Types of Burglar Alarms and Monitoring System

Posted on January 18th, 2008 in Monitoring by Alarm

Burglar alarms are electronically operated security devices that are installed in residential units, commercial and industrial offices and government facilities that emit loud sirens once they detect unauthorized intrusions. The sensors of these burglar alarms range from simple magnetic or mechanical switches to sophisticated electronic motion detectors. Magnetic and mechanical switches are typically installed on entry points like doors and windows. Once the door or window is opened by an intruder, the switch is tripped off completing the electric circuitry of the alarm and the siren is activated.

The motion detectors of modern burglar alarms may either by a radar system that picks up ultrasonic sounds that are emitted and bounced off a wall by the unit, or a photo sensor that catches a light beam that is sent out from across the room by the alarm system. Any deflection of the echoed ultrasonic sound or brief cut-off of the light beam caused by an intruder crossing or moving about in the room will activate the siren. Other fool proof burglar alarms are equipped with thermal or volumetric sensors that can respectively detect the body heat of the intruder or a change in air pressure when a door or window is opened.

Burglar alarms are either hardwired which are more difficult to install, or wireless systems that can be easily set up. Both systems have control panels that do not cut off the alarm once it is activated until the appropriate security code is entered on the keypad. The output of burglar alarms is local if they just sound off a bell or siren and the output may be remote if a distress call is sent to a monitoring system via the telephone lines or cellular network.

Once the monitoring system receives the distress call, verification is immediately made with the homeowner. If a break-in is confirmed, the monitoring system will immediately notify and request for a police response to the scene of the break-in. In cities where the frequency of false alarms is high, residents tend to ignore alarms that go off while in rural areas the alarms are not even heard at all because the residents live far from each other. In both cases, where there is no response to the alarm, the monitoring system plays a very critical role.

Aside from monitoring of home intrusion, the services rendered by a monitoring system have been expanded over the years to include monitoring of fire break-out, medical response, hold-up and robbery, signal and battery charge tracking and host of other vital and critical services. A monitoring system entails a little cost outlay every month, but the protection it provides the homeowner is well worth the investment.

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What is a Burglar Alarm Monitoring System?

Posted on December 12th, 2007 in Monitoring by Alarm

Basically, a burglar alarm is a deterrent to break-ins and intrusions into your home. When somebody breaks into your home, the burglar alarm gives off a loud high-pitched sound that alerts the homeowner and neighbors which normally scares away an intruder. Well and good if the intruder runs away. But what if for some reason, he panics and barges into one of the rooms in your house where you or your loved ones are peacefully asleep? A dangerous and potentially life- threatening situation could quickly develop especially if the intruder is armed. A burglar alarm monitoring system can help prevent this situation by alerting police and security authorities who could quickly send units to your residence to help secure the safety of your home and family.

The moment an intruder breaks into your home, the burglar alarm monitoring system sounds off the siren, takes control of your telephone system and sends out a distress call to your security call center. Upon receipt of your system’s distress call, the call center gets in touch by telephone with the homeowner to verify that the distress call is not a false alarm. Upon determination that a robbery is indeed in progress, the call center accordingly notifies the police station and provides details about the location of the break-in.

Most burglar alarm monitoring systems are equipped with their own power source like an internal battery so that even if there is a power interruption, as in cases of hurricanes or when the intruder intentional cuts off your power lines, the system will still be operational. The battery charge levels of the burglar alarm monitoring system is continuously monitored by the security call center which notifies the homeowner in case the system’s battery charge level changes drastically and needs to be replaced.

Some burglar alarm monitoring systems are fail proof even when the telephone lines are down because they are equipped with their own internal cellular phone unit which is programmed to dial up the call center and issue a distress call in case of a break-in. Burglar alarm monitoring systems are more expensive not because of the extra features of the burglar alarm unit itself, but mainly because of its capability to alert and request for police assistance. Despite the extra cost, no amount is too high a price to pay for your peace of mind, the security of your home and the safety and protection of your family.

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What You Need In Burglar Alarm Monitoring

Posted on November 8th, 2007 in Monitoring by Alarm

The main essence of having a burglar alarm installed in homes and other establishment is to precisely safeguard life and properties. A burglar alarm should be dependable enough that it offers you comfort and peace of mind. But having a burglar alarm plainly in sight is not an assurance that it can provide efficient safety and protection.

