an electronic security system for your home.pdf

7/29/2019 An electronic security system for your home.pdf

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H

omeofthe

Future

Briefing Paper

Jacques DeschampsAvailable online February 2011

An electronic security systemfor your home?

Source: C.S.Solutions


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An electronic security system for your home?

www.leonardo-energy.org

Introduction

Each year, tens of thousands of businesses and families are the victims of burglaries.

These always leave behind deep wounds, both financially and emotionally. As aresult, ever-greater demands are being placed on security. Fitting a security systemis a good basis for protecting your home, flat or house in the country.

If you are considering a security system, the building first has to undergo a thoroughinspection. Every property is different and requires an individual solution. Thebuildings weak points must therefore be determined. Also, lets not forget theenvironmental factors: pets, the number of residents, the interior layout, theneighbourhood, etc. It is then useful to draw up a security concept.

Security concept (types of security)

A total security plan must take account of the three basic pillars of security. The firstpillar is organisational security. Organisational measures form the basis of thesecurity philosophy. These are designed to deprive burglars of opportunity. Themeasures are generally very simple, cheap and easy to apply. They do, however,impact on ways of life, but also establish permanent risk awareness.

The most common measures are:

Make your look occupied.

Dont leave tools and ladders lying around in the garden and make sure thegarden house is properly locked.

Work out an effective key plan.

Do not provide potential burglars with any information (no notes on the doorsaying no bread this week, or were on holiday on the answer machine,etc.)

Compartmentalise the house and, if necessary, use a safe.

The second pillar of the security concept is mechanical security. Physical measuresare the real anti-burglary elements of the basic philosophy. These are aimed atpreventing access and, failing this, at least delaying the burglar for as long as

possible. Most measures are material actions that have a highly obstructive effectand are generally limited to good-quality hinges and locks.

The most common measures are:

Correctly fitting secure locks.

Fitting anti-burglary windows and doors.

Fit anti-burglary sliding gates, roll-down shutters, expanded metal and grilles.

Mechanical securing of cupolas and basement grilles.

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Expanded metal for securing grilles.

The third pillar of the security concept is electronic security. Electronic measuresprovide the notification element within the reaction chain. These are designed toalarm the environment in case of emergency. Most measures use detectors, alarmindication and an unlocking system.

Benefits of an electronic security system

If burglars manage to get round all the obstacles, an electronic security system canoffer sufficient protection for residents and home. This system generally consists ofan electronic burglar alarm in the form of a siren and/or flashing light.

External siren with flashing light. (Source: AVS)

What are the plus points of an electronic security system?

An electronic security system visible from the outside (an external siren) willscare some burglars off. If the burglar does not notice the alarm system straight away, the system may

still scare him off thanks to the loud alarm. The system can ensure that the alarm is passed on to a control room so that

the police can catch the burglar red-handed.

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How is an electronic security system used?

The design of a security system must be well thought-out. Above all, however, the

system must be easy to use. For example, the system can be switched on and offusing:

a keypad an access badge or TAG (personal data chip)

LCD keypad. (Source: Caddx)

Example of a TAG.

Using a keypad is the safest way of operating the system. Using a code gives the

user the following benefits over a TAG or a badge:

Cards and TAGs can be lost.

Looking for the badge or TAG can be tedious.

If a badge or TAG is lost you can cancel it, but you have to do so on the spot.

Its fairly easy to change a code.

With the keypad, the user can assign various control levels to the access codes.Obviously the highest level can cover all possibilities:

Master code

switch the system on and off create and erase all codes read the memory carry out system tests

User codes switch the system on and off change your own code

Arm only can only switch the system on, not off again.

Temporary can be created for guests

Access

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this code can be used, for example, to open or close a gate

What sort of arming methods are available with a keypad?

Full activation: there is no one in the house or flat, everything must be protected and there is an entry and exit delay

for the front door.

Result: everything is activated.

