Intruder alarm systems
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An intruder alarm is a system widely employed to inform the owner, or other responsible person of a certain building or area of activity, that someone has entered the area.
The simplest intruder alarm is a bell over the door to alert the shopkeeper in the backroom that a potential customer has entered. This system can be enhanced by installing angled mirrors that permit monitoring the entryway at all times from any location in the shop. A variation is the one-way office window, an innocent means of observing the visitor’s actions without their knowledge.
More complicated intruder alarms utilize very sophisticated technology. The level of sophistication chosen, of course, strongly influences the cost factor and therefore depends upon the dangers attending an unwanted intrusion. A museum housing priceless Michelangelo art, for example, employs such devices as pressure pads embedded within the flooring materials around the displays, and sensitive microphones that detect specific frequencies, particularly the ones associated with very sharp sounds such as breaking glass.
Other commonly utilised triggers for intruder alarm systems are motion detectors and infra-red beams mounted in inconspicuous locations. The transmitters and receivers are set at random angles and can be moved often as a further barrier to would-be intruders.
Another intruder alarm system trigger is heat sensors set to certain temperature thresholds. These sensors are extremely sensitive and can detect not only the amount of change but also its rate.
The data gathered from all these intruder alarm applications can be automatically entered into a central office database, visually monitored by means of a hidden closed circuit television system, or used to trigger an audible alarm signal within the general premises or offsite at a specific location such as police headquarters or a control room.
Pet-proof alarm systems
Designing an effective home security system is difficult, but when pets are involved it becomes even more complicated. A cat jumping onto the furniture can set off motion detectors, while the shrill barking of a small dog or the chatter of a bird can trigger sensors designed to detect the sharp sound of glass breakage. Security systems must be designed from the first with the small and furry members of the family in mind to achieve an effective pet-proof alarm system.
Many pet-proof alarm systems incorporate passive infrared sensors (PIR), which are the sensory part of the motion detector. The PIR measures the temperature of an object passing before its lens and compares it to the temperature of the stationary objects it viewed previously. If the PIR detects a mobile hot spot, such as a human or animal body, the sensor is triggered and an alarm initiated; however, PIR sensors for a pet-proof alarm system are triggered only when the body detected is over a certain size, for example 45kg.
Better quality motion detectors for pet-proof alarm systems include both PIR and microwave sensors, and the alarm is not activated until both sensors are satisfied that motion has been detected. Because the microwave system is not fooled by pets, false alarms are decreased.
Pet-proof alarm systems also utilize perimeter protection rather than interior motion detection. Such a system includes magnetic contact switches for entry points, which trigger the alarm when the door or window is opened and the contact is broken. By not depending upon motion detection technology, these perimeter detection systems protect the residence without running the risk of false alarms.
Many pet-friendly homes have a dog or cat flap set within the backdoor. These are available with a locking mechanism that only opens for the pet wearing the radio tag on its collar, to prevent a child from crawling through the flap and opening the door for an adult burglar.
Burglar alarms
Burglar alarms range from simple home systems to complex ones for high-rise buildings or industrial complexes. Most home systems employ some variety of motion detectors, which can be tuned to record the movement of bodies above a certain size, eliminating false alarms triggered by pets roaming about the house. Entry points can be fitted with small, almost invisible magnetic contact switches, which are triggered when the door or window is opened. At this point, the burglar alarm control panel sets off a klaxon or alarm, and alerts the monitoring service.
Commercial properties may employ all of these methods or some variation. Interior triggers often utilized for commercial burglar alarms include detectors that recognize the sharp sound of breaking glass, or heat-sensitive monitors that detect the entry of a warm body into an otherwise neutral environment. Exterior triggers include sensors mounted on fencelines to detect vibration should an intruder climb it or which recognise when wires are cut. Sensors buried either in the ground or within the top of a wall detect changes in the area’s magnetic or electromagnetic field.
False alarms can be reduced by cross-zoning sensors, so that more than one trigger must be tripped before the burglar alarm will sound. Such a system also tracks the intruder’s movement throughout the area, providing a record of activities for future legal proceedings.
Unmonitored burglar alarms depend upon sound systems and technology rather than sending for professional human intervention. When such an alarm is triggered, the alarm sounds, which can be the usual siren or a recording of a barking dog, which is often coupled with turning on a light. Even if the intruders don’t truly believe there’s anyone home, they’re likely to move on to easier prey.
All such units should include a battery back-up power system to ensure the security units remains functional during electrical outages, either accidental, weather-induced, or deliberately orchestrated by intruders.
Panic alarms
A panic alarm is a small device carried by many people which, when triggered, alerts emergency response personnel to come and render assistance. The emergency can be of any variety, including security threats, the onset of a sudden health condition such as a heart attack, or an accident within one’s home such as a slip in the bathtub. Such devices are particularly useful for elderly or infirm people, either those living alone or when caregivers must be absent for any extended time during the day. Some panic alarms are designed as attractive jewelry pieces and can be worn as bracelets or necklaces, while others are included within the control panel of an automated home security system.
A variation on the panic alarm is the red button integrated into automotive key fobs, which activate a vehicle’s alarm system should the owner require emergency assistance while away from home.
In certain retail establishments, particularly those that operate for extended hours or in crime-prone areas, such as 24-hour convenience stores, panic alarms are hidden beneath the counter near the cash register, either as a discrete button or as a foot pedal the clerk can reach even if ordered to keep still. Should a situation arise, such as a late-night robbery, the clerk can touch the button or pedal and trigger the alarm.
Some panic alarms immediately set off a klaxon or siren, alerting bystanders and neighbours that assistance is required; others initiate silent contact with emergency personnel, often via a 24-hour monitoring service. This latter sort often are integrated with closed circuit television camera systems. When the panic button has been hit, the CCTV system is activated, giving the monitoring service instant information regarding the developing scenario and providing evidence for future legal actions.
As an additional security element, these devices generally lock on and require a key to be reset.