Chapter 10
Alarms: The First Line of Defense
The Central Station
– 24 hour /7day Operation
– Receive Signals
– Process Signals
– React to Signals
– Alert Authorities
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 1
Monitoring Options
•
•
•
•
•
Central Stations
Certified Central Stations
Proprietary
Police Department
Answering Service
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 2
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.
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 3
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.
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 4
Central Station
Functions
• Reading & Interpreting Signals
– Which Customer?
– What Type?
• Dispatching the Authorities
– Police, Fire, Other?
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 5
Central Station
Functions
• Customer Notifications
• Documentation & Record Keeping
– Accurate Records
– Each & Every Action
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 6
What Happens to the Signals at
the Central?
Direct Link to
Computer
Automation
System
Ln 4 1234-5
Alarm System
Receiving
Equipment
Handled
Manually
By
Operator
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 7
Manual Systems
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 8
Automated or Computerized
Systems
Scroll Screen
1234- Jones Residence
Burglary Front Door
Ln 4 1234-5
2345- ACME Valves
Opening Signal
Direct Link to
Computer
Automation
System
Alarm System
Receiving
Equipment
Ln 4 1234-5
=
Jones Residence
Burglary
Front Door
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 9
Signal Processing
Scroll Screen
1234- Jones Residence
Burglary Front Door
2345- ACME Valves
Opening Signal
Processing Terminal
Ln 4 1234-5
=
Jones Residence
Burglary
Front Door
Act 1234- Jones Residence
300 Main Street
Anywhere, USA
800-123-4567
1/1/95 - 13:00
Burglary Front Door
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 10
General Signal Types
Fire
HoldupEmergency
Burglary
Process or
Condition
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
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Common Signals
• AC Power Failure
• Communications
Failure
• Low Battery
• Restore
•
•
•
•
Supervisory
Test
Fail to Test
Trouble
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 12
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.
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 13
Entry/Exit Alarms
Indicates an alarm that is detected shortly
after arming or before disarming the
system
– Used to reduce false dispatches.
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 14
Responses Vary
• Immediate Response
– Burglary
– Fire
– Holdup/Panic/Emergency/Ambush/Duress
– Medical
• “Autologged” Signals
– Open-Close
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 15
Monitored Systems
Reduce Police
Dispatches!
Activations = 160,925
They filter
unnecessary
signals
=
1783
Requests for Police Dispatch
CSAA False Alarm Study
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 16
Steps Taken By Operator Prior
To Dispatching
• View Previous Activity
– Avoid Multiple Dispatching
• Read Comments on file
– Permanent
– Temporary
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 17
Alarm Verification
• Used to reduce false alarms.
– Call premise before dispatch
– Audio listen-in feature through control
– Check video camera over phone line
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 18
Alarm Verification Chart
Signal
Type
Burglary (Commercial)
Burglary (Residential)
Fire (Commercial)
Fire (Residential)
Emergency
Holdup
Panic
Medical
Other Signals
Verify
Before
Dispatch
Common Yours


Dispatch
Then
Verify
Common Yours
Dispatch
Immediately,
No Verification
Common Yours







© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 19
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.
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 20
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.
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 21
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.
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 22
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
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
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Alarms: The First
Line of Defense
1- Introduction
2- What is an Alarm System
3- What is A False Dispatch
4- Impact of False Dispatches
5- Causes of False Dispatches
6- Preventing False Dispatches
7- User Controls
8- Sensors
5 Minute
Break
10 Minute
Break
9- The Control
10- The Central Station
11- How Authorities Respond
12- What to expect for Alarm
Co.s
13- The Alarm Ordinance
14- Sources of Information
15- Site Survey
30 Minute
Lunch
60 Minute
Lunch
Next
Chapter
© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association
10- 24