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Choosing an Alarm System
Which Type of Alarm System ?
Type A - Remote Signalling
On activation, the system automatically notifies an
approved 24hr monitoring station somewhere in the country, who call your
local police. Systems at commercial premises cannot make any audible
sound at the scene for 10 minutes, but domestic systems can. Enquire
about the additional annual charge for the monitoring.
Type B - Audible Only
On activation, the system just rings audibly at the
premises - commercial or domestic. The cost should be for the
installation only, although some customers prefer to take out a service
/ maintenance contract.
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Which Alarm Company ?
Type A - Remote Signalling
Police will only attend remote signalling alarms
installed by alarm companies whose business is subject to inspection by a
recognised Independent Inspectorate organisation. Currently, these
Inspectorates are:
NACOSS
(National Approval Council for Security Systems)
Tel. 01628 37512
SSAIB
(Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board)
Tel. 0191 296 3242
AISC
(Alarm Inspectorate Security Council)
Tel. 01704 500 897
IAI
(Independent Alarm Inspectorate)
Tel. 07000 780 831
These organisations publish lists of relevant
companies.
You should seek answers to the following questions:-
- Before disclosing personal security details, have
I checked the address and credentials of the company and seen proof of
identity from their representative?
- Is the company subject to an independent
inspection process and if so which organisation?
- Is the installation of an alarm a requirement of
my insurance company and if so, is the company acceptable to my
insurer?
- Can the company representative provide me with a
list of Police rules for occupiers of premises with alarms and written
confirmation that the alarm and the company are currently acceptable
to the local Police for the transmission of alarm messages from new
installations?
- Have I sought written quotations from at least
three alarm installers?
- Does the quotation:
- specify that the installation will be to
British Standard 4737 or BS 7042 (high security systems), or if it
is a wire free alarm, BS 6799 clause 6 as amended by NACOSS Code
of Practice NACP 12?
- include the terms of maintenance and
monitoring contracts?
- Does the company operate a 24 hour call-out
service and emergency attendance within 4 hours?
Type B - Audible Only
The police do not recommend individual alarm companies
(or even "recognised" companies). Of course, most of the
companies that install Type A alarms also install Type B alarms.
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| Reproduced by kind permission of the
South
Trafford Crime Prevention Panel
Author: PC Chris Mackenzie, Assistant Force CSO, GMP
Copyright © 1995, Greater Manchester Police |
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