Help Combat False Alarms
Electronic security systems are a proven deterrent in
preventing crime. When selecting a company to install and monitor your
system, make sure the company is a member of the (LIAA).
LIAA
members are dedicated to providing the highest level of service and also
adhere to a stringent Code of Ethics. As part of the Code of Ethics our
association members follow strict guidelines to help reduce false alarms. As
professional security installers we believe it is our responsibility to help
combat false alarms.
LIAA
members work hard everyday to prevent false alarms and we take pride in
the work we have done to reduce false alarms, but we need your help.
Preventable user error accounts for 80 percent of false alarms, according
the False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA).
We believe the key to reducing false alarms is user
and installer education. Make sure when you purchase an alarm system that
your alarm professional explains how to use the system thoroughly to all
members of your household who are going to use it. If you have questions ask
them. The alarm professional is there to help you. If your equipment
malfunctions immediately call your alarm company. If you forget how to use
the system refer to your manual or call the alarm company. They key is
communication and education. Our members are trained to help you!
LIAA
members regularly are given information on how to reduce false alarms.
Our members also attend conventions and meetings on false alarm prevention
and under law must take classes to keep them up-to-date on installation
practices including false alarm prevention. For more information visit
www.faraonline.org.
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Invest in Peace of Mind
A security system is an investment for your peace of
mind. In general, a system is available for any budget. Costs do vary and
largely depend on which security features you choose, what you want to
protect and the area you live in.
An alarm system is designed to:
- Detect an intrusion
- Activate a warning device upon detection of an
intrusion
- Deter crime
- Protect life and property
- Bring an appropriate response to an emergency
- Enhance the apprehension of Criminals
When you’re ready to buy a system you can expect a
one-time installation fee. If you choose to lease your system, an
installation fee may or may not be included in a monthly service fee. You
can also expect a monthly monitoring fee for the professional monitoring of
your system by a central station.
Many insurance companies will offer discounts on home
insurance for professionally installed systems. Typically, these discounts
range from two to 30 percent. Ask you insurance agent for more information.
LIAA members are here for you to answer your
questions and respond to your needs. Remember, it is important to be a smart
consumer, but you do not need to be a security expert that is what we are
here for! To find a LIAA
company in your area click here.
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How do I Decide On the
System that is Right for Me?
Step One, understand the basics. The information in
this guide will give you the basics of home security systems.
Step Two, determine your goals: for example, to
protect your home when no one is there, protect your family at night, or
protect your family while one spouse is out of town. (Most buyers have
multiple goals.)
Step Three, assess the priority areas to be covered.
For example, a Temple University study that indicates 60% of intruders enter
through a door; therefore, alarming all doors should be a high priority. In
the same study it was also revealed that 79% of burglaries in three
communities near Philadelphia, the burglar entered through the first floor.
The front door, back door, and first floor windows were the most common
means of entry.
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How do I Select a Qualified
Installer
The New York Department of Public Safety Private
Security Board (PSB) requires that burglar alarm businesses and installers
of burglar equipment be licensed. Ask for a license number when evaluating
potential companies.
LIAA members are here for you to answer your
questions and respond to your needs. Remember, it is important to be a smart
consumer, but you do not need to be a security expert that is what we are
here for! To find a LIAA
company in your area click here.
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System Components
An alarm system is made up of a control panel, the
“brain” or central processing unit of the system; keypads, allow the user to
activate or deactivate the system and check the system via a visual display;
sensors, detect activity within the system; and an annunciator, bells,
sirens or lights that sound or display when the sensors detect activity
within the system.
Control Panel
The
control panel is the "brain" of the alarm system. When a detection device of
any kind is activated the signal is transmitted to the control panel, which
in turn activates the audible sounding device, and the communicator, (if the
system has one) to report the alarm.
The control panel turns
the system on and off via remote arming stations.
It also includes the
alarm system's power supply and standby battery.
