How Planet Fitness Uses Hanwha Techwin Cameras for More Than Security

Planet Fitness tapped integrator Adirondack Direct to install Hanwha’s 360° cameras with Genetec Security Center to increase security and boost operational efficiencies.

Planet Fitness is known for being a welcoming gym for everybody. In an effort to keep its members safe, comfortable and improve business operations, the company turned to system integrator Adirondack Direct to install a video surveillance solution from Hanwha Techwin and Genetec.

Each of Planet Fitness’ corporate-owned clubs throughout North America is outfitted with approximately eight to 15 video cameras that provide around the clock coverage of the parking lot, lobby, break room, the fitness area where members workout and other key areas — without invading private areas, such as locker rooms and other intimate spaces.

Planet Fitness Senior Vice President of Corporate Club Operations Jim Esposito says the company ultimately chose to implement Hanwha’s 360° cameras in particular because they provide more coverage, yet they save in hardware expenses because fewer cameras are needed.

Hanwha’s SNF-8010 5 MP 360° fisheye camera provides 5MP at 20FPS which captures smoother video at a higher framerate with true day and night function, according to the company.

Built-in on-camera de-warping allows instant access to p/t/z, quad view and panorama views. Alarm triggers for the Hanwha SNF-8010 include intelligent motion detection, audio detection, tampering detection, alarm input and network disconnection.

A typical system setup at Planet Fitness includes placing cameras 25 feet from the wall and 50 feet apart which provides almost 2,000 square feet of coverage per camera, according to the company.

Club managers, regional managers and corporate employees manage the system via Genetec Security Center which provides bookmarks of recorded incidents, ensuring events are already tagged when conducting a search. Adirondack Direct also offers a 24-hour monitoring service and liaisons with law enforcement when needed.

“We knew that Planet Fitness would need thousands of video surveillance cameras for this project and it’s very important to consider reliability and functionality as well as durability,” says Adirondack Direct Director of Security and Technology, Tim Collins. “Hanwha has the lowest customer return number and that means that they manufacture products that aren’t sidelined by constant replacement and repairs.”

Collins also says Adirondack Direct has long recommended Security Center from Genetec for video surveillance management because it provides the best open-architecture platform, robust features and is easy to use.

In addition to providing security and protection against liability for slip and fall incidents, Esposito says it’s also improved operations in multiple ways by providing invaluable business intelligence.

Planet Fitness employs a “Lunk Alarm,” which is used to dissuade aggressive gym behavior such as loud grunts and the clanging of dropped weights.

In order to monitor and evaluate the use of the Lunk Alarms, Adirondack Direct integrated the Lunk Alarm into the Hanwha-Genetec video solution. When a Lunk Alarm is pressed, Security Center creates a bookmark of the event which provides video evidence of what preceded the alarm and how it was managed.

Gyms typically have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the event a member suffers a medical emergency. At Planet Fitness facilities outfitted with the Hanwha-Genetec solution, once an AED is removed from its cabinet, a sensor is activated to shut off the music in the club to provide a calmer atmosphere. The system also creates a bookmark in the VMS and notifies managers and regional managers that an AED has been deployed.

The Hanwha-Genetec Planet Fitness solution also provides key employee analysis that can help managers identify areas of improvement, according to the company.

Each facility has rubber floors that must be cleaned daily and Adirondack Direct has placed a sensor on a floor scrubber that creates a bookmark and recording in Security Center when the device is moved. Video evidence verifies whether the floor was actually cleaned or if the scrubber was just relocated.

Each break room is outfitted with a sensor that creates a video bookmark every time the door is opened. If an employee visits too often, Planet Fitness management can re-orient that employee on the proper policies and procedures.

Video analytics can even solve detect something as seemingly mundane as an employee constantly leaving the front desk to go to a storage closet for a particular item. This can lead the gym to make changes such as moving the item closer to the front desk.

“If during an overnight shift the camera indicates that there was no motion at the front desk for a prolonged period of time, then that’s a problem,” says Esposito. “We expect someone to be in that position greeting and welcoming members so if someone isn’t there, the video can help us understand why.”

Planet Fitness can also use video analytics to discover potential sales opportunities.

“What we’re exploring now is a virtual line that counts the number of people that come and go in the club,” says Esposito. “We know how many people check in. So, if a club checks in 500 people in a day, but there are 600 people that enter the door, that can be lost revenue.”

Esposito adds that the the solution delivers a safe environment that is appreciated by everyone. “It’s somewhat of a security blanket for our members and employees,” he says. “They appreciate our no intimidation mantra and the fact that we have created this safe and secure environment that offers a judgment-free zone where people can do their own thing.”

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