AFS Security | November 2026
Can you improve security without replacing everything you already have? Could managing keys be simpler, or answering the entrance door more convenient?
These are the questions behind our latest security product review. We’ve widened our search across locks, door entry, access control and alarms to find developments with practical benefits for households, businesses and public-sector buildings.
This edition combines a fresh UK product update with recent launches and established options worth considering. Dates are shown throughout.
Better conversations at the entrance: Hikvision TalkVu
UK distributor update: 3 November 2026
An intercom should help you understand who is at the door and why they are visiting. Background noise, an awkward camera angle or inconvenient controls can make that harder than it needs to be.
Hikvision’s TalkVu range combines video communication, noise reduction and control through compatible indoor screens or the Hik-Connect app. The KV8114 series featured in November’s UK distributor product update.
What could this mean for you? Easier conversations with visitors and more convenient management of an entrance. For a shared property, the right door station can also help organise how visitors contact occupants.
Different models offer different camera and keypad arrangements. Selecting the correct equipment, power supply and network setup matters as much as choosing the range.
A simpler approach to keys: Carlisle Brass ES6 and ES6Plus
Launched: 5 October 2026
In a building with several doors, issuing everyone the same access is rarely ideal. Staff may need particular rooms, residents need their own accommodation, and a manager may require access across several areas.
Carlisle Brass’s ES6 and ES6Plus cylinder range can be incorporated into a combined master-key arrangement.
The customer benefit is organised access: the right people can open the doors they need, while a carefully planned system can reduce the number of keys they carry.
This could suit offices, managed housing and other multi-door premises. A useful starting point is a door-and-user schedule showing who should have access to each space. Cylinder selection and arrangements for authorised replacement keys can then follow that plan.
View the ES6 cylinder range information
More convenient door entry: Fermax Iris
Launched: 15 September 2026
For residents, a door-entry system should be straightforward to use every day.
Fermax’s Iris range introduces redesigned indoor terminals for Duox Plus installations. Its UK-listed 7-inch Wi-Fi monitor includes a touchscreen, hands-free communication and mobile call divert.
Why that matters: residents have another way to answer an entrance call, with less reliance on being beside the wall-mounted monitor.
For an existing Fermax installation, Iris could be worth discussing during a refurbishment or equipment replacement. The installed system, wiring and connector compatibility need checking, along with internet access and applicable service terms.
See the Fermax Iris Wi-Fi monitor
Bring useful app features to an older alarm
PyronixCloud Connect — announced 28 September 2026
An older wired alarm may still provide useful service, even if its controls feel dated.
PyronixCloud Connect is a Wi-Fi module designed to add connected features to compatible legacy Pyronix and third-party alarm panels. These include remote arming and disarming, status checks and notifications.
For the customer, this could offer a practical upgrade without necessarily replacing the whole system. It may be particularly useful where the existing equipment is serviceable but remote visibility would improve everyday use.
Compatibility is essential. The panel’s interfaces, Wi-Fi coverage and any ongoing service charges should be assessed before deciding whether an upgrade or replacement offers the better solution.
Read about PyronixCloud Connect
Less repeated administration for larger buildings: Salto IDM Connect
Announced: 28 October 2026
Managing access can become time-consuming when staff details and permissions need updating in several systems.
Salto IDM Connect links access information with external business systems, initially supporting Salto Space.
Its potential benefit is less manual re-entry and more consistent access information. For a larger workplace or managed estate, supported integrations could help administrators keep credentials and permissions aligned.
This requires a project-specific assessment. Supported connectors, UK availability, licensing and implementation costs need confirming against the organisation’s existing systems.
Fire-detection spotlight: options for occupied buildings
Fire-system improvements can present a particular challenge where new cabling would disrupt a working building.
Two options from our broader review are worth understanding:
Ajax EN54 Line: an established wireless commercial fire-detection range that may suit premises where extensive new cable runs are difficult.
C-TEC FastConvert: described in C-TEC’s 15 October product explanation, it offers a route to a CAST addressable fire system while retaining suitable existing conventional zone wiring.
The potential customer benefit is reduced installation disruption, subject to a survey and appropriate system design. FastConvert still requires compatible replacement devices and control equipment.
These products serve different requirements. Fire detection must be assessed around the building, its occupants and the necessary design, installation and commissioning expertise.
Explore Ajax EN54 · Read C-TEC’s FastConvert explanation
Start with what you want to improve
The most useful upgrade starts with a clear problem: too many keys, difficult visitor communication, time-consuming access administration or an alarm that is inconvenient to operate.
AFS Security works with customers across London, Essex, Kent and Hertfordshire. Tell us about your premises and existing equipment so we can discuss suitable options and the next steps.
Product suitability, current supply, compatibility and installation requirements are checked before a proposal is prepared.