control outputs, four supervised inputs and four programmable outputs.
FERN360 FGAC-RES12-SS pedestal Residential access and intercom pedestal, approximately 1,310 mm high, 140 mm wide and 330 mm deep, SUS316 stainless steel construction and matt black finish. Equipment compatibility and final mounting arrangement should be confirmed for the selected reader or intercom.
FERN360 FGSIP-P5TMVSA-27135 camera 5 MP motorised 2.7-13.5 mm varifocal turret, Super Starlight, 120 dB WDR, IP67, PoE or 12 V DC, Micro SD up to 512 GB, audio and alarm I/O, and listed VCA functions. The store listing states 50 m IR, while an earlier store metafield showed 30 m. Verify the current datasheet before formal specification.
UniView IPC3616SS-ADF28K-I1 6 MP fixed 2.8 mm turret, 130 dB true WDR, Smart IR up to 40 m, IP67, built-in microphone, Micro SD up to 256 GB, PoE or 12 V DC, 129 x 110 mm and approximately 0.43 kg.
UniView IPC3635SB-ADZK-I0 5 MP motorised 2.7-13.5 mm varifocal turret, 120 dB WDR, Smart IR up to 40 m, IP67 and IK10, built-in microphone, Micro SD up to 512 GB, PoE or 12 V DC, -30°C to +60°C and approximately 0.70 kg.
UniView NVR502-08B-P8-IQ Eight-channel NVR with eight PoE interfaces, two SATA interfaces, ONVIF Profiles S, G and T support, RTSP support and up to 16 MP input depending on configuration. Confirm storage, PoE and recording requirements for the final camera count.

These examples cover different apartment-building requirements rather than one universal system. Use the relevant product record and current manufacturer documentation for formal design, compliance checks and quotation.

Installer handover checklist

  • Confirm the resident, visitor, contractor and building-manager access journeys.
  • Record every controlled door, gate, lift floor and service area.
  • Confirm intercom topology, cable type, distance, power supplies and monitor locations.
  • Document reader technology, credential types, access schedules and lost-credential procedures.
  • Mark each CCTV view on the plan and record the purpose of every camera.
  • Check night images, glare, backlighting, privacy masking and identification distance.
  • Confirm NVR capacity, PoE budget, storage period, network uplinks and remote-access controls.
  • Test door release, emergency interfaces, alarms, lift permissions and offline operation with the relevant specialists.
  • Provide the building manager with credentials, system diagrams, passwords, maintenance details and escalation contacts.

For apartment buildings, the strongest security design is usually the one that makes the resident journey simple while keeping permissions, events and footage accountable. BPT and Akuvox can address the intercom layer, RBH can provide structured access control for doors and lifts, and FERN360 and UniView can support targeted CCTV coverage across entrances and shared areas. The final result should be designed around the building's people, movement patterns and maintenance capability, not just a list of devices.