Intruder Detection & Alarm Systems

It is an unfortunate fact of life that our society today is such that anti-intruder systems are widely accepted as a necessary and integral part of everyday life.  As a NACOSS-approved Gold installer of such systems, Davenheath-OTS takes pride in delivering the right solution to customers' needs and will design, install and maintain a system accordingly.  In particular the design activities will take account of:

•     the extent of risk any particular premise is exposed to (e.g. office, warehouse, shop); and
•     the way the premises are used (taking account of ease of access for authorised personnel for example).

Solutions, conforming to EN50131 and the ACPO Policy for Intruder Alarms, will typically comprise the following components:

•     Control panel - allowing zoned control of the installation and event logging.  Actual equipment will be chosen to meet the precise requirements and installed in an appropriately secure location;
•     Remote keypad - enabling setting and un-setting of system remote from the control panel;
•     Internal and external alarm sounder(s) - designed to sound an alarm in accordance with any local by-laws and also with strobe lights as required;
•     Dummy alarms - to enhance the presence of the protection;
•     Personal attack alarms - panic buttons located in areas of particular risk or sensitivity;
•     Detectors - a wide variety are available designed to detect movement, heat or pressure changes either in open spaces or on doors/windows using infra-red, microwave, vibration, electrical contact and many more detection methods either singly or in combination;
•     Light controls - these can also be integrated to turn lights on and off depending on a range of events; and
•     Appropriately concealed and mechanically protected wiring.

Once installed, Davenheath OTS can then also ensure that the system continues to meet its objectives through its' after sales services which include:

•     24-hour emergency response;
•     routine inspections at intervals agreed with you; and
•     monitoring.

As you might expect, Davenheath-OTS can either build a full end-to-end system or replace and/or upgrade existing systems with new or additional elements.  Systems can be standalone or be linked into a remote monitoring service using BT Redcare (only available over BT standard landlines) or GSM mobile connections.  Alarms can also be forwarded to local police and Davenheath-OTS will work with its customers to ensure that the system is tuned so as to minimise false alarms which could lead to withdrawal of police response (with possible adverse affect on insurance premiums).

All Davenheath-OTS installations are installed and maintained in a professional manner by our trained engineers who have been Security Screened in accordance with the NACOSS code of practice for security screening.

EN50131

This European Standard came into force in 2005 and defines a structured approach to the implementation of Intruder Alarm Systems comprising the following:

•     Risk assessment;
•     Technical survey;
•     Solution design;
•     Installation in accordance with an agreed specification; and
•     Installation of equipment in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations.

The standard recognises 4 levels of risk as follows:

1. Grade 1 - is low risk where intruders are expected to have little knowledge of intruder alarm systems and be limited to a range of easily available tools.
2. Grade 2 - is low to medium risk and expects intruders to have a limited knowledge of intruder alarm systems and the use of a general range of tools.
3. Grade 3 - rising to medium to high risk expects intruders to be conversant with intruder alarm systems and have access to a comprehensive range of tools.
4. Grade 4 - is high risk where security takes precedence over all other factors. At this level intruders are expected to have the ability and resources to plan an intrusion in detail and have a full range of specialised equipment, including means of substitution of vital components within the intruder alarm system.

The standard also recognises the potential use of components in varied indoor and outdoor conditions.

All these aspects will be taken into account and a design solution presented to customers in the form of a System Design Proposal.

More information can be downloaded from the British Standards Institute website here.

ACPO Policy for Intruder Alarms

The ACPO policy recognises two types of Intruder Alarms:

•     Type A - Remote Signalling Alarms, including intruder alarms terminating at approved central monitoring stations.  Such systems must be installed to recognised standards and police will respond to such alarms with a presumption that an offence is taking place; and
•     Type B - Audible Only and Hybrid Alarms, including bells-only and automatic dialling alarms, as well as alarms from non-compliant companies and non-compliant central stations.  Police will only respond to such alarms if there are other indications that an offence is taking place.

Davenheath-OTS installations will all meet Type A requirements.  The ACPO policy advises potential customers to use the following checklist to ensure that installers claiming to install Type A systems can meet the ACPO requirements:

•     Before disclosing personal security details, have they checked the address and credentials of the company and seen proof of identity from the representative?  All Davenheath-OTS engineers and designers will have been security checked and will carry proof of identity;
•     Is the company subject of an independent inspection process and if so which organisation? - Davenheath-OTS are approved by NACOSS - the National Approval Council for Security Systems and are an NSI Gold-Approved Contractor;
•     Is the installation of an alarm a requirement of my insurance company and if so, is the company acceptable to my insurer?  As an NSI Gold-Approved contractor it would be highly unusual if your insurance company did not accept us but if that does prove to be the case please do contact us and let us know;
•     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.  Davenheath-OTS can do this.  In particular we draw our customers attention to the need to notify their local Police Authority and Environmental Health Authority within 48 hours of the intended operation of an intruder alarm system (Code of Practice on Noise from Audible Intruder Alarms) Order 1981. Ref: Statutory Instrument 1981 No. 1829;
•     Have I sought written quotations from at least two alarm installers?  Davenheath will provide you with a competitive quotation but if you believe it is not for any reason we will be pleased to discuss it with you;
•     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 Class 6, as amended by BS DD 244?  These standards have now been superseded by the European standard EN50131 with which Davenheath-OTS complies;
  •     include the terms of maintenance and monitoring contracts?  Yes although these are optional services which customers might not always choose to take;
•     Does the company operate a 24 hour call-out service and emergency attendance within four hours?  Yes although these are optional services which customers might not always choose to take.

Davenheath-OTS Intruder Detection and Alarm systems will be installed to comply with the year 2000 ACPO Electronic Security Systems Policy for Type A Remote signalled Intruder Alarm systems & DD/243 2002.