How do burglar alarms work? Explains APE Fire and security

Equipping a building with a high-quality intruder alarm system is one of the most reliable ways to protect the property. It doesn’t matter how big or small a building is, ensuring that all of the doors, windows and other entry points are secure is vital to keeping the belongings and valuables safe at all times.

Studies have shown that buildings with an effective security system in place are three times less likely to be broken into than a building without protection, so having one installed is something that all building owners should certainly be considering.

This guide takes a closer look at burglar alarms (also known as intruder alarms), explaining exactly how they operate and the benefits they can bring to a property.

Types of Intruder Alarms

Although the purpose of all intruder alarms is to detect intrusion or invasion, how they operate can vary. Here it is explained some of the most popular types of alarms –

• Door and Window Sensors – These alarms are triggered by identifying unauthorised access via doors and windows. There are two parts to these types of sensors – one part is installed on the door or window and the other part is located on the door frame or window sill.
• Motion Sensors – Can be installed both inside and outside, these types of sensors trigger an alarm by identifying movement. They work by creating an ‘invisible zone’ that cannot be accessed without sounding an alarm, so are often used to protect areas containing valuable items.
• Break Glass Detectors – These types of sensors trigger an alarm by identifying the sound of breaking glass. They contain an audio microphone designed to recognise the frequency of glass breaking and usually have a working radius of several feet so can be placed in the middle of a room if there are multiple windows to secure.
• Shock Sensors – These types of sensors trigger an alarm by identifying an impact/vibration caused by a window or door being broken into.
• Safe Alarms – Attached to a safe deposit box, these types of sensors trigger an alarm by identifying unauthorised attempts into accessing a safe. These can work in various ways – some are designed to detect when a safe is moved, whereas others can detect when it’s been tampered with or when its doors are opened by force.

Burglar Alarm System

Having a network of alarms ensures that the property is protected in a multitude of ways

Even though the aforementioned alarms can work independently, they work best when they’re integrated together into a competent security system.

Having a network of alarms ensures that the property is protected in a multitude of ways, making it much more difficult for criminals to overcome.

The Control Panel

All security systems come with a control panel, which, as the name suggests, is what controls the system. All alarms are linked to the control panel, enabling it to gather and process information from each detector and respond accordingly. The panels typically feature an intuitive and easy-to-use touchpad that allows the user to arm and disarm the alarms as well as communicate with each device as and when, appropriate.

Most panel models also feature built-in communicators so that one can quickly contact the relevant authorities in the event of an emergency.

When the control panel recognises an intrusion, it sends signals to the alarms to perform a certain action. Exactly what this action is will depend on the type of alarm and system you’re using, but it’s likely to involve sirens and/or strobe lighting.

Remote Monitoring

Most control panels now enable to remotely monitor alarm systems from mobile

Due to advancements in technology, most control panels now enable to remotely monitor alarm systems from mobile phone or tablet. This means that whenever the user is out of home – on holiday, for example – they can be instantly notified if an alarm gets triggered. This is ideal if one is often spending time away, reassuring that they will be instantly alerted should any problems arise.

The security firm that installed the system will also be able to monitor the alarms. They’ll too be made aware if an alarm gets triggered and will immediately contact the user(and possibly the applicable emergency response team) to help make sure everything is under control and gets swiftly resolved.

Burglar Alarm Cost

Prices of burglar alarms vary significantly. The brand, model and complexity of the alarm are just three of the factors that are likely to impact the cost, so for the most accurate prices, A.P.E Fire & Security takes into consideration the size and layout of the building, as well as evaluate which type of alarms are best suited to the requirements to make sure that one receives a fair and competitive price.