Organizations with Verkada Access Control can now trigger alarms with door opened, door held open, and door forced open events – enabling organizations to turn their doors into smart alarm sensors.

The BZ32 is an outdoor-rated siren and strobe light that can deter intruders when an alarm is triggered. The device can connect wirelessly to any VLink hub, such as a nearby BK22 keypad, allowing for easy deployment throughout sites of any size. For organizations that prefer a wired install, the BZ32 can be relay-controlled or connected to the BP52 panel via RS-485.

To learn more, see the BZ32 datasheet.

System changes are now captured in Command audit logs, providing admins a digital trail of user actions that affect alarm system behavior. Audit-logged actions include:

• Keycode created / modified / deleted

• Arm schedule enabled / disabled / modified 

• Site deleted / site address modified

• Disarm door created / deleted / modified

• Response contact created / deleted

• Response level modified

• Partitions moved between responses

Partition-based alarms allow organizations to have different alarm responses within a site depending on which sensors are triggered. For example, if intrusion sensors or cameras are tripped, agents can call security before dispatching police. On the other hand, when the panic button is pressed, agents can immediately dispatch police. With the launch of partition-based alarms, BR33 panic buttons are now also supported in new Alarms. Read the full announcement.

Site admins can now add non-Command users as alarm response contacts by inputting their phone number.

On the live incident page for an alarm, response contacts can see who else has opened the incident link in real time. In addition, response contacts can now also request dispatch police from this page without waiting for an agent to call. Read the full announcement.

Organizations that use Verkada access control or intercoms can allow employees and contractors, who may not have a keycode, to disarm with their everyday credential – such as a card, fob, phone, Apple Watch, or even license plate. Admins decide which doors can disarm which partitions upon a successful unlock, and see who disarmed the system at what time. Even if the internet is down, badge-to-disarm works locally. Read the full announcement.

The WH32 and WH52 are purpose-built for extending wireless sensor coverage in a cost-effective manner. Organizations can add sensors at a distance from the alarm panel with the WH52 wireless hub, which can be installed anywhere with an ethernet drop. And with the WH32 wireless repeater, which boosts the range of any hub, organizations can reach areas with poor signal without running cable. Read the full announcement.

In addition to person and loitering detection, organizations can now also set the camera to trigger when a person crosses a digital line in the specified direction. This is perfect for entrances, gates, and fence lines, where the system should raise an alarm when someone crosses over while ignoring activity on either side. Read the full announcement. 

Site admins can now create key codes that only have permission to arm and disarm certain partitions of the alarm site.