1. Chapter 2 What is an Alarm System? Alarms: The First Line of Defense
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-1

2. Types of Systems Burglary Fire Hold-up, Panic or Emergency
Process Supervision & Condition Monitoring
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-2

3. Fire Alarm Objectives Detect the Signs of a Fire. While Ignoring.
Smoke.
Heat.
Flame.
While Ignoring.
Authorized Tests.
Environment.
Manual or automatic fire systems and sprinkler supervisory systems use a combination of devices to sense a fire emergency at the earliest point in order to alert all the occupants of a building and to notify the central station so that the fire department can be dispatched.
“Initiating devices” such as sprinkler waterflow switches, pull stations, or smoke, heat or flame detectors are designed to indicate when a fire occurs. A fire alarm is a condition that presumes that a fire condition exists and is being reported by the fire alarm system. Fire alarm signals usually require a response by the fire department. All fire alarm systems are active 24 hours a day even when the burglar alarm system is disarmed (turned off). Fire alarms usually activate audible & visual “notification appliances” (e.g.: horns & strobes) throughout the protected premises.
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-3

4. Holdup, Panic, Duress Holdup Panic/Emergency Duress/Ambush
under immediate threat (e.g. gun point)
manual button or money clip typical activation
Panic/Emergency
not under immediate threat (bad guy/gal outside home).
manual button typical activation
Duress/Ambush
under immediate threat
manual button or special entry code typical activation
Most systems allow the customer to follow a robber’s instructions but also allow them to press a button or trip a switch to generate an alarm to the central station. Some systems will also cause film or video cameras to take pictures of the robber(s). Holdup, panic and emergency systems are active 24 hours a day even when the burglar alarm system is disarmed (turned off). They can be manually operated from a fixed location or use radio signals to allow an alarm user to activate the alarm from multiple locations.
Holdup- A holdup alarm is generally intended to signal any action to obtain or attempt to obtain valuables by threat or force which directly threatens the user. Signals can be manually activated by the direct action, such as pressing a button or removing a bill from a money clip in a cash drawer, of the person attacked or of an observer of the attack.
Emergency- Panic- A device such as a push button switch can be manually activated to indicate an emergency has occurred which does not directly threaten the life of the user.
Duress- Ambush- A surreptitious or covert device which produces a silent alarm that is designed to allow a person under a condition of personnel stress that directly threatens the user, such as holdup, to call for help without arousing suspicion. To reduce the chance of false alarms, the device may require two separate simultaneous acts to activate. Duress alarms are normally activated by entering a special code, different from the normal arm/disarm code, at a keypad. As an example, an alarm user might use the special duress code if forced to turn off their burglar alarm system against their will. Normally, this code does not activate sounding devices at the alarm site.
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-4

5. Burglar Alarm Objectives
Detect an intruder in every case while ignoring authorized & normal environmental conditions.
To catch the intruder
Let the intruder know they have been detected.
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-5

6. Common Objectives To react to the event To bring help
To record the event
To avoid false dispatches
False
Dispatch
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-6

7. What Causes a Signal? Open Door Causes Alarm System Message Received
At Central Station
System
Sends
Message
Whatever the cause, an open door, evidence of fire or holdup, an indication of a equipment or other problem, an alarm system will follow the same basic steps to communicate what is happening at the alarm site to the central station.
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-7 65

8. The Alarm Process POLICE ALARM COMPANY5 3 6
ALARM
COMPANY
CONTROL
PANEL 9 4 2 1
1. The alarm is tripped (e.g. door)
2. Signal is sent to control panel
3. Activates siren at premises
4. Seizes phone line - signal
is sent to alarm company
monitoring center
5. Alarm Co. calls premises to verify
6. Alarm is cancelled with password
or passcode, or 7. Alarm Co. calls Police
8. Dispatch
9. Alarm Co. calls emergency contacts provided by customer 7
A master control unit - the brains of an alarm system interprets signals from the sensors and based on the nature of the emergency can notify all occupants of the home or business by noise or beeping. A monitored security system sends a signal by telephone line to the alarm dealers central station. Automation within the central station interprets the signal and directs the central station operator to the proper course of action. This may include notification to the police, fire, medical or just owner notification for non-emergency events. 8
POLICE
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-8

9. Alarm System- Disarmed1 2 3
System is Disarmed- Off 4 5 6 7 8 9 * #
Control
Panel
Siren is Silent
The system shown above is an pictorial example of a simple single circuit alarm system.
In this system a single detection circuit is connected to the control panel.
Like the local system, this communicating system also includes a single touchpad user control point, an annunciation circuit connected to a siren, a transformer which provides the primary power and a battery which provides secondary power.
The communicating system also includes a connection to a remote location through the transmission circuit.
In the disarmed or off state the alarm system ignores the detection circuit.
Opening the switch will not cause and alarm.
Most, though not all, user controls or touchpads indicate the disarmed state by lighting a green light.
AC Power
Battery
Central Station Operator
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-9 56

10. Central Station Operator
Alarm System- Armed 1 2 3
System is Armed - On 4 5 6 7 8 9 * #
Control
Panel
Siren Is Silent
In the armed or on state the control now pays attention to the detection circuit.
As long as the contact switch stays closed no alarm is generated.
Most, though not all, user control points indicate the armed or on state by lighting a red LED.
Central Station Operator
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-10 57

11. Alarm System- In Alarm Control Panel Siren Sounds System is Armed - On1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 * #
Control
Panel
Siren Sounds
Alarm
Operator is Notified
When the magnet is moved far enough away from the contact switch it breaks the circuit which is sensed by the control.
As in the local system the control then sends power through the annunciation circuit to the siren causing it to sound.
In the communicating system the control also sends a signal through the transmission circuits to the remote location.
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-11 58

12. Alarm System Components
User Controls
Sensors
Control Panel
Annunciators
Communications
Power
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-12

13. 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
Next
Chapter
5 Minute
Break
10 Minute
Break
30 Minute
Lunch
60 Minute
Lunch
© 1999 National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association 2-13