Intercom and Door Entry Systems for Commercial Premises
The front door of your building is where security starts. Before anyone enters, you need to know who they are, why they are there, and whether they should be granted access. A commercial intercom system gives your reception staff, security team or building manager the ability to verify visitors before the door is opened - whether they are at the desk, elsewhere in the building, or offsite entirely.
Modern commercial intercoms go well beyond a buzzer and a speaker. Video entry panels allow visual identification of visitors before access is granted. IP-based systems forward calls to desk phones, smartphones or tablets so that door entry can be managed from anywhere. Integration with access control allows the intercom to release the door electronically once the visitor is verified, with the event logged in the access control audit trail.
Electrifire designs, installs and maintains intercom and door entry systems for commercial premises across London, Kent and the M25 corridor. We design the intercom as part of the wider security system so that it integrates with access control, CCTV and building management from the outset.
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Audio and video intercom systems for commercial premises
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IP-based intercoms with mobile app and desk phone forwarding
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Integration with access control for electronic door release and audit logging
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CCTV integration for visitor recording and visual verification
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Vandal-resistant entry panels for external and high-traffic locations
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Multi-tenant systems for shared commercial buildings
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Intercom System Types
Video intercoms combine two-way audio communication with a camera at the entry panel, allowing the person answering to see and hear the visitor before granting access. HD cameras with wide-angle lenses provide clear identification even in varying lighting conditions. Video intercoms are the standard for commercial premises where visitor verification is a security requirement.
IP intercoms operate over the building's data network using SIP protocol, the same standard used by VoIP telephone systems. This means intercom calls can be forwarded to desk phones, softphone applications on computers, or smartphone apps - so the person responsible for door entry does not need to be at a fixed handset. For buildings without dedicated reception staff, this is essential. A visitor presses the call button, the call is forwarded to the building manager's mobile, they see and speak to the visitor via the app, and grant or deny access remotely.
IP intercoms also simplify cabling in new installations and retrofits, since they use standard network cabling rather than proprietary intercom wiring. For buildings where running new cables is impractical, wireless and GSM-based intercoms are also available.
Audio-only intercoms provide two-way speech without video. They are a cost-effective option for internal doors, secondary entrances, loading bays and locations where visual identification is not critical. They can still be integrated with access control for electronic door release.
For multi-tenanted commercial buildings, the intercom system needs to allow visitors to call the specific tenant they are visiting. Multi-tenant entry panels display a directory of tenants, and the visitor selects the appropriate one. The call is routed to that tenant's handset, desk phone or mobile app, and the tenant grants or denies access. Each tenant can manage their own users and forwarding settings independently, while the building manager retains overall system administration. This is particularly valuable for serviced offices, business centres and shared commercial buildings.
Integration with Access Control and CCTV
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person for any commercial premises to ensure fire alarm systems are adequately maintained. BS 5839-1:2025 recommends inspection and servicing by a competent person at least every six months, with weekly testing of manual call points carried out by the building's own staff. These are not optional recommendations; they are the baseline that enforcement authorities, fire risk assessors and insurers expect to see documented.
Electrifire provides planned preventative maintenance contracts that manage this for you. We schedule your service visits, attend when agreed, carry out a full inspection to BS 5839-1, and provide a detailed service report and signed logbook entry. If we find a problem, we tell you clearly what it is, what it means, and what it will cost to resolve.
When the intercom is integrated with the access control system, granting entry to a visitor does more than open the door. The access event is logged in the access control audit trail with a timestamp, the entry panel identifier, and the user who authorised access. Temporary visitor credentials can be issued from the same platform, and access permissions can be restricted by time, zone and user group. This gives you a single system managing both staff credentials and visitor entry, rather than two separate systems with no connection between them. See our access control page.
Integrating the intercom with CCTV allows every visitor interaction to be recorded automatically. When a visitor presses the call button, the nearest camera captures the event. If access is granted, the entry and the visitor's movement through the building are logged on video. This provides a comprehensive record for security investigations and is particularly valuable for buildings with high visitor volumes, deliveries, or contractor access. See our CCTV page.
In buildings with lockdown capability, the intercom infrastructure can serve as a communication channel during a lockdown event - allowing security personnel to communicate with people at entry points and verify identity before granting access during a restricted-access period. For buildings affected by the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn's Law), the intercom system may form part of the wider communication and lockdown strategy. See our lockdown systems page.
Intercom Maintenance and Support
Intercom systems are front-line equipment exposed to weather, vandalism and heavy daily use. Entry panels, cameras, speakers, microphones, lock release mechanisms and cabling all require periodic inspection and testing to maintain reliable operation.
Electrifire provides planned maintenance for intercom systems as part of a wider security maintenance contract. A typical service visit includes functional testing of all entry panels and internal handsets or monitors, camera and audio quality checks, lock release mechanism testing, power supply and network connectivity verification, physical inspection for weather damage or vandalism, and cleaning of camera lenses and speaker grilles.
If your building has an ageing intercom system with failing handsets, poor audio quality, or no video capability, upgrading to a modern IP-based system can significantly improve both security and convenience. We can assess your existing installation, advise on the most practical upgrade path (which may include reusing existing cabling where possible), and manage the transition to a new system with minimal disruption to building operations.
Intercom maintenance can be incorporated into your wider planned maintenance contract covering fire alarms, access control, CCTV and intruder alarms. See our planned maintenance page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Modern IP-based intercom systems forward calls to smartphone apps, desk phones or softphone applications on computers. This means you can see and speak to visitors and grant or deny access remotely, even when you are not in the building. This is particularly useful for commercial premises without dedicated reception staff.
Yes. When integrated, granting entry through the intercom logs the event in the access control audit trail with a timestamp and user identifier. Visitor credentials can be managed from the same platform as staff access. See our access control page.
An audio intercom provides two-way speech only. A video intercom adds a camera at the entry panel, allowing visual identification of the visitor before access is granted. Video intercoms are the standard for commercial premises where visitor verification is a security requirement. Audio-only intercoms are suitable for internal doors and secondary entrances.
Yes. Multi-tenant entry panels display a directory of tenants. The visitor selects the tenant they are visiting, and the call is routed to that tenant's handset, desk phone or mobile app. Each tenant manages their own forwarding settings, while the building manager retains overall system administration.
Intercom systems should be serviced at least annually, with more frequent inspection for external entry panels exposed to weather and heavy use. Servicing includes functional testing, camera and audio quality checks, lock release testing, and physical inspection for damage. Servicing can be combined with other security and fire maintenance under a single contract. See our planned maintenance page.
Yes. We can assess existing intercom installations and advise on the most practical upgrade path. In many cases, existing cabling can be reused with modern IP-based equipment, reducing installation disruption and cost. We manage the transition with minimal impact on building operations.
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