Intruder Alarms

First of all, have you ever had a Risk Assessment of your property or business premises?

It’s a really good idea to have an expert to look at the location, the shape, number of doors and windows, access to the rear, numbers and types of locks on your doors and windows, distance from the road, gated access, availability of street lights and movement light detectors you may or may not have installed.

And all this is before you look at the type and value of your house/business contents, any valuable pieces of art or stock, collectables, jewellery, and designer or electronic goods. It is certainly not a case of one size fits all and there are different types of Alarm systems depending on your need for them.

• Low Risk: If your risks are low, then you may only require an audible only Alarm, which is a bell or siren that attracts attention from neighbours.
• Low to Medium Risk: With a little more risk, you may be advised to have an Alarm with a Speech or Voice Dialler, that sounds an alarm and also sends a text or voicemail to a third party.
• Medium to High Risk: With more risks identified, the next level of security is to have a coded signal sent, by telephone or radio to a 24 hour manned alarm receiving Centre known as an ARC who then contacts the owners via an agreed method.
• High Risk: The top level of Alarm security is to have all this, plus the addition of a Police response, where the ARC notifies the Police. You need this if you have premises with a high value of goods or where there are safety risks to any staff.

All these alarms should be installed by a suitably qualified installer who has been trained in where to locate the sensors and which alarm system is suitable for your risks. The ideal Alarm installer should be accredited by the Security Systems & Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) as they are audited to the British/European Standards to design, install, maintain and monitor the system as well as being able to advise you about staff security vetting, training and record keeping.

NB: you need to use an SSAIB accredited installer if you require a Police response to your alarm, also, Insurance Companies may not validate your Alarm system unless it was installed by an SSAIB accredited contractor. So you may be able to buy a cheap alarm system and install it yourself, but this may not be recognised by your Insurer and could cost you a payout on your Policy.

Choosing the right intruder alarm is an important decision for your business and for your home, so here are the differences between both systems to help you choose the right one:

A bells-only alarm, or audible alarm:

• Only activates an external siren when activated by an intruder.
• The cheapest and most popular option for an average home system.
• Makes a visual deterrent and is better than no alarm at all.
• Police would only respond if a 3rd party, a neighbour or passer-by, witnessed and confirmed an actual break-in.
• If you live in an urban area with an active neighbourhood watch scheme, a bells only alarm system may be effective.
• If you live in a rural or remote location, who would hear or notice your alarm ringing?

A Monitored Alarm System

• Will be connected to an alarm receiving centre (ARC).
• The alarm panel will communicate with the ARC in the event of alarm activation.
• The ARC will then notify either the appropriate key-holders for the property or the Police, depending on the arrangement and other factors.
• An annual fee is charged for Alarm Monitoring by the alarm company.
• It must meet specific standards to get a Police response.
• It must be installed to British and European Standards and have an annual maintenance contract from an approved alarm company.
• If the Police attend to 2 false alarms in any rolling 12 months, the response will be downgraded to a lower level of Police response.
• If further false alarms occur the Police will revoke their response. So the need for an annual service and re-set is vital.

If you are trying to decide whether to go wireless or stick to the hard wired alarms, here are the benefits and differences for you:

Wireless alarms:

• Much easier and less disruptive to install
• There’s no need to lift carpets to run cables under floorboards
• No furniture to move or holes to drill in the walls
• Lower installation cost compared to a hard wired system
• They are portable, so can be removed for decorating
• Easy to move house or office and take it with you

Must conform to British Standards and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Intruder Alarm Policy BS 6799 Class VI alarm. This is a requirement for police monitoring.

Hard wired alarm systems:

• Are more robust and more reliable
• They need less maintenance
• Higher install cost as they need to be installed by an Electrician or Alarm Company
• Cables will be hidden inside the walls so nothing visible

Must meet British Standard 4737/BS EN 50131 and conform to the ACPO Intruder Alarm Policy. Make sure that this is documented on your quotation to meet your Insurance Policy requirements.