The technology in alarm design is continually improving - the incidents of false alarms are being restricted whilst higher degrees of security is being provided.

A properly installed alarm system can help to protect your property. These can be audible-only types or be monitored by a Central Station. For the business user, a monitored system is strongly recommended.

Alarms can now produce not only audible warnings but also give visual verification of activation or even a sequential system to track the movement of the intruder on the premises as they pass through a series of detectors.

The central control officers can therefore accurately verify to speed up the process of apprehension; it also minimises the inconvenience of false alarms.

Selecting an Alarm Installer
(See also Supplier Selection)
Many insurance companies now require customers to use approved installers if they wish to benefit from lower premiums. Check with your insurance company as to their requirements prior to selecting your alarm installer.

In order to get a balanced view of what is on offer, get quotations from at least three reputable companies and compare them relative to the equipment and protection they have to offer.

A number of self-regulating associations have been set up including NACOSS, SSAIB, I.A.I, Integrity 2000 and AISC. Companies affiliated to these bodies should be considered because they have made national agreements to provide:

• Good quality equipment

• Qualified installation personnel

• All installation to BS 4737

• Professional servicing/maintenance as required

• To meet the local Police requirements

Alarm response
The incidences of false alarm activations are too high (currently standing at over 90% of all activations recorded). Your installer will refer to your local Police alarm policy, which must be adhered to. Besides covering Police requirements of installers and associated equipment standards, it governs the level of response that can be expected to alarm activations.

A disciplined approach to alarm setting and unsetting must be implemented to ensure that false alarms are kept to a minimum. In extreme cases Police response can, and probably will be withdrawn.

It is essential to ensure that nominated individuals, when attending the premises in case of activation, cannot be compromised and forced to unset the alarm. Alarms are now available with in-built Duress Codes. Two numbers are recognised by the Monitoring Station but one, although the alarm is unset, actually alerts them that it is an illegal entry.

Communication
Any alarm, however advanced, is only effective if it is responded to. There are a number of methods of communication between the alarm and the monitoring centre.

Monitored (Digital Communicator)
The most common system relies upon a communal telephone link between the alarm and monitoring station.

These lines can easily be cut and rendered useless. Where the telephone lines are easily accessible from above ground illegal interference is made easy. Steps should be taken to have the lines routed underground.

An additional line can be installed to carry an alarm signal direct to the central station. However, this may prove more expensive than the other methods.

BT RedCARE
RedCARE monitors BT lines connected to alarm systems. When an alarm is activated, a signal is sent, via the RedCARE network, to the monitoring centre within seconds.

This reliable signalling is continuously monitored 24 hours a day and can instantly detect malicious line cuts.

Paknet
This provides a communication package which uses radio signalling rather than a telephone line to supply the critical link from the protected premises to the monitoring station. This renders the alarm system immune to line cutting or other forms of telephone interference and provides reliable signalling.