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Intruder Alarms - continued

Central Station Monitoring

A Digital Communicator uses a telephone line to communicate with the Central Station. It can distinguish between different alarm signals such as intruder or personal attack. If the system is to provide for automatic police response it should have a dedicated phone line and it should send 'open' and 'close' signals to reduce the chance of false alarms being policed. Accordingly, each time the system is set or unset you pay for a telephone call. Some companies use a premium rate number but even at the standard rate the cost can mount up. Key holder only response avoids these additional calls and costs. In many police areas an alarm system which brings police response and which is installed in commercial premises must be 'silent' at the premises for ten minutes in order to give the police a chance to attend before the intruder is scared away. With some types of premises the burglar would acheive his objective and be long gone in five minutes.

Systems with police response are subject to that response being withdrawn if false alarms persist. As a measure to reduce the number of false alarms the system can only be reset by an engineer or remotely by the central station if the reason for the activation can be satisfactorly explained and system is configured to do so. Engineer resets can be very costly, paticularly in the early hours of the morning. A standard digital communicator cannot signal if the line is cut.

RedCare Monitoring

RedCare monitoring is operated by BT in conjunction with a central station and acts in a similar way to standard monitoring (Central Station Monitoring) The main difference from a security viewpoint is that a 'no response' signal will be transmitted to the central station if the line is cut. RedCare is more costly but there are no call charges for alarm data communication and the line can also be used for speech only (not fax or modem) calls and alarm signals can be transmitted even when the line is busy. Accordingy, RedCare offers a higher level of security than standard monitoring.

RedCare GSM Monitoring

RedCare GSM monitoring is increasingly specified by insurers in order to provide alarm verification (see below). It consists of RedCare as above with the addition of GSM. If the line is cut a 'no response' signal is sent. If this is followed by the detection of an intruder, an 'alarm' signal is sent via the GSM Network.

 

Alarm Verification

Alarm verification works in conjunction with monitored systems and is now an APCO reuirement for policed systems. It comes in several forms:

Sequential Verification

This, the simplest method confirms that more than one detection device has operated in more than one part of the premises. The drawback is that if an intruder enters say through an office window, grabs a computer and exits the same way, the intrusion might not well be verified and not therefore policed. Keyholders would however, still be notified.

Audible Verification

Microphones are installed at straegic points and in the event of an alarm activation the central station operator can 'listen in'. There can be problems if there is a high ambient noise level which can either make listening in difficult or which could be lead to wrong interpretations.

Visual Verification

C.C.T.V. cameras (often fitted within the detectors) are used to send still frames of the 'activation' to the central station in order to verify the prescense of an intruder. Conventional CCTV cameras can also be used in which case the operator can 'tour' the premises and keep intruders on screen and feed the infomation of their wherabouts to the police or security gaurds.

DD 243 (systems with Police Response)

DD 423 is the latest standard applicable to systems with police response in the drive towards false alarm reduction. Before any system qualifies for police response a URN (unique reference number) has to be applied for and issued by the relevant police force. If the URN for any existing system is withdrawn, any application for response to be re-instated will be treated the same as a new application.

For new applications to be considered, the system must be DD423 compliant so losing your URN through false alarms could prove costly as you could be looking at a new system.

There are many changes to system design and configuration but perhaps the most obvious is that the conventional method of unsetting your system by means of entering your code into a key pad is no longer acceptable where full verification is required. Access gained through the normal entry door, must disable verifaction using this method and this might not be acceptable to your insurers. The alternative is to use a high security key lock or electronic key such as a key fob or proximity device. However, depending on the method chosen, you might lose the ability to check which keyholder has gained access when checking in the event log.

It is your insurers who decide what cover they will offer in conjunction with which type of alarm system but at the same time, the system must operate within the rules laid down for the police to issue a URN and accordingly, for police response to be applicable.

Security 'Smoke' Systems

An extremely effective means of reducing theft from within a building is to use security smoke devices. If an intruder activates the alarm and subsequently activates a detector within the area(s) protected by a smoke machine or machines, smoke will be emitted which quickly fills the area and reduces visibility to zero. What you can't see, you can't steal.

The 'smoke' is similar to the type used on the stage and is completely harmless and will not cause any damage to stock or equipment.

Up-load, Down-Load Systems

Many systems now incorporate text display for interrogation of the system (Systems with Text Display). Up-load, down-load systems allow an engineer to interrogate alarm systems from a remote computer using security codes. This means that faults can be diagnosed and system settings changed, for example to remove a suspect non-essential detector from the system to overcome problems to allow the system to remain in use until a site visit can be made.

Large companies with their own security departments can be provided with print outs showing activity at premises where suspicions have been roused including access with date and times of specific keyholders without staff at the particular branch even being aware. In the event of an intrusion, the log can be checked in the same way to verify the stated version of events.

