WHITE

PAPER

June 2019

Six Striking Truths That Will Change Your

Perception of Power
It’s more than a piece of hardware. Expertly executed
power solutions offer new areas of profitability for systems
integrators and increased ROI with lower TCO for users.
 WHITE
PAPER

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Power is Brand New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Solutions Address Industry Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Flexibility In Specification Comes Easy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Uniform Installations are a Win-Win . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Managed Power Services Mean New Streams of RMR . 8

Focus on ROI / TCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2
June 2019
 WHITE
PAPER

Introduction
Most people today aren’t aware of the great strides being made in power
solution innovation. That’s because power has largely remained a special-
ty niche. But as smart systems and connected ecosystems have become
ubiquitous, intelligent power systems have gained increasing importance
and visibility.
In today’s security environment, power has become a transformative part
of an industry that’s in transition to high-tech. Power systems now pro-
vide managed services and even network-based remote system control,
management and monitoring — all further advancing the industry. In ad-
dition, the expertly engineered, agency-certified enclosures being de-
signed today are helping solve many of the industry’s problems, such as
the current shortage of skilled tradesmen, and the need to consistently
reduce labor costs.
What role does power play in your security or access control specifica-
tion? When you know what power can provide in terms of return on in-
vestment (ROI) and lower total cost of ownership (TCO), you’ll rethink
how to approach power solutions in your next project. Modern power
solutions, like managed power services, also offer the ability to generate
new streams of recurring revenue for the systems integrator.
This white paper demonstrates six formative ways that solidify power’s
new position in the security market.

3
Six Striking Truths That Will Change Your Perception of Power
 WHITE
PAPER

1. Power is Brand New

Well-designed power systems solve installation issues, reduce costs and
make projects more efficient. Changes in overall makeup, configuration
and wire management in prefabricated panel enclosure construction now
offer seamless electrical and mechanical integration of power, locks and
access panel hardware. Whereas past systems required three separate
enclosures—one each for system power, lock power and access panels—
customized power architecture enclosures combine all three into a single
cabinet. Doesn’t seem like a big deal? Well it is, and here’s why:
• Time is money, especially when it comes to skilled technicians on the
job. With loaded labor rates ranging anywhere from $40 to over $100
an hour, depending on the skills of the technician, certification and
other factors (verified through an independent survey of systems in-
tegrators conducted by LifeSafety Power in 2017), being able to wire
all components and devices in the field quickly is critical to profitabil-
ity; and there’s no prewiring required in the shop either.
• A standardized, prewired installation platform eliminates hours
of panel wiring, lock control and communication wiring; in fact, a
40-percent installation savings and 60-percent wall space savings
can be achieved. When a technician can finish the job sooner and
move onto the next project, there’s additional efficiency and profit-
ability achieved.
• Also, according to the LifeSafety Power survey, it takes a technician
about 7 hours on average to wire a 16-door access control system. At
a $70-per-hour loaded rate (on average, also per the survey) that’s
$490 to wire the system in labor costs alone. The material costs such
as the wire and Panduit conduit add even more.
• Preconfigured wiring with a standard design in a single enclosure
greatly simplifies maintenance, which is a huge cost center for install-
ing companies and their customers. Preconfigured enclosures also
streamline troubleshooting (less labor in the field), as wiring is easy
to reach, service and manage.
• And the same LifeSafety Power survey found that a neat and clean
appearance for an installation’s wire management is ranked at the
top of the importance scale (#5) by integrator respondents.

4
June 2019
 WHITE
PAPER

2. Solutions Address Industry Issues

As hardware margins for installations continue to decline, systems inte-
grators need to develop every way possible to become more efficient
and profitable. Additionally, an industry-wide shortage of skilled security
technicians is adding to the equation, so installation simplification is key.
How long does it take to wire a traditional access system? According to
survey respondents, that time can vary dramatically—up to eight hours or
more for 16-door access control systems. A standardized power system
yields professional results for integrators and their customers. Other ben-
efits include:
• Applying standardized products, like integrated access enclosures,
delivers consistency across any project, campus or enterprise—re-
quiring less training and retraining by workers.
• Precision factory prewiring eliminates field wiring guesswork, so
integrators and end users can establish equipment installation
standards for uniform operation, maintenance and servicing of the
physical security system.
• Prewiring eliminates installation variability and guesswork and pro-
motes system uniformity for consistent, repeatable results.
• All of these factors cut labor costs and increase system uptime so
integrators can move on to new jobs quickly and end-users are as-
sured integrity with a best-in-class implementation.

