Case Study: Harben House – GSM Enabled Intercom & Standalone Access Control System for 57 Offices

Location: Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire
Contract Value: £4800.00
Scope: Design, supply, installation, and commissioning of a cost-effective access control and GSM intercom solution for a multi-tenant office building

Scope of the Contract

Firesand was appointed to design and deliver an access control and GSM intercom system at Harben House, a large serviced office and accommodation complex. The solution needed to enable tenants to manage access for staff, visitors, and deliveries independently—eliminating the need for a permanent on-site receptionist and reducing long-term operational costs.

The project included:

Design and integration of access control across key entry points

Installation of Paxton Switch2 access system

GSM-enabled Videx vandal-resistant intercom panel

Commissioning and training for the on-site facilities team and tenants

Overview

As part of a cost-efficiency and modernisation programme, Harben House sought to reduce front-of-house staffing requirements while improving access management for tenants. Firesand proposed a robust yet economical system combining proven Paxton access control hardware with a GSM-enabled Videx intercom panel, allowing users to grant access remotely via mobile phone.

The solution was designed to be scalable, allowing the facilities management team to control multiple entry points and user permissions across a range of serviced offices—without compromising on security or convenience.

Delivery

The installation was carefully planned and delivered with minimal disruption to existing tenants. The project required the placement of the intercom panel in a difficult-to-cable location, which could have introduced significant cost and complexity. To overcome this, Firesand selected a GSM-based solution, removing the need for new hard-wired cabling infrastructure and keeping the project both on time and within budget.

The Paxton Switch2 system was installed across key access points, with tailored programming for different tenant requirements. The Videx intercom unit, selected for its vandal-resistant build, provided reliable communication and access control via mobile devices—giving tenants and staff the ability to manage access wherever they were.

Post-installation, the Firesand team commissioned the system and provided clear user guidance to both the facilities team and tenants.

Project Challenges & Solutions

The primary challenge was the physical location of the intercom, which would have required extensive groundworks and cable runs. Firesand resolved this by opting for a GSM-enabled panel, allowing installation at the desired location without costly civil works.

As Harben House is a live, multi-tenant site, the system needed to be installed with care and minimal disruption. Our engineers worked flexibly around tenant schedules and ensured all systems were tested, documented, and ready for use with no downtime for access.

Resources

A dedicated Firesand installation team, supported by a project coordinator, delivered the works over a planned schedule. Liaison with site management and tenants ensured clear communication and successful onboarding to the new system.

Benefits

Eliminated the need for on-site receptionist, saving ongoing staffing costs

Easy access management for staff, visitors, and deliveries

Secure, mobile-based intercom control via GSM

Cost-effective installation with no need for new cable runs

Durable, vandal-resistant hardware suitable for high-traffic environments

Scalable system ready to grow with future tenant needs