Approvals & Standards

Until a few years ago, each Police Force issued a list of 'recognised' Alarm Companies but this system has now been scrapped. The Association of Chief Police Officers have introduced a uniform policy primarily aimed at Intruder Alarms which involve a direct Police response and as a part of this policy, only companies 'Approved' by one of the ACPO recognised inspectorates can become involved with such systems. As a spin off to this, the Police advice regarding the installation of domestic alarm systems is now to use a company which has gained such approval. However, there is no statutory requirement for a company installing 'audibles only' systems to gain such approval, it is purely on a voluntary basis. In order to gain approval, an alarm company must show that they are keeping proper records, they must provide 24hr emergency service and they must work to and carry out all the requirements of BS 4737 / PD6662 and any other standards relevant to specific installations. Additionally, they are open to regular inspection and vetting and must bear the additional costs involved.

Owl Alarms is inspected and approved by the new SSAIB which has been re-formed to include the original SSAIB, Integrity 2000 and the AISC.

 

NSI (NACOSS)

NACOSS is an inspectorate/approval body. Because NACOSS (formerly the NSCIA) was the original body, 'NACOSS registered company' is often used when all that is meant is 'approved company'. When the system was changed other inspectorates/approval bodies were formed and recognised by ACPO in order to prevent a monopoly from developing futher. As a result of the merger of three inspectorates mentioned above, the new SSAIB now has more approved companies than NACOSS. However, NACOSS have the national's and generally larger companies on their books and in this sector, the number of companies is diminishing due to an alarming number of buy-outs.

Gardtec 800/500 Series

The GARDTEC 800/500 Series Control panel must rank as one of the most reliable ever produced while at the same time being very simple to operate. The new 'Contour' key pad is small and very attractive with a flap which covers the buttons but which allows you to check the status of your system even when the flap is closed. Its simplicity lies in the English Text Display which asks questions for you to answer 'Yes' or 'No'. For example, if you enter the Master Code the display will show:

    To fully set the system, push 'Yes'.
    or:
    To night set the system push '1' for silent part set.
    To un-set the system, simply enter your code.

And that is all you need to know for everyday use, it just couldn't be simpler!
However, you can do a lot more if you so choose and because of the 'Yes / No' you can do it without referring to an instruction book. The system puts you in full control. It 'logs' all events with the date and time including switching on & re-entering the premises plus any alarm activations with the source of the alarm. You can also add and delete user codes at will. So if for example, you are going on holidays and you are leaving your house keys with a neighbour, you can simply add in the code of their choice so they will remember it without writing it down. You can configure that code to automatically start the set procedure as soon as it is entered so they cannot interfere with any settings. On your return, you can delete that code without even remembering it. You can check the log to see if they have been in and how often and for how long. If there has been an activation in your absence, you can check to see if it is 'user error' or a genuine activation. Because the source of the alarm is identified for the engineer, any faults can be simply located and rectified so you can have complete confidence in your system and above all, peace of mind.

These are the user functions that can be accessed with the Master Code:
Do you want to SET the System? - Do you want to REMOVE Zones? - Do you want to TEST the System? - Do you want to VIEW the Log? - Do you want to Change Chime? - Do you want to Prog USER CODES? - Do you want to set DATE/TIME? Enter your code and simply push 'No' until you reach the function you want and then push 'Yes' and follow the on-screen instructions.

These functions are standard on the basic 800 control panel. A range of panels is avaiable with even more functions and features. For commercial premises, the Gardtec 872 will provide up to 144 zones.

Domestic Systems - Designed for Security or Profitability?

People have alarms fitted to their homes in order to deter thieves and to minimise damage and loss. An alarm system with a bell box from a recognisable security company does deter. If however, a thief is not deterred and enters the property, the alarm sounding will invariably send him packing. Why risk confrontation when he can move on to a softer target? How often do you read that 'the intruder fled when he activated the alrm system'?

It follows therefore, that the alarm must sound outside the premises in order to attract the attention of neighbours and others if it is to have the desired effect. Where Central Station Monitoring is employed for domestic dwellings, it should compliment this, it cannot realistically replace it.

There is a disturbing trend for householders to be sold monitored alarm systems (often by NACCOS approved companies) which do not incorporate outside alarms, just empty decoy boxes (which incidentally, does not compromise compliance with BS 4737 provided the correct type of internal sounder is fitted). These systems are usually sold with a monthly monitoring and maintenance payment and the theory is that you don’t need an outside alarm because the system is monitored and the police will be called.

The drawback is that burglars can be in and gone with your valuables in less than five minutes, before the police can generally respond. The ACPO (police) policy for intruder alarms recognises this problem in that the previous requirement by many forces for a ten minute bell delay at private dwellings was scrapped. It is also worth remembering that if the system suffers with false alarms for whatever reason, police response can be withdrawn.

Villains are quick to learn and they will soon discover which companies rely on solely monitoring and do not fit active outside alarm boxes and thus the deterrent effect of any these systems will be diminished.

Such systems are often offered for a low outlay or even ‘free’, (you just pay monthly monitoring and maintenance with a minimum contract of perhaps three years) often by large companies as a means of attaining sales.

The question is, why should these companies choose not to specify an outside alarm? What if police response has been withdrawn? They appear to recognise the deterrent factor because they fit a decoy box, (or is that just for advertising purposes?). The only logical answer seems to be that the customer who has been making monthly payments for three years or more could well think they have paid enough and decide to terminate the contract. As the system would then cease to be monitored, without an outside alarm it would be of little use.

Perhaps the most important deterrent to these companies is the means to deter their customer from terminating their contract!