Why Important
Increasingly, electric entryphone systems are being installed at the common entrance doors of flatted properties.
However, with a heritage building, first impressions matter. Even small signs of inappropriate style or material stands out, and can suggest that unsympathetic changes have made which can devalue the whole property.
What to look for
In a heritage property, which has been converted from it’s original use, it is very likely that the original ‘bell push’ has been replaced with a electric entryphone system. They are often placed for installation ease, and not aesthetically appropriately.
Also, the wiring may use the single original ‘bell push’ hole, so that it is very easy to disconnected all the connections, but are very difficult to restore without complete replacement of the electric entryphone system.
When to look
When the initial detailed survey is undertaken. Collect photographs of the existing situation.
Undertake annual inspections or when the building has a change of use/occupancy.
How to fix
Where an entryphone is installed, care should be taken to choose and install a robust but unobtrusive system. If possible, it is best to fix the entryphone plate into the timber doorstop or facing.
Alternatively, the entryphone can be fixed into the stone jamb, care being taken to ensure that fixings and sinkings are kept well clear of the corner of stonework.
Bell pull and entryphone systems have recently been developed using flat or dished backplates of traditional pattern and a small speak/listen perforated brass plate fixed on the stone jamb, which is preferable to the combined push button plate. This permits the reuse of the original bell pulls suitably adapted to the system.
Flats can be identified by name in the customary manner or by relative positions in the stair.
Avoiding creating problems
The electrical connections can be easily broken, and the wiring colours may be from a previous standard. Therefore, ensure each connection to each independent bell push/entryphone is clearly recorded before complete removal.
Historical background
The Edwardian period saw the building of purpose built blocks of apartments, and the acceptance of individual external bell push. Usually made of brass, with names plates for the individual family name.
However, as larger individual homes were converted to multiple self-contained apartments, Bell Push boxes appeared.
By the 1960’s plastic was being preferred to brass/Bakerlite. The ‘Intercom’ /entryphone was also introduced. However, unless the heritage building is from that later period, entryphones are mostly considered too modern to be suitable for retention.