Home Alarms and Home Security Systems
Deter Burglars from Breaking in to Your Home

The majority of houses that are broken into do not have home alarms fitted; the police will back up these findings. Government statistics also show that around 60% of burglaries carried out on homes fitted with burglar alarms are unsuccessful.

Home alarms also offer tremendous peace of mind, both when you or your family are in the building and also when you are away from it, especially for long periods of time such as holidays. False alarms caused by faulty equipment are now almost a thing of the past due to the rapid advances in electronic technology.

The old idea, that having a home alarm fitted showed the criminal that you had something worth stealing, no longer holds true, as today nearly everyone has something worth stealing.

Home alarms come in two standard forms - wired and wireless, with some systems using a combination of both. Wireless alarms are becoming more and more popular throughout the world, due to their ease of installation and flexibility.

In considering any home alarm system, you must first define precisely what is required of it. The design of your home security system will be a balance between your needs and your budget and one that should not pose so many restrictions on your day to day lives that it becomes inconvenient to use and is no longer operated.

DON'T wait until after the event, buying prevention is often less expensive and costly than buying a cure. Heirlooms, treasures and many other items with treasured sentimental value, along with people are irreplaceable.

Home alarms (in the UK), should comply with BS4737 when professionally fitted or BS6707 for DIY installed systems.


Buying a Home Alarm

Buying security equipment is like buying most other products today, a little knowledge and understanding of the products involved and their applications can often save you a lot of time and money and in some cases considerable heartache.

The main aim of some salesmen (most are honest),is to sell you one of their home alarm systems, irrespective of whether it is the right alarm system to fulfil your needs. In fact some may also have a hidden agenda to sell you a more expensive alarm than you need, due to the amount of extra commission he/she will earn on that particular system. You can however protect yourself from these types of companies and salesmen by understanding a little about home alarm systems and their workings before they arrive and by then asking the right questions.

The first choice you have to make is whether you want a hardwired or a wireless system, and whether you want the alarm monitored through a central station, where after verifying an activation they will alert the police to respond. Since October 2001 any newly installed monitored alarm must also use 'confirmation' technology to receive a police response. Staff at the alarm monitoring station must be able to verify a genuine alarm by: CCTV (to see an intruder), audio (to hear an intruder), or by sequential confirmation (detecting an intruder triggering a number of detectors as he moves around your home).

If you don't want your home alarm monitored through a central station your choice is totally flexible and you can even install a system yourself. Most central monitoring stations normally require a system to be installed by a NACOSS registered security company (otherwise the Police are unlikely to respond), and in the case of a wireless system it must be Class 6 - fully supervised. Some installation companies do not install wireless systems, or if they do many of them will only install lower, Class 3 & 4 systems.

The second choice relates to the system itself and how it operates in relation to your lifestyle. A skilled surveyor will ask you how you, your family and any pets use your home, or are prepared to use it. He/she should also check for any vulnerable points on the premises that need additional protection and then advise you accordingly. Then after carrying out the survey he/she should thoroughly explain the working of the system proposed, which should allow you the flexibility and security that you require, with regard to: zoning, panic buttons, fire protection, outbuilding protection, dialler and communicator outputs, sirens/strobes and easily changed keypad codes for arming/disarming. The system should also be able to cater for any future expansion that you may require - house extensions, outbuilding protection etc. Alarm system installations, both wireless and hardwired are priced in a number of ways, with the costs made up as follows:

• Equipment costs
• Installation costs
• Monitoring fees (if applicable)
• Maintenance fees (sometimes built-in, sometimes extra)
• Finance costs (interest and arrangement fees)

Many professionally installed systems are sold with contracts, which will include central station monitoring, general maintenance and servicing twice a year (mandatory on NACOSS systems). Servicing, apart from the occasional battery changes is minimal on most good quality modern alarm systems. The terms and conditions of these contracts can vary greatly and should be studied carefully.

A guide on what to look for when signing up for an alarm system is included in our new security book.

Hardwired Home Alarms

These are exactly what they say, all detectors and bells/sirens in the system are connected back to the alarm control unit by multi-core cables, which supply the power to the detectors and also monitor their signals. These wires are, wherever possible hidden from view by fitting them inside wall cavities, under carpets, through ceilings, under floors. Most panels have internal sounders as well as being connected to an outside siren/sirens and strobe lights, which are activated in an alarm condition.

The major costs in hardwired home alarms, are the labour costs incurred in installing and concealing the wiring, rather than the cost of the equipment. Due to this, hardwired home alarms are nearly always sold with a property rather than removing and re-installing them into a new property when the owner moves. These systems range from the very basic through to the very sophisticated. As well as warning of intruder activity, they can be used to: notify authorities of a medical emergency, monitor smoke detectors, monitor water levels or pressures, or even be linked into the house wiring to control heating, lights, baths, cookers etc., etc., with control via your mobile phone or computer.