Monitoring
T
BFAA
strongly advocates having your system professionally monitored. In the event
of the alarm being triggered the 24-hour monitoring station is contacted via
the system. The monitoring station immediately summons help from the police
or fire departments. If a system is not linked to a monitoring station no
help will be called in the event you are away from home or if you are home
and unable to call for help.
Digital Communicators are the most common
method used in homes to transmit an alarm signal from the home over regular
telephone wires to an alarm monitoring station. When the alarm is activated
the digital communicator seizes the telephone line and dials the central
station computer, confirms contact and delivers a coded signal giving the
location and type of alarm that has been activated. The service should call
your home and ask for your password to determine if a burglar alarm was
unintentional. If you provide the correct password and state that the alarm
was unintentional, they should not call the police. If you give an incorrect
password, they should dispatch the police based on a possible hostage
situation. If the monitoring service calls and receives a busy signal, an
answering machine, or if no one answers the phone, they should dispatch the
police.
Some important issues in selecting monitoring
services are:
- UL Listed: A UL listed monitoring service
is required to maintain the highest industry standard for its premises,
equipment, and operations. This is based on Underwriters Laboratories'
independent, objective standards, which it enforces through its rules and
regulations, including regular and surprise visits, tests and inspections.
- Back-Up Systems: The monitoring service
should have a complete back-up system that includes duplicated computer
systems, power generator, and an alternate routing into the nation's
telecommunication grid.
- Location Is
Unimportant: Some consumers wrongly perceive that a local monitoring
facility is better than one out-of-town. The fact is, the quality of the
monitoring service is the important issue. With the sophistication of the
current telecommunications network, there is about a one-second difference
between connecting with an out-of-town versus local telephone number. In
fact, a local service may not have the financial resources of a larger
out-of-town service; consequently, their equipment may be of lesser
quality and result in a longer response time than the out-of-town service.
- In-House Versus
Third Party Monitoring: A security company may perform the monitoring
themselves in-house or may contract to have a third party perform the
monitoring. There's no inherent advantage to either method. You can
receive great or inferior monitoring with either in-house or third party
methods.
Arming Stations
Key
operated arming stations use a high security key to arm and disarm the
system, A red light is normally used to indicate if the system is armed. A
more common type of arming station is the digital key pad. This is much like
the
key pad on a touch-tone telephone. A preset combination number is entered
into the key pad to arm and disarm the system. The combination code can be
changed.
Some systems may be
controlled with “key fobs” that can be carried on a key chain. Buttons on
the fob are used to turn the system on and off.
Types of Keypads:
- L-E-D: divides your building into numbered
areas or zones and uses a light blinking next to the numbered zone to
indicate the location of a problem. The keypad may emit an audible beep to
confirm that keys are pressed and a louder siren type noise when an alarm
is activated.
- L-C-D Fixed Language: divides your building
into numbered zones and uses an alpha numeric display to indicate the
location of a problem. A limited number of pre-selected words are used for
the descriptions. The keypad may emit an audible beep to confirm that
keys are pressed and a louder siren type noise when an alarm is activated.
- Fixed Talking: divides your building into
numbered areas or zones and a voice is used to indicate the location of a
problem. The voice is pre-recorded with a limited number of words. It does
not use your voice or choice of words. The keypad may emit an audible beep
to confirm that keys are pressed and a louder siren type noise when an
alarm is activated.
- L-C-D Programmable Language: divides your
building into numbered areas or zones and uses user selected words such as
den or back French doors to name the zones. An alpha numeric display is
used to indicate the location of a problem. The keypad may emit an audible
beep to confirm that keys are pressed and a louder siren type noise when
an alarm is activated.
When Do You Use The Keypad?
The keypad is the part of the system that you will
use on a daily basis. Some of the ways that you will use the keypad,
include:
- Turn System On/Off: All keypads are used to
turn the system on and off. You select a function and enter your personal
code to validate the entry. Some keypads allow you to assign a temporary
code to a guest or baby-sitter and then delete the temporary code once it
is no longer needed.