5
Six Striking Truths That Will Change Your Perception of Power
 WHITE
PAPER

3. Flexibility in Specification Comes Easy

Installing companies also need to have the flexibility to add devices, acces-
sories and connectivity as they transition to a managed services business.
Pre-fabricated enclosures are constructed to fit different control boards,
power and other circuitry. Enclosures allow for a variety of accessory op-
tions and access plates to work in partnership with leading manufacturers
including AMAG Technology, Brivo, Honeywell Security, Mercury Security,
Paxton Access, Software House by Tyco, HID VertX and others. More ways
in which pre-fabricated power enclosures assist the specification include:
• Scheduling for jobs becomes less complex, as the time for installa-
tion in the field is predictable. Leveraging a Just-in-Time (JIT) inven-
tory strategy allows companies to increase efficiency and decrease
waste by receiving goods only as they are needed in the production
process, thereby reducing inventory costs.
• Modular and flexible designs allow for many system configurations:
single, dual or multi-voltage outputs and power distribution, control,
or signaling; fire alarm interface with failsafe or fail secure lock con-
trol; and network communication, all of which can come in one ad-
vanced, multi-agency listed system platform.
• Direct-drop shipments bring prewired panels to the job site at the
time of installation, saving integrators and end-users the time and
expense of ordering, expediting and coordinating the necessary
components inherent with field-wired installations.
• Spare parts procurement and management is easier in a standard-
ized installation, and logistics become less complex, with only a sin-
gle part number to source instead of a set of individual components.

6
June 2019
 WHITE
PAPER

4. Uniform Installations are a Win-Win

How much value would you place on a standardized, consistent end product?
Respondents to the LifeSafety Power survey ranked this feature high, with
the majority responding that it’s among their top-5 requirements in terms
of value. Uniform installations provide many other advantages all around:
• Pre-fabricated enclosures also meet the latest needs of data centers
and small-footprint IT closets, making it applicable for more jobs,
areas and vertical markets. Streamlined rack-configurations provide
both operating power and a mechanical housing for access control
components.
• Consistency brings quicker installations with more professional re-
sults, requires less retraining, and provides a high-level of value-add
in the eyes of the end-user customer.
• Standardized installation and wiring documentation can be created
for all systems—providing efficiency in service, maintenance and
follow up work.
• Standard troubleshooting techniques and processes can be devel-
oped and deployed across an enterprise, making it easier for tech-
nicians, especially apprentices or newcomers, to maintain optimal
system functionality.

7
Six Striking Truths That Will Change Your Perception of Power
 WHITE
PAPER

5. Managed Power Services Mean New Streams of RMR

Power has become a transformative part of the industry’s move toward
providing managed services, including remote systems management and
monitoring—driving real-time data to end-user customers for proactive
evaluation and resolution of potential challenges with connected products.

