United States
Client
Kaapzicht
Partner: FS SYSTEMS
Spanning around 190 hectares, Kaapzicht is a family-owned wine estate in the Bottelary Hills of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Founded in 1946, it has been home to four generations of the owner's family and is known for its old vineyards, including one of South Africa's oldest surviving Chenin Blanc vineyards.
Kaapzicht wine estate in the Bottelary Hills of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Challenge
Protect an irreplaceable wine collection against fire, intrusion, and environmental risks while preserving the historic cellar interior
Kaapzicht holds a wine collection built over generations, with value that goes far beyond its price. Protecting it meant addressing several risks at once. Fire or intrusion could cause immediate and irreversible loss, while changes in temperature and humidity could quietly affect the wine over time.
The protection had to be built from the ground up to cover several fundamentally different risks. The estate needed reliable fire detection, intrusion protection with visual alarm verification, and video surveillance so the owner could check the premises remotely at any time. Preserving optimal storage conditions also called for 24/7 monitoring of temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. All these components had to work together while remaining easy to manage for both the owner and the monitoring company.
At the same time, the installation required minimal disruption to the historic buildings' interior, with no unnecessary drilling, cabling, or structural changes.
Solution
A single integrated Ajax system covering everything from fire safety to microclimate monitoring, with wireless installation that does not damage the historic interior
To meet the client's requirements for integrated protection, Ajax Systems partner FS SYSTEMS chose Ajax as the solution that brings all requested components together in a single, perfectly synced system. The project centered on the EN54 Fire Hub Jeweller, a touchscreen fire alarm control panel that also supports intrusion protection, video surveillance, and automation devices. As a result, the entire security infrastructure is managed through a single hub.
The winery's fire safety system was built with the Ajax EN54 Line. EN 54 certified fire detectors provide early detection of smoke and dangerous temperature rises, while EN54 FireProtect (Sounder/VAD) Jeweller ensures the alarm is seen and heard immediately throughout the site.
Intrusion protection built with MotionCam (PhOD) Jeweller detectors featuring photo verification, so the owner and the monitoring company can see what caused an alarm and assess the situation faster. With the Photo on demand feature, the owner can also request pictures from the protected site to check the premises at any time.
For video surveillance, Ajax TurretCam cameras and an Ajax NVR provide the owner with instant access to live and recorded video via Ajax apps. The cameras' built-in AI recognizes people, vehicles, and animals to record only relevant events, reducing storage usage and simplifying archive search.
Protection extends to the wine itself with LifeQuality Jeweller. The device continuously monitors temperature, humidity, and CO2 — microclimatic conditions that can affect wine during storage. If conditions fall outside the required range, the owner receives a push notification and responds before the collection is put at risk.
Lighting was also integrated into the system with LightSwitch Jeweller. Featuring a minimalist design, light switches blend seamlessly into the cellar interior. The owner can control the lights manually on site or remotely via the Ajax app.
As a final touch, scenarios were configured to connect different parts of the system and automate responses to threats. For example, if an Ajax fire detector triggers an alarm, WallSwitch Jeweller automatically turns on the emergency lights, improving visibility during evacuation. The same fire alarm can also trigger Ajax MotionCam detectors or Ajax cameras to provide visual context.
Why Ajax
- A single ecosystem instead of separate solutions. Ajax combines fire safety, intrusion protection, video surveillance, automation, and microclimate monitoring within a single ecosystem. With EN54 Fire Hub Jeweller at the core, the client manages all security functions through one platform. A unified interface and notification flow make it easier to stay in control of the entire site without switching between separate systems.
- Installation with no damage to the historic interior. The fully wireless system architecture eliminated the need for extensive cabling and invasive installation work, helping preserve the historic winery interior. Faster deployment also reduced the time and resources required on site, with minimal disruption to the client.
- Certified solution trusted by regulatory authorities. Ajax equipment is independently tested and certified to recognized industry standards, including EN 54 for fire safety and EN 50131 (Grade 2) for intrusion protection. Meeting these standards satisfies insurance and regulatory requirements. For the client, this provides additional confidence when protecting a wine collection that cannot simply be replaced.
