Spain becomes an international benchmark with the first approved accountant for capacity control

Ten years of research and validation have resulted in Viabox ML1, a pioneering and safe capacity control system that responds to a demand from industry and society to know precisely the number of people who are inside an enclosure in real time, with approved technology, legalized and supported by the institutions.

The Madrid City Council it has been the place chosen by the Innovative Business Group Capacity Control to present Viabox ML1, the first people counter system officially approved by the Spanish Metrology Centre (CEM), after overcoming the demanding requirements of the EU Type Examination in Spain carried out by this control body.

Among other processes, Viabox ML1 has exceeded the precision parameters required to know the people who are inside an enclosure (with an error of less than the 3%); resistance to temperature changes (of -10 at +65ºC), Moisture; of lighting and sound variations, as well as data storage with security guarantees.

"This system is a technological milestone not only in Spain, but at the international level, which is a recognition of perseverance and ten years of research and business collaboration that is now approved, legalized and supported by the institutions, which responds to a long-term social demand", as explained by the presenter Anne Igartiburo, who has been involved in the promotion of this technological advance with the aim of saving lives (Counting is life)when the permitted capacity is exceeded.

The problem of capacity control has different aspects, among which the one related to security stands out, for the risk to the integrity of people that may cause exceed the permitted capacity, as unfortunately has happened in our country with the tragedy of the Madrid Arena, being necessary to do so in a verifiable way according to metrologically reliable instruments.

Spanish design and manufacture

Patented since October 2016 and officially approved in December last year, Viabox ML1 once again places Spain as a leader in the field of legal metrology, by developing the first internationally approved real-time people counter system.

This development responds to the ten years of work of the Innovative Business Group (AEI) Capacity Control, formed by distributors registered in the Metrological Control Register as Age2, Comunicalia Group, Prosegur And Securitas, Manufacturers, repairers and innovation entities, with the aim of promoting and boosting technology on the control of capacity of people; promoting public-private partnerships; promote training actions aimed at users managing premises with capacity, as well as technological products and services, as well as improving and developing the competitiveness of the Spanish metrological sector.

For Felix Navarro, President of Capacity Control and Viabox, "this system is the result of the work of a good team made up of technicians, Installers, Distributors, repairers in which the Ministry of Industry, which is now available through the four distributors enrolled in the CEM: Age2, Comunicalia, Prosegur and Securitas".

A 'black box' for capacity control

Installing Viabox ML1, which may vary depending on the enclosure and whether it is for a control in height building, consists of an access log entry (the free capacity control tag, a ticket, event entries, NFC tag, Card, card or e-ticket on mobile) and a tag reader device.

The reading of the code of these labels is made to the one assigned to each person for their identification of access to the enclosure, as well as output (discounts the person who abandons it through also reading the code). To this is added the counter device, that informs in real time of the capacity control, that communicates with readers centrally through endpoints.

The security and protection of data is guaranteed for two years and has legal and legal validity, since the system is sealed by the Ministry of Industry and after that period it is officially reviewed "so that the information is always guarded" says Navarro.

Today, in Spain there are Autonomous Communities where capacity control is legislated and others in which there is still no specific regulation. According to population figures, The 65% is legally unprotected against over-capacity in premises with limitation in its license.

The Public Administrations that, within its field of competence (Shows, party rooms, discotheques, recreational activities, Etc.) have developed regulations related to the control of capacity in certain public premises for different purposes are the City of Madrid (capacity expansion) and the communities of Andalusia, Aragon, Canary Islands, Catalonia, Valencian Community and Basque Country. These regulations affect more than 5.000 Establishments, Approximately, of shows and leisure in regulated areas, although it is not legislated its obligatoryity in the majority of Spanish communities and cities.

Safety and social responsibility

Among the advantages of using this type of equipment, both for security and for other aspects related to the guarantees of legal compliance and the good use of public places stand out:

• Know the number of people who are in a public place.
• Reliable verification of such compliance up to two years after the event (as a tachograph).
• Verification of the correct use of the equipment by the owners of the premises or of the activity that has an authorized capacity
• Access to secure and inviolable information for competent authorities.
• Remote monitoring by the property or competent authority.
• Improvement in the management of the facilities, with reliable information in real time of the people who are in the premises.
• Complement and integration with image recording systems, with alert generation.
• Applicable to all premises with capacity, both shows and recreational activities (my is, Theatres, Auditoriums, Stadiums, Pools, bullrings, amusement parks, fixed fairs, party rooms, discotheques, Etc); meeting places, work and health use (Museums, conference and conference rooms, Casinos, Hotels,..); common areas in shopping centers, Airports, Stations, Hospitals, Residences, Etc;, as well as social commercial establishments (Libraries, educational establishments, medical offices, offices with a public presence, student residences, Etc.).

Other articles on Age2, Madrid City Council, Spanish Metrology Centre-CEM, Comunicalia Group, Counting is life, Capacity Control, Ministry of Industry, Prosegur, Securitas, Viabox