Fire Alarms

According to the fire code, all buildings must have proper fire protection systems installed that conforms to the requirements set in the code. Most fire alarm systems do not have problems following the fire code regulations, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the system will be reliable all the time.

In any kind of system, things can sometimes malfunction for some reason or the other, and an efficient system must have ways of overcoming these problems. In the case of fire alarm systems, efficiency does not stop with simply installing the system. For the system to perform its function of providing safety during a fire, a constant fire alarm monitoring procedure is involved.

Fire alarm systems have a control panel that shows the status of all elements of the system within the building. This is called the annunciator, and this device can show the fire alarm monitoring team practically all they need to ensure fire safety in the building.

In the event of a fire, the fire alarm annunciator will show numerical data and flashing lights that correspond to the situations in different parts of the system. It also indicates the location and origin of the fire, and these are the key pieces of information that the fire alarm monitoring team will have to focus on.

With proper fire alarm monitoring, the team should be able to determine if the fire alarm system has actually detected an actual fire. In this case, they must immediately alert the fire department by simply pressing on a button on the fire alarm annunciator. Sometimes, the system will detect a false fire, and the fire alarm monitoring team must deactivate the alarms by pressing a different button.

Fire alarm monitoring does not only happen during actual fires. The team must also regularly check that all components of the fire alarm system are in good working order. All fire alarm devices, including heat sensors, smoke detectors and sprinklers, in the building are wired to the annunciator, and their status can easily be seen on the control panel.

To ensure the safety of the occupants in a building, the fire alarm monitoring team must always be vigilant and alert in noticing discrepancies in the data provided by the control panel.

It's a proven fact that home security system users have taken a great step in detecting intrusion and the early warning of fire.

According to a report by the office of Community Oriented Policing Service, in 1998 police responded to approximately 38 million alarm activations. False alarms account for 10-25 percent of all police calls.

Find information about Security products to help you make an informed buying decision. Our database of online security products and complementary search tools can aid you in your task of choosing which security product you need.

Every year, Chicago police respond to more than 300,000 burglar alarms, 98 percent of them are false alarms, which translate to the equivalent of 195 full time police officers. When you have a home security system installed, you will need to know how the system will work. Arming and disarming the system should be easy to learn and these instructions must be passed on to ALL persons who have a key to your home ? children, grandparents, neighbors, and don't forget the cleaning help and delivery staff.

Your home security system should be designed and installed to be trouble free for your specific daily routine. It will provide you easy protection for your home and loved ones or your business. However, improper use can result in false alarms. Summoning the police or fire department when no real emergency exists is called a "false alarm".

Some simple steps must be taken to make sure that your system works false alarm free:

Make sure all protected doors and windows are closed and locked.

Update your home security equipment regularly

Do not block the sensing path of any detection devices.

Leave your home/business promptly after "arming" your system and disarm your system promptly when entering.

If you make an error on entering your keypad code, wait several seconds before trying again.

Keeps your home security monitoring company up to date on changes to your key holders who would respond with the authorities in your absence?

Use home security system monitoring company decals on doors and/or windows.

Have your home security system periodically tested.

Make sure your Home security system monitoring company has up to date phone numbers for verifying burglar alarm signals.

And finally, if you accidentally trip your home security system, follow your monitoring company's specific procedures for canceling the dispatch.

In an attempt to curb false alarms, most communities have instituted ordinances with fines for repeat offenders. The tax dollars spent needlessly on responding to false alarms is a growing concern for many communities.

Most security companies today are implementing the use of new technology to prevent false alarms and they are using enhanced call verification to make sure that a burglary signal is valid.

It’s a FACT … false alarms rob communities of valuable appropriate police response. If you have any doubt about the use of your system, contact your home security system monitoring company.

Alarm Contacts

Contact switches are magnetic switches used to protect doors and windows for the most part. There are three main styles that are used by most alarm companies. They are recessed contacts, surface mount contacts and roller-ball contacts.

Recessed contacts are hidden in the window tracks and door jams so that they can’t be seen when the window or door is closed. The switch is on the fixed or non-movable side of the opening and a magnet is placed on the movable side. When the magnet meets the switch the circuit is complete and the control knows it is closed. Recessed contacts are more complicated to install unless they are placed during the construction phase of your home or business. A good installation technician can install recessed contacts in your home after construction as long as they have an unfinished basement, accessible attic or closet to run the wires in.

Surface mount contacts function the same as recessed ones however they are visible when the doors or windows are closed. They come in three main sizes being large, small and micro. They come in the colors white, gray and brown so they can blend in to the door trim or window- sill they are mounted on.

