House alarms

How to secure your home, shop or office

Electronic security systems are much more affordable than many people may think. The price is comparable with conventional electrical appliances, which are commonplace in every household.

What do these systems consist of ?

Security system detectors sense the opening of doors and windows, breaking glass, human motion, fire or gas leaks. The control panel, which is the brain of the system evaluates the detector signals as to whether an alarm should be triggered. Modern security systems are controlled using a keyboard by entering a code or by presenting an RFID card. They can also be conveniently controlled by remote controls. The remote controls use a floating code that prevents signal copying.

Detectors

According to statistics 80% of burglaries occur by breaking down the front door, so monitoring this door is most important. This is taken care of by a magnetic door detector. It notifies the control panel that doors are open and the control panel waits for a specified time (entrance delay) before triggering an alarm, so that the owner has a chance to unset the system after opening his front door.

Another important detector is the glass-break detector which watches for windows and glass front doors being smashed, which forms the basic protective shield of a home or building.

The interior space is guarded primarily by motion detectors (often known as PIRs). These detectors reliably detect the movement of humans in rooms. They are available in models for regular rooms, for outdoor use, for a long narrow hallway, the ceiling, and models immune to the movement of animals, etc. Standard for an intruder detection system is protection against the risk of fire or explosion. The early detection of fire is performed by optical or thermal fire detectors. If your heating or cooking uses gas, you should use a gas leak detector. Detectors trigger an alarm via the control panel which makes a siren sound and transmits the information as below.

What happens during an alarm ?

1. The interior siren sounds. A high-pitched sound occurs, its main aim is to deter offenders.

2. The outdoor siren. sounds to attract the attention of neighbors or passers-by. and has an intense flashing light. The quality of the mechanical design is very important too, it is protected against tampering (opening, tearing from the wall, etc.) and these attempts are immediately reported to the control panel. It works as the front line for tamper detection !

3. The owner is notified of an alarm on his phone. This is done by communicators using the GSM mobile network or fixed telephone lines. SMS messages are sent to the owner’s mobile and telephone calls too. The alarm can also be remotely controlled by a mobile, which can identify its status and even control appliances in the house.

4. The system summons assistance from a security agency. The communicator forwards an alarm report to the agency’s monitoring station and from there security guards are sent directly into your premises. It is certainly safer and more effective to use security guards than your own force.

Wired or wireless alarm ?

In JABLOTRON ALARMS this doesn’t have to be decided; our systems can combine both approaches.

Conventional wired detectors are connected by cables, which conducts the power supply, and also all signaling to the control panel. Conversely, wireless systems communicate with each other by radio, and sensors are powered by batteries. The reliability and security of both wired and wireless variants is comparable, with wireless systems meeting stringent European standards and outperforming many traditional wired systems.

Wired products are generally cheaper than wireless (more expensive but they avoid the installation of cabling), and most can be combined in a single installation with components from several manufacturers. There is no need to change batteries in the sensors, but it is still necessary to carry out preventive inspections of the system.

What are the main advantages of wireless systems?

Installation itself is very clean (with a minimum of drilling and cutting) and fast (and therefore cheap) with the interior design not being significantly affected by the installation. Systems are also easily extendable to include other devices. If you move furniture, wireless items can be easily moved to another suitable place. Even if you move house, you can easily take your security system with you.

Selecting a system

When choosing a system it must first be realized that the alarm system is responsible for protecting your valuables and so you must be sure it is reliable. You would probably never dream of buying an alarm in a marketplace, but even buying in supermarkets is not the best solution. When asking about an intruder detection system in the EU, make sure the product is approved to standard EN 50131-1, which sets out the basic requirements for alarm systems, In other countries refer to locally recognized alarm standards. If the system uses any radio or telecommunication equipment, then it must also has to meet the RTTE Directive in the EU. This approval is a sign of quality and will greatly facilitate the negotiations with insurance companies on the acceptance of the security installation and premium discounts. The installation company will have to be qualified for their alarm installation license by being trained and tested by the manufacturer or its authorized representative. This certified installer can then give an installation guarantee beyond the minimum legal requirement (e.g. >2 years in the EU). Make sure that the contractor is a reputable company with a good history. Of course there is also a service providing corrections to your system.

Tips on finding the right installer

1. Do not install the alarm system yourself. Although the system contains high-quality components it is still not a guarantee of correct functioning if installation is not done properly. Proper installation is critical for intruder detection systems more than anything else. Professional installation companies offer maximum protection at a reasonable cost.

2. By having a certified installation, you can reduce your insurance payments in the order of 30% in some cases, according to the insurance company. Unauthorized installations will not give you this advantage.

3. In some countries, the tax system allows you to pay reduced VAT on the installation costs. The tax difference for the majority of wireless systems can cover a large part of the installation cost.

4. Professional installation companies offer their customers a significantly extended warranty on our products. Refer installation to the professionals, it’s really worth it.