The DNA of an effective security system and service, Part #3 - Detect

An effective security system is made up of four parts. Those parts are as follows:

1. Deter
2. Control
3. Detect
4. Respond 

3. Detect

The detection part of a security system comes in several forms. It has layers, like a good onion or Ogre; to quote Shrek. Anybody worth there weight in ‘security’ always recommends redundancy in the design and set up. Sensors are either wired or wireless. Wireless sensors are increasing dramatically, particularly in residential applications where wiring is difficult and aesthetics are paramount. There are three types of detection; security, fire and environmental.

Security

The first line of defense is a contact. The contact is the workhorse of sensors. The contact is normally used for doors and windows, thus is a ‘perimeter’ device. They can also be used safes, hatches, cabinets, etc. Contacts come in several forms including magnetic, buttons and roller balls. They are simple and the most reliable, problem free device. They simply detect the ‘opening’ of what they are attached to.  As a rule of thumb, contacts should be placed on all perimeter doors. They can also be placed on windows. Normally this is for first floor windows but accessible 2^nd floor windows may make sense to protect. In addition to detecting intruders, they are useful in keeping tabs on children and teenagers existing when they shouldn’t or without notice. There was a sad story just a couple weeks ago here in Indianapolis where a 3 year old snuck out of his house while his mother slept. Somehow he managed to climb a 6 ft fence and drowned in a pool. Perhaps having the alarm or chime mode activated would have like prevented this accident from occurring.

Another popular ‘perimeter’ devices is a glassbreak sensor. Glassbreaks hear and feel the sound and vibration of  glass breaking. It is crucial that windows are locked and secure so that the burglar must break the glass to gain entry. The sound must be heard for them to work properly. One must be cognizant of things that can block or inhibit the sound of breaking glass such as thick curtains, walls, door ways, carpet, etc. It is normally recommended to place one glassbreak per room. Obviously windows must be locked for glassbreaks to be effective. They are very cost effective in rooms that have a lot of glass because it is not necessary to mount a unit on each piece of glass, rather one for an average size room. They are an excellent choice for casement windows, sun rooms, and sliding glass doors.

Motion sensors provide interior space protection. Motions are best used in the AWAY mode when the house or building is vacant. They deliver a lot of coverage for a reasonable price when they are on. They are probably the most oversold device thou because grandiose claims are often made. Keep it mind you cant have them on and still have free roam of the house. The can be cumbersome to use while occupied. With a keypad or remote, some people like to arm them from inside their bedroom, which is ideal for singles or couple without kids, guests, roommates, etc. Motions have advanced a lot in the last few years with technology to limit false alarms and can work with pets. They are able to distinguish in the size of the pet so that it is ignored yet a burglar is detected. There are to main types of  pet motions: single tech infrared and dual tech infrared and microwave. The ladder come in the wired only type are rated for animals up to 100lbs. Though I recommend the line to be at 70-80lb from experience. The infrared only are rated at a max at 40lb. Motions can be prone to false alarm if not set up properly. Millar balloons are often big culprits for false alarms because of their shiny exterior and movement.

Fire

Alarm companies use two types of detection devices for residential and small business which include smoke and fire sensors. Photoelectric smoke sensors are the most common and most effective for residential applications because they are more adept in detecting smoldering fires. Whereas the other type, ionization, are better in detecting flash / explosion type fires. Monitored smoke detectors are recommend on each floor. For even better protection, it is a good idea to install in bedrooms as well. Smoke detectors can also include heat sensors too. Stand alone heat sensors are employed frequently in high fire risk areas for fire where smokes are inappropriate due to false alarm issues. Good spots for heats include kitchen (most common fire hazard), mechanical / furnace room,  laundry (dryers can be an issue), garage, and attic (195 degree detectors). The primary benefit of system detectors is simply the fact they are monitored and all that goes with that.

Environmental

These come in several types including freeze, water, and carbon monoxide.  Freeze sensors are normally set to around 45 degrees. So therefore a traveling homeowner can be notified (or someone on the emergency contact list) in the event the furnace fails during the winter so that the pipes do not freeze and burst. Water sensors detect and overfilling sump pump or leak from a water source such as a washer, sink, toilet, shower or refrigerator. Our carbon monoxide sensors are monitored for maximum safety. It is recommend that one be placed in the bedroom area(s) and near the furnace and other carbon burning units. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and lethal.

Summary

It is better to have a little too much than a little too little of the above. Because if you buy a little too much the system is most like to perform its intended function. If a little too little is installed and the system doesn’t work properly, then you have lost everything and it was a bad system. If you buy a little too much, then all you have lost is the little too much because it performed its intended function. The important thing is that a home or business owner consult with an experience, trustworthy system designer that will help maximize the resource for the optimum protection for the particular situation.

security system and service, Part #2 - Control

 An effective security system is made up of four parts. Those parts are as follows:

1. Deter
2. Control
3. Detect
4. Respond 

2. The Control

The Control consists of the CPU, keypads and other devices. It is the element which the user is most in touch with, literally.

The CPU is the ‘brain’ of an alarm. It can be placed in a metal enclosure, like our ‘skull’. They are normally secured with a lock or screws to keep the lid closed. Some are built into the main keypad. The enclosure type is the most common and most secure. They are normally  placed in closets, mechanical rooms and other unfinished areas. When installed during construction in a home, the most common location is the master bedroom closet. A back-up battery and phone communicator are located in it. The self contained type are best used in homes, (townhomes, apartments, 2 story slabs) where it is difficult to run any wires (normally at least 4 are required with a standard one: ac power, phone, siren and keypad(s).

Click above to watch video demo

There are four major types of  keypad displays available. 1) LED lights 2) Fixed LCD 3) Custom LCD 4) Touch screen. The LED is the most  basic and pretty much out of vogue. The Fixed LCD is more common and been the mainstay for sometime. The custom LCD adds more characters and info  The touch screen has the largest display and most customizable. It is the iPhone of  keypads. Very nice, very versatile. It make things easier, particularly changing codes, checking history reports and custom setups. Thou it makes things easier, it is more complicated and has been known lock up on occasion, so we normally recommend a traditional keypad on site.

 Options often found on keypads include voice (so you can hear the keypad speak where an alarm is, which door opened, confirmation of the status), wireless (if wires cant be run), and expanders (wireless or hardwire). Standard features include panic buttons (for police, fire and medical), door chime, bypass, etc. Popular keypads placement locations are near the garage / house door and master bedroom. Other locations sometime include front door (nice to have the panic buttons there), back / side door for pets, and by walkout basement doors.

Other devices to control an alarm including key fobs,  wireless remotes, touchtone telephones, and more systems allow for remote control via the Internet with iPhone and Blackberry apps.

It is important for the keypads and access is convenient to use so therefore the system get used more frequently. This is a good reason the system should be  laid out properly, and thus handier.

Part 3 will cover the detection element of  a security system.