Roller-ball contacts are in the hinge side of your door jam and the spring- loaded ball is pushed in when the door is closed completing the circuit. considered a moving part.
These are more likely to need replacement in a few years as they are
All types of recessed and surface mount contacts can be hardwired directly to your control panel or you can get them in a wireless version. Wireless contacts have a transmitter tied to them or built into them that sends a radio signal to a receiver in the control. The transmitter is surface mounted and comes in two colors, white and brown. If white and brown are not your desired colors, you can paint the switches and transmitters to match your decor.

Doors are the most common point of entry and should be protected by your system. I always recommend contacting every perimeter door in your home or business

Window contacts can add up in a hurry as most homes have many windows. I have always felt that window contacts give the homeowner a false sense of security because of the fact that a window has to be opened in order for them to work. If your window is locked (and it should be) when you are away or sleeping, a burglar has to break the glass or remove the glass to unlock it. If they break the glass and the alarm does not sound, why would they open the window? Instead they would most likely clear the broken glass and climb in. That is why your money is better spent on motion detectors and/or glass- break sound detectors.

If you have children, window contacts can be a valuable tool. They will keep your youngsters from opening the window for a stranger. And they will also make your teenager sorry you ever read this. (If they tell you all they want for the holidays is a magnet, the jigs up!) Window contacts are often better at keeping people in than they are at keeping burglars out. If you do choose to use window contacts you may like the fact that the surface mounted versions can be set up so that you can keep your window open a few inches for ventilation and still be armed.

Alarm Contacts

Contact switches are magnetic switches used to protect doors and windows for the most part. There are three main styles that are used by most alarm companies. They are recessed contacts, surface mount contacts and roller-ball contacts.

Recessed contacts are hidden in the window tracks and door jams so that they can’t be seen when the window or door is closed. The switch is on the fixed or non-movable side of the opening and a magnet is placed on the movable side. When the magnet meets the switch the circuit is complete and the control knows it is closed. Recessed contacts are more complicated to install unless they are placed during the construction phase of your home or business. A good installation technician can install recessed contacts in your home after construction as long as they have an unfinished basement, accessible attic or closet to run the wires in.

Surface mount contacts function the same as recessed ones however they are visible when the doors or windows are closed. They come in three main sizes being large, small and micro. They come in the colors white, gray and brown so they can blend in to the door trim or window- sill they are mounted on.

Roller-ball contacts are in the hinge side of your door jam and the spring- loaded ball is pushed in when the door is closed completing the circuit. considered a moving part.
These are more likely to need replacement in a few years as they are
All types of recessed and surface mount contacts can be hardwired directly to your control panel or you can get them in a wireless version. Wireless contacts have a transmitter tied to them or built into them that sends a radio signal to a receiver in the control. The transmitter is surface mounted and comes in two colors, white and brown. If white and brown are not your desired colors, you can paint the switches and transmitters to match your decor.

Doors are the most common point of entry and should be protected by your system. I always recommend contacting every perimeter door in your home or business

Window contacts can add up in a hurry as most homes have many windows. I have always felt that window contacts give the homeowner a false sense of security because of the fact that a window has to be opened in order for them to work. If your window is locked (and it should be) when you are away or sleeping, a burglar has to break the glass or remove the glass to unlock it. If they break the glass and the alarm does not sound, why would they open the window? Instead they would most likely clear the broken glass and climb in. That is why your money is better spent on motion detectors and/or glass- break sound detectors.

If you have children, window contacts can be a valuable tool. They will keep your youngsters from opening the window for a stranger. And they will also make your teenager sorry you ever read this. (If they tell you all they want for the holidays is a magnet, the jigs up!) Window contacts are often better at keeping people in than they are at keeping burglars out. If you do choose to use window contacts you may like the fact that the surface mounted versions can be set up so that you can keep your window open a few inches for ventilation and still be armed.

Alarm Contacts

Contact switches are magnetic switches used to protect doors and windows for the most part. There are three main styles that are used by most alarm companies. They are recessed contacts, surface mount contacts and roller-ball contacts.

Recessed contacts are hidden in the window tracks and door jams so that they can’t be seen when the window or door is closed. The switch is on the fixed or non-movable side of the opening and a magnet is placed on the movable side. When the magnet meets the switch the circuit is complete and the control knows it is closed. Recessed contacts are more complicated to install unless they are placed during the construction phase of your home or business. A good installation technician can install recessed contacts in your home after construction as long as they have an unfinished basement, accessible attic or closet to run the wires in.

Surface mount contacts function the same as recessed ones however they are visible when the doors or windows are closed. They come in three main sizes being large, small and micro. They come in the colors white, gray and brown so they can blend in to the door trim or window- sill they are mounted on.

Roller-ball contacts are in the hinge side of your door jam and the spring- loaded ball is pushed in when the door is closed completing the circuit. considered a moving part.
These are more likely to need replacement in a few years as they are
All types of recessed and surface mount contacts can be hardwired directly to your control panel or you can get them in a wireless version. Wireless contacts have a transmitter tied to them or built into them that sends a radio signal to a receiver in the control. The transmitter is surface mounted and comes in two colors, white and brown. If white and brown are not your desired colors, you can paint the switches and transmitters to match your decor.