Perimeter activated: this activation method is used to arm the system if someone is

home, only the perimeter zones (perimeter security) will work (windows

and doors), The room detectors do not function at this time.

Result: only the perimeter is secured.

(Source: Visonic)

Partial activation: this activation method is used to arm part of the installation, generally, the system is set up so that only the ground floor is

activated, allowing the residents to move about freely upstairs.

Result: only the specific area is activated.

How do you avoid false alarms?

When switching on the system, great care must be taken to avoid causing a falsealarm.

We know that 70% of false alarms are caused by operating errors. Users of thesystem therefore have to adapt their lifestyle. They must develop the habit of usingthe system. The family will also have to adapt its comings and goings to the security

system to avoid needlessly activating it. It is therefore extremely important that thesystem is as user-friendly as possible.

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The other 30% of false alarms are generally due to a technical fault with thedetectors. Specifically, a number of detectors (mainly room detectors) are stillinstalled in the wrong place. It is therefore necessary to follow the installation

instructions closely.

If a false alarm sounds, you must search the installation memory to determine thecause in order for the problem to be resolved as quickly as possible. If this falsealarm happens often, in time (generally after several false alarms) no one will react tothe alarm going off. Some countries or cities even impose fines for false alarms.

An alarm system should be inspected at least every six months, without disturbingthe neighbours. Even alarm systems connected to a central control centre must beinspected by the user.

There are also a number of technical aids to avoid false alarms. This can be done byincorporating alarm verification. This alarm verification is best achieved by fitting theinstallation with a silent alarm. There is only a silent alarm if no sirens are triggered.

How can an alarm be identified by people or services?

A silent alarm can be sent in various ways:

A message to a private person. This message can be sent via a land line or amobile phone to a land line number or to a mobile phone.

The message is generally limited to an alarm indication or atechnical fault (power outage or battery fault), the message is generally sent to a number of people, if

necessary, this can be stopped by a person who has beenreached),

the messages may be lost through the use of answer machinesand comfort lines,

sending messages to a private person is generally the cheapestway of using a silent alarm.

A message to a monitoring centre.

This message is generally much more secure, there is always someone in the monitoring centre who can

monitor the installation, several messages can be sent, technical monitoring of all kinds can be sent through (fire

detection, gas detection, floor detection, etc.), alarm verification can be performed, (a number of regulations

are applied when checking whether a correct alarm has indeedbeen sent, or whether there has been an operating error forexample, system activation followed immediately by an alarm inthe hall),

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the reaction of the monitor is defined in advance in a protocol; inother words, for every message, the protocol specifies whichperson or service must be notified and how:

break-in message: the police and the person responsible network error message: the person responsible

fire message: the fire service and the person responsible

etc. the monitoring centre can check the presence and function of the

telephone line (this is generally done once a day), an annual subscription must be paid.

Choosing a fitter

If, after consideration, you ultimately decide to install a system, you must choosefrom various fitters, or install a DIY system.

For a professional installation, you are better off seeking the advice of recognisedalarm installation firms. Have two or three companies draw up an offer and assesshow each one listens to your needs and expectations, comes up with proposals tomake the system user-friendly and, where appropriate, also proposes a number ofmechanical measures.

At the time of the offer, you must be happy with the security firms proposal. Bear inmind that the chosen fitter will be coming in and out of your home freely and will be

aware of all your valuable items. You should certainly not get the feeling that thecompany is getting off cheaply by submitting a standard offer or by proposingexcessive (and generally far too expensive) measures. There should also be arelationship of trust between the client and the security firm.

If you decide to install the system yourself, bear in mind that:

Professional systems are not generally sold in department stores.

A professional firm:

has more experience in correctly installing the equipment,

has more experience in designing the system, is experienced in programming the system, has professional contacts with monitoring centres, knows and applies all municipal, city, regional and national

regulations, has more experience in concealing cables, has a specialist after-sales service.

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