Chapter 10 Alarms The First Line of Defense

Chapter 10 Alarms: The First Line of Defense The Central Station – 24 hour /7 day Operation – Receive Signals – Process Signals – React to Signals – Alert Authorities

Monitoring Options • • • Central Stations Certified Central Stations Proprietary Police Department Answering Service

The Central Station Is a secure location dedicated to the receipt of alarm signals & swift precise reaction to those signals. As the term is used in the industry, a Central Station is a professional monitoring station which may or may not meet all the requirements of a Certified Central Station.

Central Station The primary responsibility of the Central Station to its customers is to pass along all signals to the proper authorities and/or the customer representatives.

Central Station Functions • Reading & Interpreting Signals – Which Customer? – What Type? • Dispatching the Authorities – Police, Fire, Other?

Central Station Functions • Customer Notifications • Documentation & Record Keeping – Accurate Records – Each & Every Action

What Happens to the Signals at the Central? Ln 4 1234 -5 Alarm System Receiving Equipment Direct Link to Computer Automation System Handled Manually By Operator

Manual Systems

Automated or Computerized Systems Scroll Screen 1234 - Jones Residence Burglary Front Door Ln 4 1234 -5 Direct Link to Computer Automation System Alarm System Receiving Equipment Ln 4 1234 -5 = Jones Residence Burglary Front Door 2345 - ACME Valves Opening Signal

Signal Processing

General Signal Types Fire Holdup. Emergency Burglary Process or Condition

Common Signals • AC Power Failure • Communications Failure • Low Battery • Restore • • Supervisory Test Fail to Test Trouble

Opening & Closing Signals • Opening – System has been disarmed – Site is now OPEN for business – Scheduled Openings • Closing – System has been armed – Site is now Closed.

Entry/Exit Alarms Indicates an alarm that is detected shortly after arming or before disarming the system – Used to reduce false dispatches.

Responses Vary • Immediate Response – Burglary – Fire – Holdup/Panic/Emergency/Ambush/Duress – Medical • “Autologged” Signals – Open-Close

Monitored Systems Reduce Police Dispatches! Activations = 160, 925 They filter unnecessary signals = 1783 Requests for Police Dispatch CSAA False Alarm Study

Steps Taken By Operator Prior To Dispatching • View Previous Activity – Avoid Multiple Dispatching • Read Comments on file – Permanent – Temporary

Alarm Verification • Used to reduce false alarms. – Call premise before dispatch – Audio listen-in feature through control – Check video camera over phone line

Alarm Verification Chart

Passcard, Codes, & Passwords • A password, passcode, ID number or secret code to identify who is authorized to cancel alarms, conduct tests, & to arm & disarm the system. • Could be a card or a customer selected a number or word code. • Often different from the code used to turn the system on & off.

Abort or Cancel Signal • An authorized user has cancelled the alarm. – an authorized user can enter his/her code to disarm the system & send an abort signal. – commonly verified by calling – all systems should be programmed to send abort signals.

Alarm Notification • The central station operator notifies one or more of the following: – the first person that can be reached on the subscribers call list – guard response – special conditions notification (e. g. low temperature - heating contractor) Central station calls until someone is reached. • Responsible parties should meet police officers at the alarm site.

Voice Recorders • Nearly all Central Stations record calls that include digital or verifiable time stamps: – Check operators actions • W/Customer • W/Police – Can be used to correlate dispatch times

Alarms: The First Line of Defense 1 - Introduction 9 - The Control 2 - What is an Alarm 10 - The Central Station System 11 - How Authorities Respond 3 - What is A False Dispatch 4 - Impact of False 12 - What to expect for Dispatches Alarm Co. s 5 - Causes of False 13 - The Alarm Ordinance Dispatches 14 - Sources of Information 6 - Preventing False 15 - Site Survey Dispatches 5 Minute 10 Minute 30 Minute 60 Minute Break Lunch 7 - User Controls © 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 10 - 24 Next Chapter