Visibility and control through managed services

Power solutions have evolved to become intelligent networking devices
that can predict battery health and pre-empt possible downtime with real-
time analytics on the status of devices. The new value-add of power also
boasts the following:
• The possibilities to perform managed power services can encompass
a number of physical elements: the main power supply, power system
outputs, supervised inputs, and standby batteries. Managed moni-
toring can include: event reports, AC loss notification, service due
reminders, overcurrent alert, low-battery warning, and insufficient
battery standby. Remote servicing capabilities of power solutions
can include: output supervision, battery load testing, remote power
cycling, and system health logs/trouble alerts.
• With power monitoring also comes the opportunity to create real-
time action alerts and reports. Alert formats may include email, XML,
web-browser notification or Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP). For example, a short circuit or integrated lock that is draw-
ing more or less power than it should, is an indication that it’s begin-
ning to fail. In this condition, an email alert or SNMP trap (notifica-
tion) can be automatically sent to the integration company or end
user, alerting of a potential problem.
• With proactive power management systems and predictive analyt-
ics data from networked components, an end user can be informed,
ahead of time, of impending lock failure or battery fatigue, offering
the ability to replace components in a timely manner. With continuous
power system monitoring comes the opportunity to create specific
action alerts and reports for comprehensive system maintenance and
management.
• The enhanced monitoring proposition of managed power sends imme-
diate notification of current or impending problems. Once notified, the
monitored parameters allow basic troubleshooting remotely without
sending a technician to the site.

8
June 2019
 WHITE
PAPER

6. Focus on ROI, TCO

All products from LifeSafety Power are designed in line with an indus-
try that is experiencing a dramatic shift from analog systems to every-
thing being IP network based. LifeSafety Power has led the way with their
power products, which provide precision data and history to customers—
proactive intelligence they can use for predictive management of access
control systems and devices.
With the new standard of power performance created by LifeSafety Pow-
er solutions, security integrators can achieve a 77-percent increase in in-
stallation and troubleshooting efficiency—while the end user customer
realizes a lower total cost of ownership and stronger return on investment
with an active, IP-managed system. Other benefits:
• Smart power systems can gather specific information to predict and
forecast component failure, like a lock or battery failure—a significant
value-add for the end-user customer.
• The enhanced monitoring provided by managed power allows immedi-
ate notification of current or impending problems.
• Typically, the payback period for a managed power system investment
is recouped in short order from increased operational efficiencies for the
integrator and the end user. See the LifeSafety Power white paper: The
Compelling ROI of Managed Power Solutions, for specific calculations
and explanations of ROI.
• Users gain access to historical data and system operational trends, help-
ing them leverage their entire connected landscape more efficiently.

9
Six Striking Truths That Will Change Your Perception of Power
 WHITE
PAPER

Conclusion
There have been significant changes in the way prefabricated panel enclo-
sures are constructed—now offering seamless electrical and mechanical
integration of power, locks and access panel hardware. Prewired and ready
to install, quick-connect terminal strips can incorporate the latest access
control hardware. Modular and flexible designs allow for many system con-
figurations for every market and customer, all of which come in one ad-
vanced, multi-agency (UL, cUL, CE, FCC) listed system platform.
All these innovations are part of the evolution of power—from static device
to intelligent networking hardware that’s an indispensable part of the con-
nected security and access control solution today.
For more information on LifeSafety Power products or assistance with
your next project, please contact us at https://www.lifesafetypower.com/
or (888) 577-2898.

10
June 2019
 WHITE
PAPER

About LifeSafety Power — Power is Knowledge™

LifeSafety Power is the leader in Smart Power Solutions and patented
remote monitoring capabilities, providing modular AC, DC, and PoE pow-
er systems that meet the growing needs of the life safety and security
industries. Realizing that network technology presents new opportuni-
ties for active monitoring and management of power supplies connected
to access control systems, fire systems, video surveillance and more, the
company has built its products from day one with intelligence and func-
tionality in mind. LifeSafety Power’s current product offering and planned
future innovations in battery test, display and diagnostics represent an
important step in providing overall system reliability and uptime.
All of the product features discussed in this white paper are available
within LifeSafety Power’s product line.
Visit www.lifesafetypower.com for more information.

Company Contacts:

Guang Liu
Chief Technical Officer
[email protected]

John Olliver
Sr VP Business Development
[email protected]

Factory
PH 888.577.2898
[email protected]

11
Six Striking Truths That Will Change Your Perception of Power
 WHITE
PAPER

For more white papers about Specifying and using Managed Power Systems,
visit www.lifesafetypower.com/learning-center/white-papers

© 2019 LifeSafety Power Inc. All rights reserved. LifeSafety Power, and FlexPower are registered trademarks of
LifeSafety Power Inc.

12
June 2019