- Help In A Panic Situation: Most keypads
have a panic button or panic key sequence that will immediately activate
the alarm and alert the monitoring service. The panic button will function
regardless of whether the system is on or off. It's the quickest and
simplest method of calling for help.
- Alert Police You're A Hostage: Some keypads
allow the use of a hostage or duress code. For example, if you are being
held against your will, and the intruder orders you to deactivate the
alarm system, you can enter your hostage code rather than your normal
code. The system deceives the intruder by indicating that you have
followed his instruction and deactivated the system while, in fact, a
silent alarm is sent to the monitoring service. The monitoring service
will not call to verify that you need help; they assume you're in a
hostage situation and immediately notify the police.
Features Of Keypads
The features vary by the type of keypad. Following
are a few of the more popular and important features.
- Controlling Household Lights: To turn on
selected lights when you enter the house and or to automatically turn on
the lights when the alarm is activated.
- Lighted Display: Some LCD keypads have a
lighted display and lighted number keys. This is not only a matter of
convenience but also an important safety feature in an emergency
situation. You will be able to quickly find the keypad and easily read the
display at night when the lights are off.
- Prompting Assistance: Some of the alpha
numeric and talking keypads use prompts to help you in working with the
keypad. For example, if you want to create a temporary code for the
baby-sitter, the keypad will provide work prompts to take you through the
process step by step.
Annunciators
Bells, sirens or lights sound or display when the
sensors detect activity within the system.
Siren-
An electronic output alarm device
,designed
to produce a very loud, hard to ignore sound when activated. Sirens are
available in many shapes and sizes. They can be concealed or mounted in
plain sight.
Bell
- Electromechanical device noise-making device. A clapper is moved
electromechanically to strike the bell and produce a loud ringing sound.
Annunciator-
A visual indicator showing the location of an alarm. Annunciators pinpoint
the exact location of an alarm or problem. With their help, the alarm user
can locate a faulted door or sensor at closing time. In addition, service
personnel can quickly locate a system defect. Many keypad also contain
lights or displays to annunciate system events.
Strobes
- Strobe light can be used to visually indicate an alarm condition. Various
color lens can be used to differentiate separate events. Strobe lights
usually flash to save power and attract more attention. Strobe lights can
help authorities locate the site of an alarm.
Perimeter Sensors
Listed below are different types of sensors used in
an alarm system. Discuss with your alarm professional what is best for your
system. Use varies depending on the space covered, whether there are small
children or pets in the household, what the system is protecting for
instance specific valuable objects, etc. Sensors installed on doors, windows
and other outside openings are called perimeter protection. Area/space
protection is when sensors are installed inside a home or business.
Magnetic Contacts
Magnetic
contacts are used to sense when a door or window has been opened.
Contacts can be surface mounted on a door or window
or flush mounted so that they are concealed when the door or window is
closed.
They depend on the direct physical
operation/disturbance of the sensor to generate an alarm. Magnetic switches
are composed of two pa
rts
- a two-position magnetic switch mounted on the interior of a door, window
or container frame, and a two-position, magnetically operated switch. The
standard switch is designed to be either normally open or normally closed,
depending on the design. When the door or window is closed, the magnet pulls
the switch to its "normal" non-alarmed position. When the door or window is
opened, the magnet releases the switch, breaking the contact and activating
the alarm.
Mechanical Switches
Mechanical switches are
used to detect the opening of a protected door or window. These sensors are
contact switches that depend on direct physical operation or disturbance of
the sensor to generate an alarm. Mechanical switches are spring-loaded or
plunger devices that trigger when a door or window is opened.
Glass Break Detectors
These
devices sense the vibration or sound of breaking glass in a window or a door
and activate the alarm. Some sensors are mounted directly on the window
glass others are mounted in the room where the windows are located.
Acoustic sensors listen for, and
detect, the high frequency typically created when an initial shattering
impact is made on the window. Once impact is made, high frequencies caused
by the glass breaking travel away from the point of impact toward the outer
edges of the glass surface. These vibrations excite the acoustic sensor
processor which passes the frequency through a filter, compares the
frequency for a match and signals an alarm if appropriate.