Many burglar alarms are connected with a burglar alarm monitoring system to enhance its functional capability in providing safe and protected environment. The main function of a burglar alarm monitoring is to provide support on the alarm services from your burglar alarm system. Companies offering burglar alarm monitoring services have trained staff to monitor your burglar alarm activities 24 hours using special phone lines and security computers. If in case the alarm is tripped or activated the burglar alarm monitoring system can send a direct signal that immediately alerts authorities. Furthermore, in case of power and battery failure, you can be assured that burglar monitoring continues despite these instances.

An additional service of a burglar alarm monitoring company requires an added cost. But the cost is worth in providing professional services to offer you reliable protective measures against burglars and unwanted intrusions to properties. Quality of service and a good track record in experience will indicate an excellent burglar alarm monitoring company.

Referral from colleagues and friends is also a reliable source in finding the appropriate burglar alarm monitoring company to hire. Their testimony is charged to experience. It is also important to do a research and comparisons among companies in terms of the kind of services and cost of service they offer. Since common sense will tell you that any company will be insisting their services to you, it is important that you are certain what kind of service you want to have to make a good choice.

Make a review on the burglar alarm monitoring company’s background. The best place to do this is to make an inquiry from the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association and learn if the monitoring staffs of the burglar alarm monitoring company are well trained and professionals. Ensure that all the monitoring components within their services best suit your lifestyle. Insist that the company make a general orientation to all members of the family involved in the area to be monitored on how the system works.

These suggestions could be tasking. But remember, the issue is about your safety and protection. You cannot just haphazardly delegate such an important and sensitive responsibility to just any company without a background check. Your efforts in painstakingly finding a credible and reliable company will be repaid by the priceless feeling of peace of mind that you are protected and safe anytime of the day.

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The National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association

Posted on September 19th, 2007 in Monitoring by Alarm

The National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association have existed in the United States for almost sixty years to date. Its functions include that of epitomizing, advancing, and pushing the growth and professional development of the industries related to electronic life safety, security, and integrated systems. As of the moment they have around 2,400 member companies located in different states.
 
The organization has tie-ups with the federal government and provides them with the information needed to make decisions such as legislation regarding the industries related to the industry. Through this, they are able to have participation in the decision-making process which directly affects them. Also, it enhances the public and private partnership that leads to good governance.

The National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association serves as a clearinghouse for consumer information because they provide up-to-date and relevant information regarding the products and services that their member companies provide. This raises the awareness of the consumers regarding the companies they deal with regarding the protection of their life and property. The consumers could have a one-stop-shop for information about the companies they wish to deal with and they know that these registered companies are authentic and can be verified immediately with the association. A consumer could easily access the list of National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association member through the National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association website or by giving the association a call to verify.

National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association’s mission includes making links with the government and enhances such, provide its members with awareness regarding the issues they have in their industry, professional development among its members, consumer concern services through the public relations, and standards set for the whole industry to follow.

The association provides certain benefits that only its members can enjoy. They hold conferences and meetings that will help their members establish their business connections. Also, these conferences serve as an avenue for participation from these members especially in government affairs. Moreover, they have formulated means of disseminating the necessary and relevant information to their members about issues and other announcements. Also, they provide other services such as training at a discounted rate for their members.

Membership to the association is of two kinds, the regular member and the associate member. Each has its different ways for applying and also has different privileges for each.

The National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association is located at Dallas, Ft. Worth metroplex. The address is 2300 Valley View Lane Suite 230, Irving, Texas 75062. They could also be contacted through the telephone at a toll-free line which is (888) 447-1689, Local Number which is (214) 260-5970, and Fax Number which is (214) 260-5979.

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Questions to Ask a Burglar Alarm Company

Posted on September 18th, 2007 in Monitoring by Alarm

Choosing a burglar alarm company is an important undertaking because you are in the process of giving them your trust. It is actually trusting them with protecting your life, your family, your possessions, and your own home. You can easily obtain information about the company through the company website, through their customer care hotline, or by giving their office a visit.

First, you have to find out how long the burglar alarm company you are dealing with existed in the market. This will tell you about their length of service and probe some more about the reputation they had. If there are testimonials available, browse through them. However, do not base your decision solely on these customer testimonials because companies only post the good testimonials and not the problems encountered by their customers. These testimonials are true and try to find out for the useful information and do not get captured by the flowery words.

Second, try to find out about services offered by the company. Will they offer a round-the-clock service for their customers? For example, you had problems with your alarm that kept on going off at the middle of the night, the burglar alarm company should be able to provide you with the necessary help even at the wee hours of the night. It shows how much they value their customers and how dedicated they are to serving your needs. Also, ask whether the burglar alarm company will provide you with all the services you need such as monitoring, warranty, two-way voice communication, and installation. This will help you because you do not have to go through the bother of doing some of these services by yourself or save yourself in hopping from one company to the next just to avail of these services.

