© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association Chapter 10 The Central Station –24 hour /7day Operation –Receive Signals –Process Signals –React to Signals –Alert Authorities Alarms: The First Line of Defense

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association Monitoring Options Central Stations Certified Central Stations Proprietary Police Department Answering Service

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 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 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 Central Station Functions Reading & Interpreting Signals –Which Customer? –What Type? Dispatching the Authorities –Police, Fire, Other?

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association Central Station Functions Customer Notifications Documentation & Record Keeping –Accurate Records –Each & Every Action

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association What Happens to the Signals at the Central? Direct Link to Computer Automation System Handled Manually By Operator Ln Alarm System Receiving Equipment

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association Manual Systems

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association Automated or Computerized Systems Ln Alarm System Receiving Equipment Direct Link to Computer Automation System Ln = Jones Residence Burglary Front Door Jones Residence Burglary Front Door ACME Valves Opening Signal Scroll Screen

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association Signal Processing

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association General Signal Types Process or Condition Fire Holdup- Emergency Burglary

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association Common Signals AC Power Failure Communications Failure Low Battery Restore Supervisory Test Fail to Test Trouble

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 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 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 Responses Vary Immediate Response –Burglary –Fire –Holdup/Panic/Emergency/Ambush/Duress –Medical “Autologged” Signals –Open-Close

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association CSAA False Alarm Study Monitored Systems Reduce Police Dispatches! They filter unnecessary signals Activations = 160, Requests for Police Dispatch =

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 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 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 Alarm Verification Chart

© 2001 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 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 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 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 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 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 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 5 Minute Break 10 Minute Break 60 Minute Lunch 30 Minute Lunch Next Chapter