Glassbreak sensors monitor glass that
is likely to be b
roken
during intrusion. The sensors are housed in a single unit and mounted on a
stable interior element (wall or ceiling) facing the main glass surface.
Shock sensors feel/sense the typical frequency shock wave that is created
when glass is broken. When the processor detects this shock it signals an
alarm.
Dual Technology Acoustic/Shock Glassbreak Sensors
monitor glass that is likely to be broken during intrusion. The sensors are
housed in a single unit and mounted on a stable interior element (wall or
ceiling) facing the main glass surface. In dual-tech sensors an acoustic
device is linked with a shock device. This combination utilizes the
complementary capabilities of both
devices
and provides for a low false alarm rate sensor. The acoustic portion of the
sensor uses a microphone to detect frequencies associated with breaking
glass. A processor filters out all unwanted frequencies and only allows
frequencies at certain ranges to be analyzed. Once the processor receives
the frequency, it is compared to those associated with glass breakage. If
the signal matches frequencies characteristic of breaking glass, then a
signal is sent to the AND gate. The shock portion of the sensor "feels" for
the frequency in the form of a shock wave created when glass is broken.
When the processor detects this shock, it sends a signal to the AND gate.
Once the AND gate has received both signals an alarm is generated.
Wired Screens
Specially
designed window screens can be installed with laced wire.
These screens contain inconspicuous, built-in
alarm wire which protects against cutting or tearing the screen, and also
contain a magnetic contact to guard against removal of the screen.
When the wire is cut the alarm’s annunciator will
signal a break in security.
Screens allow you to activate the alarm system while
a window is open.
Interior Motion Sensors
Passive infrared, photoelectric, ultrasonic, or
microwave detectors sense changes in a room caused by a human presence.
Passive Infrared Detectors
Passive
Infrared Detectors can be used to sense the entry of an intruder into an
area. They can be mounted on the wall or ceiling and can be set to cover
rooms of various sizes. Flush mounted or disguised sensors are also
available. Some detectors have features designed to minimize activation by
small pets.
Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors are passive, that is,
the sensor does not transmit a signal; the sensor head simply registers an
impulse when received. The sensor head is typically divided into several
sectors/zones, each defined with specific boundaries. Detection occurs when
an emitting heat source (thermal energy) crosses a sector boundary. Passive
infrared sensors detect electromagnetic radiated energy generated by sources
that produce temperatures below that of visible light. PIR sensors do not
measure the amount of IR energy per se, but rather the change of thermal
radiation. PIRs "see/detect" infrared "hot" images by sensing the contrast
between the "hot" image and the "cooler" background. The PIR wavelength is
subdivided into two major range detection categories: one covers Near
Infrared Energy (e.g. thermal energy emitted by TV remote control devices),
and the other covers the Far Infrared Energy (e.g. thermal energy emitted by
people). It is this latter category which is employed in security
applications. Infrared energy is measured in microns, with the human body
producing energy in the region of 7-14 microns. Most PIR sensors are focused
on this narrow band width. When the radiation change captured by the PIR
exceeds a certain pre-set value, the thermal sensor produces an electrical
signal which is sent to a built-in processor for evaluation and possible
alarm.
Photoelectric Detectors
Photo
electric beam sensors transmit a beam of infrared light to a remote receiver
creating an "electronic fence". These sensors are often used to "cover"
openings such as doorways or hallways, acting essentially as a trip wire.
Once the beam is broken/ interrupted, an alarm signal is generated.
Photoelectric beam sensors consist of two components: a transmitter and a
receiver. The transmitter uses a Light Emitting Diode (LED) as a light
source and transmits a consistent infrared beam of light to a receiver. The
receiver consists of a photoelectric cell that detects when the beam is
present. If the photoelectric cell fails to receive at least 90% of the
transmitted signal for as brief as 75 milliseconds (time of an intruder
crossing the beam), an alarm signal is generated. The beam is modulated at a
very high frequency which changes up to 1,000 times per second in a pattern
that correlates with the receiver's expectation to guard against a bypass
attempt by using a substitute light source. In order to bypass the sensor,
the angle of the beam and modulation frequency would have to be matched
perfectly.
