The new corporate headquarters of a classic car specialist is being protected from fire and potential security breaches by a fully interoperable system from Siemens Building Technologies.

Georg Pappas Automobil Ag in Salzburg, Austria, a family run business for more than half a century, established its new HQ to accommodate a remarkable display of famous classic cars and to provide a wide range of automotive services to its customers. Given the value of the HQ's contents and the architectural splendour of the building itself, an optimum fire and security system, with the flexibility to monitor from a single control point, was required.

The solution from Siemens was a system comprising access control, intrusion detection, video surveillance, fire detection, fire protection and extinguishing, and audio evacuation, all controlled from the building's WinGuard based security control centre. The data interface between the centre and the system ensures that in the event of an incident, be it security or fire based, speed of response is ensured, thereby minimising the potential threat.

The SiPass access control element of the project, which includes full control of the HQ's elevators, features some 57 proximity readers with PIN and 17 escape route terminals. The intrusion detection system consists of two Intrunet SI420 sub-systems, some 30 alarm sensors and a number of infra-red barriers and magnetic door contacts. Turning to the IP-based video surveillance system, this incorporates 15 analogue cameras, 54 IP cameras and two central video servers, all of which sits on the HQ's Gbit Ethernet LAN. The fire detection system and a flexible gas extinguishing system were also installed, with a safe and orderly evacuation in the event of an emergency situation provided through an acoustic and alarm system featuring 72 loudspeakers, with signals transferred via a 100Mbit Ethernet LAN.

The system protects the entire 19,600 square metres of the Georg Pappas HQ which not only houses the impressive car collection but also offers six prestigious car brands and associated services under one roof, along with a repair and accessories shop which is recognised as a centre of competence for the repair of classic cars.

In common with many retail environments, Georg Pappas Automobil elected for a multi-layered approach to their fire and security requirements. This is increasingly the case, with Siemens systems offering an inherent interoperability capability that allows central control, whatever the size of the application.

With some 2,000 employees across Hungary and Austria, the Pappas Group is one of the region's largest automotive sales companies.