With security being a top priority for most people, Ohio State is doing its part to make campus buildings as safe as possible.

Physical Facilities Resource Management and University Security Services have joined forces to create the new access control and alarm monitoring system.

“The ACAMS consists of a dedicated campus-wide communications network, file servers, workstations, field controllers, card readers, keypads and electronic security devices,” said Ron Booth, project manager.

“The ACAMS is responsible for encompassing security as determined necessary in providing a safe and secure environment,” he said.

The last security update at OSU occurred in 1995. Since then, campus has expanded and technology has increased.

“In the last eight years the number of systems capable of meeting the requirements of The Ohio State University have grown, as well as communication protocols and improving formats” Booth said.

“The improved communications and lack of availability of some older components of the original system are the biggest contributors to the change of ACAMS platform,” he said.

Plans are to have the ACAMS installed in all new buildings with first priority going to existing facilities.

“The goal of the ACAMS is to incorporate an integrated platform capable of supporting the security requirements of The Ohio State University,” Booth said.

“The ACAMS has the capability to utilize current technology and industry standard expectations for the integration of fire alarm monitoring, critical HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) alarm monitoring, intrusion detection and access control,” he said.

Environmental alarms will also be installed to monitor such things as space temperature and building HVAC system failure.

Testing for the new security system began in September.

“The ACAMS testing is going well.The file servers have been installed and tested in Blankenship Hall,” Booth said.

Blankenship Hall, 2090 Kenny Rd., was the first site to be tested.

“Several alarm systems, card readers and a device that tests all types of alarms were installed in Blankenship Hall,” said Patrick Maughan, director of University Security Services.

“The device testing the alarms is basically a black box that contains the various alarm devices,” he said.

Reviews from those people working in Blankenship Hall have been positive.

“The new system is more flexible for departments that have a desire to have alarms or card access,” Maughan said.

“There were no reported problems with security in Blankenship Hall, but the new format for the transmission of the alarms will allow for expansion, since the old system had reached capacity,” he said.

The process of keeping university buildings safe and secure will come at a price.

“The entire budget for this project has not yet been determined,” Booth said. “The money for this project will come from the general university funds, and individual departments will pay for any work over the basic replacement,” he said.

The new system will affect a majority of the facilities at OSU.

“All existing ACAMS equipment currently in place in academic buildings will be upgraded or replaced with the new ACAMS. Any new construction or renovation requiring access control will use the new ACAMS equipment,” Booth said.

Before the system is upgraded or replaced in every building, testing will also take place in the Wexner Center for the Arts and Telecommunication Network Center.

“We have not had anything installed to date,” said Su Au Arnold, alternate building coordinator for the Wexner Center.

No date has been set for the completion of this project.

“The project is going very well considering its complexity,” said Terri Stankiewicz, assistant vice president for Physical Facilities.