Doors are the most common point of entry and should be protected by your system. I always recommend contacting every perimeter door in your home or business

Window contacts can add up in a hurry as most homes have many windows. I have always felt that window contacts give the homeowner a false sense of security because of the fact that a window has to be opened in order for them to work. If your window is locked (and it should be) when you are away or sleeping, a burglar has to break the glass or remove the glass to unlock it. If they break the glass and the alarm does not sound, why would they open the window? Instead they would most likely clear the broken glass and climb in. That is why your money is better spent on motion detectors and/or glass- break sound detectors.

If you have children, window contacts can be a valuable tool. They will keep your youngsters from opening the window for a stranger. And they will also make your teenager sorry you ever read this. (If they tell you all they want for the holidays is a magnet, the jigs up!) Window contacts are often better at keeping people in than they are at keeping burglars out. If you do choose to use window contacts you may like the fact that the surface mounted versions can be set up so that you can keep your window open a few inches for ventilation and still be armed.

Fire Alarms

According to the fire code, all buildings must have proper fire protection systems installed that conforms to the requirements set in the code. Most fire alarm systems do not have problems following the fire code regulations, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the system will be reliable all the time.

In any kind of system, things can sometimes malfunction for some reason or the other, and an efficient system must have ways of overcoming these problems. In the case of fire alarm systems, efficiency does not stop with simply installing the system. For the system to perform its function of providing safety during a fire, a constant fire alarm monitoring procedure is involved.

Fire alarm systems have a control panel that shows the status of all elements of the system within the building. This is called the annunciator, and this device can show the fire alarm monitoring team practically all they need to ensure fire safety in the building.

In the event of a fire, the fire alarm annunciator will show numerical data and flashing lights that correspond to the situations in different parts of the system. It also indicates the location and origin of the fire, and these are the key pieces of information that the fire alarm monitoring team will have to focus on.

With proper fire alarm monitoring, the team should be able to determine if the fire alarm system has actually detected an actual fire. In this case, they must immediately alert the fire department by simply pressing on a button on the fire alarm annunciator. Sometimes, the system will detect a false fire, and the fire alarm monitoring team must deactivate the alarms by pressing a different button.

Fire alarm monitoring does not only happen during actual fires. The team must also regularly check that all components of the fire alarm system are in good working order. All fire alarm devices, including heat sensors, smoke detectors and sprinklers, in the building are wired to the annunciator, and their status can easily be seen on the control panel.

To ensure the safety of the occupants in a building, the fire alarm monitoring team must always be vigilant and alert in noticing discrepancies in the data provided by the control panel.

It's a proven fact that home security system users have taken a great step in detecting intrusion and the early warning of fire.

According to a report by the office of Community Oriented Policing Service, in 1998 police responded to approximately 38 million alarm activations. False alarms account for 10-25 percent of all police calls.

Find information about Security products to help you make an informed buying decision. Our database of online security products and complementary search tools can aid you in your task of choosing which security product you need.

Every year, Chicago police respond to more than 300,000 burglar alarms, 98 percent of them are false alarms, which translate to the equivalent of 195 full time police officers. When you have a home security system installed, you will need to know how the system will work. Arming and disarming the system should be easy to learn and these instructions must be passed on to ALL persons who have a key to your home ? children, grandparents, neighbors, and don't forget the cleaning help and delivery staff.

Your home security system should be designed and installed to be trouble free for your specific daily routine. It will provide you easy protection for your home and loved ones or your business. However, improper use can result in false alarms. Summoning the police or fire department when no real emergency exists is called a "false alarm".

Some simple steps must be taken to make sure that your system works false alarm free:

Make sure all protected doors and windows are closed and locked.

Update your home security equipment regularly

Do not block the sensing path of any detection devices.

Leave your home/business promptly after "arming" your system and disarm your system promptly when entering.

If you make an error on entering your keypad code, wait several seconds before trying again.

Keeps your home security monitoring company up to date on changes to your key holders who would respond with the authorities in your absence?

Use home security system monitoring company decals on doors and/or windows.

Have your home security system periodically tested.

Make sure your Home security system monitoring company has up to date phone numbers for verifying burglar alarm signals.

And finally, if you accidentally trip your home security system, follow your monitoring company's specific procedures for canceling the dispatch.

In an attempt to curb false alarms, most communities have instituted ordinances with fines for repeat offenders. The tax dollars spent needlessly on responding to false alarms is a growing concern for many communities.

Most security companies today are implementing the use of new technology to prevent false alarms and they are using enhanced call verification to make sure that a burglary signal is valid.

It’s a FACT … false alarms rob communities of valuable appropriate police response. If you have any doubt about the use of your system, contact your home security system monitoring company.