Burglar alarms are meant to deter unwanted intruders from your business. In addition, a burglar alarm can alert the attention of all those around and the proper authorities that an unauthorized person is in a restricted area, that a break in has occurred or other criminal activity. The mere site of a security system can act as a deterrent for any thief looking for a susceptible commercial business. Security alarms can alert a monitoring company that an intruder has been detected and they will contact and dispatch the police to your location if necessary.

There are various types of equipment that are common with today's burglar alarms.

Control Panel:

The control panel of a burglar alarm is where the detection devices of the alarm system as well as the main wiring of the system are located. These devices may include sirens, motion detectors, door and window detectors, glassbreak detectors, etc.

Keypads and Remote Keychains, and Phone Modules:

Keypads allow you to operate your security system by entering your security code at the keypad. The keypad can arm and disarm with push-button ease, and literally put security at your fingertips. Good features to look for include illuminated keys to provide you with greater visibility at nighttime, easy-to-read English displays that spell out your system’s status at a glance, and one-touch function keys that provide single-button operation for arming, disarming or emergencies. There are also remote phone modules that allow you to access your alarm system from any outside phone or cell phone, giving you the ability to arm, disarm, bypass, or check the status of your system off-site using your security code

If you value convenience and ease of operation, then consider a wireless keyfob. Similar in size to a remote car alarm key, it offers many of the features of a traditional security system

keypad with convenient fingertip control.

The press of a single button lets you operate your security system,

lights, garage doors and more! And the compact, lightweight keyfob

travels with you – fitting easily into purses, pockets and automobile

glove compartments.

• Arms and disarms security system

• Remote control of select lights and appliances

• Simple, single-button operation (no codes)

• Sleek design incorporates four fully programmable buttons with

recessed keys – two of which can be programmed for panic situations

• These devices have long-life, user-replaceable lithium batteries

The Wireless Remote Control Keyfob is the perfect fit for your active life because it’s security that goes

with you – letting you enjoy extra mobility without ever compromising your safety or peace of mind.

Motion Detectors:

Motion detectors are used to detect motion and set off a burglar alarm if motion is present. Some motion detectors are manufactured with “pet immunity” which is a technology that prevents the motion detector from being triggered by small animals yet allows the motion detector to be triggered by the movement of humans.

Door and Window Detectors:

Door and window detectors can detect the change of state of doors or windows from closed to opened. Magnetic contacts are two-part devices used to safeguard windows and doors. One part of the contact is a switch installed in the window or door jam; the other contains a magnet and is placed in the window or door itself. Any noticeable shift in contact with the switch results in an alarm.

Glassbreak Detectors:

Glassbreaks are acoustical devices that are triggered by the sound of breaking glass or the attempt to break glass. "Acoustic" glassbreak sensors, usually mounted on ceilings or walls, work by "listening" for the sound of breaking glass in a window. "Shock" glassbreak detectors are mounted on the window and "feel" the shock of breaking glass. This kind of advanced wireless technology can provide shatter and shock protection for your windows, for often intruders are "sensed" and an alarm sounded while they are still outdoors. This is often enough to send a burglar running!

Sirens:

Devices used to indicate an intrusion, fire, or other events that could signal a need to evacuate the premises.

Hard Wired Vs. Wireless:

Depending on the vendor, you can select between a hard wired and a wireless system. If you already have a pre-existing security system it may be easier to stay hard wired. However, if this is the first alarm security system that you are installing in your office or business then wireless may be more practical if you vendor provides it. Hard wired installations are much more labor intensive, and often require walls or ceilings to be opened in finished rooms. Wireless systems require a fraction of the labor time needed to install a hard wired system, and wireless systems are much easier to upgrade. While wireless equipment is more expensive than hard wired equipment you will quickly realize that overall a wireless install will be less hassle, and you will not incur additional costs for repairs to your walls or ceilings.

Backup Systems:

In the case of a power loss a backup system can keep your fire and security systems up and running. A backup system can also send a radio or cellular signal to a monitoring site in the event of any damage to your phone lines. We recommend speaking with your qualified vendor about the choices available for installing a backup system to ensure your security in the case of a power loss or damage to your phone lines. If your business uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as your principle phone system a backup system may be a necessary and unavoidable part of your security system package.

Two-Way Voice Response:

Two-way voice response allows the monitoring station operator to verify an emergency situation or a false alarm without having to call the protected location. Through a two-way voice system the operator has the ability to listen in to the protected location through the alarm panel during a break in or other emergency. The two-way voice system can only be activated when an alarm signal is received at the central station.
In the case of an alarm a monitoring station operator will communciate with you via the alarm panel, or other two-way devices installed throughout the location and will ask for your password in the event of a false alarm. In the event where no password is given and the operator hears movement in the home or office the authorities will be dispatched.
With a two-way voice system you can also give the operator a preplanned emergency codeword instead of your usual false alarm codeword to signify that someone is holding you against your will. The operator can still listen in during the emergency without alerting the intruder to our presence. This allows us to relay to the police exactly what is going on inside the location which greatly aids the police in handling the emergency.
Two-way voice can also aid people with medical problem that may need assistance in the case of a medical emergency.
For all these reasons and more two-way voice response is the most important part of any security system, and will result in faster, more efficient security service for you.

Panic Buttons:

In the event of an alarm, an audible panic alarm will sound a siren to scare off perpetrators and it will signal the monitoring station that the alarm has been tripped. A silent panic alarm can signal to the monitoring station that an alarm has been tripped without setting off any sirens or other audible devices. This type of panic is intended so that the intruder or perpetrator is caught by the authorities while in the act of committing a crime, without placing the client in further danger. If you are interested in the criminal being caught then this may be a more suitable system for your home. Both systems have their merits and which one you and your vendor decide upon will ultimately depend on your specific needs.