Ultrasonic Detectors
The
Active Ultrasonic sensor is a motion detecting device that emits ultrasonic
sound energy into a monitored area and reacts to a change in the reflected
energy pattern. Ultrasonic sensors use a technique based on a frequency
shift in reflected energy to detect intruders. Ultrasonic sound is
transmitted from the device in the form of energy. The sound uses air as its
medium and travels in a wave type motion. The wave is reflected back from
the surroundings in the room/hallway and the device "hears" a pitch
characteristic of the protected environment. When an intruder enters the
room, the wave pattern is disturbed and reflected back more quickly, thus
increasing the pitch and signaling an alarm.
Microwave Detectors
M
icrowave
sensors are motion detection devices that transmit/flood a designated
area/zone with an electronic field. A movement in the zone disturbs the
field and sets off an alarm. Microwave Sensors may be used in exterior and
interior applications. Although very little power is used, the system
provides enough energy for a detector to project a signal up to 400 feet in
an uninterrupted line of sight. The detection of intrusion is directly
related to the Doppler frequency shift principle. Most sensors are tuned to
measure the Doppler shift between 20 Hz and 120 Hz. These frequencies are
closely related to the movements of humans. Objects that fail to produce a
signal or produce a signal outside the tuned frequencies are ignored.
Objects that fall within the range cause the sensor to generate an alarm
signal.
Microwave sensors can
be used to monitor both exterior areas and interior confined spaces, such as
vaults, special storage areas, hallways and service passageways. In the
exterior setting they can be used to monitor an area or a definitive
perimeter line, as well as to serve as an early warning alert of intruders
approaching a door or wall.
Dual Technology Detectors
Dual-Technology
Passive Infrared/Microwave sensors use a combination of both microwave and
passive infrared technology in combination with AND logic to provide a lower
False Alarm Rate (FAR) sensor than either of the sensors independently. This
category of sensors are typically referred to as Dual-Tech. In this type
Dual-Technology sensor, a passive sensor (PIR) and an active sensor
(Microwave or Ultrasonic) are combined into one unit. Both sensing elements
are located in a single casing, and are connected electronically by using
the AND Logic function. The areas of coverage for each sensor are similar in
shape so the detection zone is uniform. Since the two sensors will not
"sense" an intrusion detection precisely at the same instant, the system is
designed to generate an alarm when both sensors produce an output in a
pre-selected time interval.
Audio detectors
Audio
detectors listen for noises generated by an intruder's entry into a
protected area, and are generally used, but not exclusively, in internal
applications, from an entrance foyer to critical data/resource storage
areas. The sensor is made up of two devices: Pick-up units mounted on the
walls or ceilings of the monitored area, and an Amplifier unit which
includes processing circuitry. The Pick-up units are basically microphones
that listen for noise. These microphones collect sound for analysis by the
processor circuit, which can be calibrated to a noise threshold that is
characteristic for an intrusion attempt. If a certain amount of noise is
detected from a monitored area within a selected time period, an alarm
signal is generated.
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Wired Versus Wireless?
Systems can be hardwired
into a home or business or can be wirele
ss.
There are pluses and minuses to each.
-
A wireless system uses
radio frequencies to communicate with the systems components, whereas a
wired system is hardwired together via wires from one system component to
the next; these wires may be exposed.
-
Wireless systems
require the maintenance of battery changing but have the convenience of
portability if a homeowner decides to move.
-
Hardwire parts may be
less expensive than wireless; however it may be costly to conceal wires in
a hardwired system.
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Smoke Detectors
Provide the earliest
possible warning of a fire. They should be installed inside and outside of
each sleeping area and on each level of your home.
Visit our fire alarm
guide for more information.
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