Wireless Security Systems

These wireless home alarms operate by transmitting radio signals from the detectors (sensors), to the control panels and in the more sophisticated systems from the panels back to the detectors (supervised systems). Each detector has its own replaceable battery for power purposes, which in normal conditions has a life varying between six months to three or even five years, depending on the type of battery and the amount of activity (the number of movements, opening/closings monitored) responded to by the specific detector.

The only wiring required on a wireless security system is to supply power to the control panel (like the wired system this should be through a fused spur rather than a 13 amp plug, which can be either purposely or inadvertently removed) and possibly wiring to the external sounders. I say possibly, because it is even possible to have the external sounders, radio controlled from the control panel and powered by batteries, which are recharged by solar panels built in to the bell/siren housing.

Another valuable feature of wireless home alarms is the fact that you can have mobile panic buttons in the form of key fobs, pendants etc. giving you constant protection wherever you are in and around the home and garden (providing you stay in range). These are especially useful for the old and infirm who may not be able to reach one of the fixed panic buttons (used with the hardwired home alarms), in time, in an emergency situation.

A convenient accessory for the elderly or infirm is the tilt switch transmitter, a small device worn by the user, which detects a fall and immediately dials out via the alarm panel communicator to selected telephone numbers, who can then ring back to check if help is required or all is o.k.

It is possible to use a wireless panic transmitter and other wireless detectors with a hardwired panel by installing/connecting a separate single or multi channel wireless receiver unit in or adjacent to the main control panel.

Most of the investment with wireless home alarms is in the equipment and the technology itself, as the labour costs of running wires, drilling walls and ceilings and lifting carpets are very minimal when compared to the hardwired systems. In fact many of the less sophisticated wireless security systems are very easily installed and are suitable for DIY installation by those with good practical abilities.

Due to the minimal wiring involved, the wireless security systems can also be removed and installed in new premises as and when required with relative ease. They are especially convenient and cost effective for those renting their houses, flats or apartments, who want protection while they are living there, but do not want to incur the cost of installing a system that they will have to leave behind for the landlord when they move on.

Wireless security alarms are also useful for protecting historic properties (where existing decoration must not be disturbed), empty properties, caravans and boats. Systems are even available that will transmit the respective alarm message to a mobile phone or computer, wherever you or your protected property are in the world.

Sensors

Sensors or detectors come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are designed to react to body heat, air movement, sound, pressure, opening/shutting, vibration/shock, movement, fire, heat, water levels, temperature etc., to detect the presence of an intruder, or warn of a particular danger or event. These sensors signal to the control panel, which then reacts in a particular way depending on how it has been programmed and set.

Today's detectors are generally smaller, neater, more reliable, more effective and less expensive than ever before, keeping false alarms to an absolute minimum. In fact most false alarms are now more likely to be the result of someone using the wrong detectors, siting them in the wrong place/environment or simply operator error.

Most security detectors used in domestic premises fall within two categories: perimeter and space. Perimeter devices protect doors, windows, walls and external plot boundaries, detecting intruders before they actually enter the property boundaries, building or rooms. Detectors used for this type of detection are magnetic switches (most common), audio devices and infra red beams. Space protection devices monitor open areas like rooms and hallways and in some cases sheds, garages and outbuildings where dual detectors would normally be installed. The most common detectors used for these applications are the Passive Infra Red (PIR) detector, followed by the microwave, ultrasonic and volumetric detectors, or in some more difficult applications, a combination of two of the above in one detector (dual detectors).


DIY Installation

Most homeowners are capable of installing a wireless alarm system themselves. The equipment can even be of the same quality and from the same manufacturer as installed by the professional alarm companies. Homeowners can save themselves a considerable amount of money on installation fees. Don't worry too much about siting the detectors, as they are easily moved if the wrong position is initially chosen.

Decide which areas of your property are most vulnerable to break-ins by carrying out a security survey (try and think like a burglar) and whether you are going to install perimeter protection (windows and doors) or volumetric protection (space protectors) or a combination of both, taking into account your family lifestyle. At least with a wireless alarm system you can easily change both the type and position of the various detectors simply, without major upheavals or rewiring.

NOTE: DIY installations may not and probably won't entitle you to the same discount or any discount on your insurance policy.


False Alarms

False alarms used to be a major problem to, the owners of alarm systems, the neighbours, the alarm companies and the police. Today however with the introduction of modern electronics and improved detection systems, this problem has largely been overcome. Although false alarms can still be caused by malfunctioning equipment, or the poor siting of detectors, most are caused by simple operator problems. It is important therefore to learn how to operate your system properly and to teach the rest of the family to do the same. Remember if you accidentally set off a number of false alarms, people will stop paying any active attention to it and you may even be fined for causing nuisance noise, apart from making yourself very unpopular with the neighbours. After a certain number of false alarms the police will not attend, even to a NACOSS installed system.

It is a good idea to test the system (briefly) on a regular basis to make sure that everything is functioning properly. Always advise your neighbours beforehand to avoid unnecessary confusion and the possibility of the emergency services being called.

Additional information including: what to look for when buying an alarm system is available in our new security book 'How to Protect your Family and Belongings Now', 211 A4 pages containing hundreds of valuable security and safety tips for the whole family. Available for instant download

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