28 March 2023 - Elitsa Dobreva

Featured in: Market Insights, Intrusion detection

At OPTEX we strive to offer the best in intrusion detection by providing a variety of sensors to fit every site and risk requirements. In our current product portfolio, we offer two series of fully certified Grade 3 sensors, the REDSCAN Mini and the FlipX Advanced.

They are both designed to be extremely reliable and resistant in high-risk settings where intruders are likely to be more experienced and have specialized tools or in-depth knowledge of security systems. In this article we will explore these two sensor series and their innovative features, and explain how they meet Grade certification and why they are a great option for advanced security.

Optex grade 3 sensors article

REDSCAN Mini

The award-winning REDSCAN Mini is our compact laser detector using LiDAR technology for accurate and precise detection. It works by creating a ‘virtual’ laser wall or plane with a detection area of up to 20x20meters.

What’s more is that the detection zone is fully customisable and can be split up across up to 4 different zones. This is great for asset protection as you can create a detection field around different sized assets, e.g art in a museum or jewelry displays in a high value store and have alerts showing exactly which asset is being approached. The REDSCAN Mini is extremely accurate and target size can be customised so it can alert if a hand or even an object as small as 2.5cm enters the detection field. The REDSCAN Mini series includes two models, the RLS-2020I for indoor use only, and the RLS-2020S for both indoor and outdoor use.

Another innovative feature of the REDSCAN Mini is its ability to detect thrown objects (only available in RLS-2020S) which is a rare feature to find. More creative intruders may try to cause damage to a building or asset by throwing harmful objects, or they may attempt to steal assets by throwing them over a fence or barrier. With the REDSCAN Mini, this wouldn’t go undetected as it will alert to any thrown objects crossing the detection field, even if they are moving at high speeds.

So how and why has REDSCAN Mini been certified as a Grade 3 sensor? The simple answer is that it does a great job at detecting elaborate attempts to get past it by experienced intruders. A key requisite of a Grade 3 certification is the sensors ability to withstand, and report attempts of tampering or damage. During the setup stage, REDSCAN Mini analyses its environment and records a ‘snapshot’ of that environment which it stores and remembers. Any attempts to rotate it, mask it by putting something over the lens or dirtying it will alter how it sees the environment in comparison to its initial snapshot, causing an alert. It will also alert of any damage received or if the system suddenly shuts down, for example due to wire cutting – leaving intruders with virtually no options of getting past undetected.

FlipX Advanced

Part of our latest indoor range, the FlipX Advanced (FLX-A-AM and FLX-A-DAM) uses passive infrared technology (PIR) to detect intruders based on temperature changes in its environment with a detection area of up to 24m. The sensors provide the ability to create two types of detection areas: wide (up to 18m) and narrow (up to 24m), with just one sensor. This is especially useful for high security sites to protect large vulnerable entry points such as windows by creating a narrow corridor detection zone for that specific area.

The sensors provide the ability to create two types of detection areas: wide (up to 18m) and narrow (up to 24m), with just one sensor. This is especially useful for high security sites to protect large vulnerable entry points such as windows by creating a narrow corridor detection zone for that specific area.

Nevertheless, FlipX Advanced outperforms other standard PIR sensors due to its innovative pyroelectric sensor and higher sensitivity settings. The bespoke pyro sensor features our human catch element which creates human sized detection areas, meaning that only genuine threats trigger alarms, and nuisance alarms caused by small animals or weather changes are ignored.

Furthermore, the sensitivity settings mean that depending on the temperature or the level of risk, the sensor can be configured to be more sensitive to temperature changes. This is what ensures that even on a hot day (30-40°C), the FlipX Advanced will still function with accuracy and alert to intrusions even if the environmental temperature is similar to that of a human.

When it comes to withstanding attempts to tamper, mask or damage the sensor, FlipX Advanced excels in this area with two independent anti-masking functions to ensure the highest level of reliability. One function is on the lens while the other on the microwave module, meaning that no matter if only one part or the whole sensor is covered, it will trigger an alert. Any attempts to damage, switch off, cut wires or rotate will also be detected and generate a trigger of the alert.

Grade 3 sensors offer the highest and most reliable level of security due to their ability to withstand experienced intruders and their innovative features allow for a higher level of security. The OPTEX philosophy is that it’s crucial to be able to trust in your security and know that it won’t fail you when you most need it, this is what we have tried to achieve with our Grade 3 sensors and would recommend them for sites where there is a high level of risk.