Third, find out the awards that the burglar alarm company has received during its existence. It will tell something about the kind of service that they provide their customers and about their reputation, too.

Lastly, ask them about the prices of their services and packages. Assess whether it is a reasonable price considering your own capacity and the services they offer their customers. If it is too expensive for you, ask whether they have payment option schemes that will give you the chance to pay for the kind of burglar alarm system that you want.

The burglar alarm company should be able to provide you with these kind of information before you deal with them. Ask carefully and be very sure what kind of company you are dealing with.

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Membership to the NBFAA

Posted on September 17th, 2007 in Monitoring by Alarm

The National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that is composed of the industries involved with protection from threats of intrusion, more specifically with unwanted loss of life and property. Membership to the National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association is of two types—the regular membership and the associate membership.

The regular members enjoy privileges such as representation and advocacy, training, other key players in the industry such as leaders, mentors, and other companies whom you could rely on, information on issues that affect the industry, exposure to a wider audience, and savings and discounts on certain services.

Membership to the said association will build the company’s reputation because of the reliability and credibility of the National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association. Moreover, the association provides up to five million dollars worth of insurance in general liability and errors and omissions through the Security America Risk Retention Group.

This insurance is exclusive only to the members of the National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association. They will also help in employee recruitment through the website of wildbullet.com, a leader in the recruitment sites.

On the other hand, associate members of the National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association are given the privilege of participation in the issues and decisions of the association as well as with the conferences that they have. Moreover, they are given a way to contact other members of the association to expand their business contacts through the listings and through the conferences.

They will also be given the much-needed exposure to both the consumers and the other members via newsletters and other means of publications such as the coupon program. The coupon program is free exclusively for associate members.

Membership to the said association will benefit either of the two types of members. The professional development and growth they provide their members are among the perks to be availed of. Moreover, the reputation and credibility of the organizations are what consumers first look at when they deal with the company so it is very important that the company is attached to an association like the National Bureau of Fire and Alarm Association.

One could apply for membership to the organization through a form downloaded at their website, www.alarm.org. Once the form is completed, it can be sent through fax number (214) 260-5979 with the text that reads Attn: NBFAA Membership. The dues to be paid vary with each membership and can be estimated at their website.

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Burglar Alarm Monitoring: From Product to Service

Posted on September 14th, 2007 in Monitoring by Alarm

A burglar alarm system that emits a loud siren at the slightest sign of intrusion may appear to give adequate protection against burglaries and provides peace of mind. The thought that the intruder will flee once the alarm is set off certainly gives the homeowner a sense of security. But there are instances where an alarm being set off creates a situation that may place the safety of the homeowner at risk.

Imagine a scenario where an alarm sounding off panics an intruder who is already inside the house. Instead of fleeing, the disoriented burglar may just decide to dig in and stay put, creating a situation where the owner will be trapped inside the house with a dangerous and possibly armed intruder. This situation is further exacerbated in cases when neighbors ignore, or fail to hear the alarm, or when the homeowner himself has no way of sending out a call for help. Burglar alarm monitoring systems were developed to avoid the many pitfalls brought about by this kind of a scenario.

Once activated by a break-in, a burglar alarm monitoring system typically sounds off a loud siren and automatically sends out a distress call for police assistance using the household telephone line. The distress call is normally received by the call center of the burglar alarm monitoring system provider, which immediately calls the homeowner to confirm that the alarm has not been accidentally set off. Once it has been determined that a break-in did occur and that a robbery is in progress, the call center quickly notifies the nearest police station and gives the location of the house where the intrusion occurred. While these private call centers act as the central reporting unit, there are places where the local police department maintains its own monitoring center where distress calls are directly channeled instead.

Since the burglar alarm monitoring system is an electric device, what happens in case of a power failure, or when the intruder cuts off the telephone line? In cases of a power outage, the alarm system’s internal battery automatically takes over and provides critical power source for the burglar alarm monitoring system. The alarm system’s battery can operate up to several hours until the local power utility is able to restore service. To prevent alarm system failure, the call center monitors battery charge levels and informs the homeowner of drastic changes in battery charge. Regular battery maintenance or the purchase of new batteries, when needed, is to the account of the homeowner.

There are also burglar alarm systems that make use of an internal cellular phone to send out distress calls. This feature is desirable particularly in cases when telephone lines are down due to hurricanes, or when the intruder intentionally cuts the telephone line of the house that he is breaking into. While these are a bit more expensive, burglar alarm monitoring systems that have effectively evolved from product to service, are well worth the price of the property and privacy that they are supposed to protect.

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