Having an alarm professionally installed can allow you access to a range of monitoring services, which means that if an intruder gains access to your property, or fire starts, your alarm will not be ignored even if you're not around to hear it yourself.
How does alarm monitoring work?
In a monitored alarm system, your intruder alarm is connected to an ARC (Alarm Receiving Centre), which can respond in a number of ways, including getting in touch with the emergency services provided they can verify that the alarm has been genuinely triggered.
If you require the police or fire service to attend when your alarm goes off, you will need your alarm to incorporate a remote monitoring service vetted by a third party. Our chosen supplier for this service is Southern Monitoring.
The emergency services will only respond to alarm systems that meet current regulations (ACPO Policy and DD243). In brief, these state that 2 detection devices of independent technology must confirm an alarm signal. All signals must pass via a monitoring station in order for your Unique Reference Number to be passed on to the police control room.
Find a monitored alarm system to suit you
There are several ways of connecting your alarm system to the ARC, including:
Speech/text dialler - Calls or texts keyholders directly with no police or fire brigade response. The integrity of the line can only be monitored at the alarm panel.
Digital Communicator - Calls an alarm receiving centre who, if appropriate, can call the police or fire brigade. A Digital Communicator is a cost-effective way of communicating with the ARC, however, if the phone line is cut, the signal won't get through.
Dual Path Monitoring - Redcare GSM, WebWayOne 2424 and Dual Comm GPRS are all secure dual path signalling systems where if the primary path fails a secondary path will take over the signalling and the ARC will be alerted to the failure in communication.
Single path secure signalling - Where it is not possible to have dual path monitoring due to a poor signal on the radio path or no phone line or network, it is possible to use Redcare Classic, WebWayOne 2424 or Dual Comm GPRS with one path enabled.
Integrate alarm monitoring into your burglar alarm system
Chris Lewis Fire & Security has over 15 years’ experience of integrating alarm monitoring into bespoke intruder alarm systems to meet the individual needs of its customers. To have a monitored alarm installed at your property, get your alarm system serviced, or get straightforward advice from a qualified installer, get in touch with us.