Burglar alarm monitoring is provided by professional monitoring companies. Home owners who want specialists to supervise the proper functioning of their burglar alarm monitoring systems choose to contract these companies, by paying them a monthly fee.
The burglar alarm monitoring is realized through special phone lines, dedicated to communicate the triggering of an alarm to the monitoring center. Depending on the pre-established protocol, the monitoring company may either contact the authorities immediately, or try first to reach the customer by phone in order to verify the emergency.
There are two kinds of burglar alarm monitoring companies: those who come up with the design and install the hardware so they can do the monitoring, and those who just provide monitoring services for previously installed burglar alarm monitoring systems.
There are many different companies providing monitoring services, and they can use various methods to ensure the security of your home:
- through passive infrared (PIR) detectors, connected, via low-voltage wiring or a narrowband RF signal, to the control unit; infrared detectors monitor any sudden change in the temperature of a room;
- using microwave detectors, which can notice any movement using beams of radiation;
- through photo-electric beams, which also track movement by using infrared light beams;
- glass break detectors, which are triggered at the distinctive sound of glass breaking; the newer versions of glass break detectors use seismic detectors which can be triggered by vibrations;
Burglar alarm monitoring companies use special phone lines, computers and hi-tech equipment, as well as trained professional staff to supervise and dispatch the law enforcement whenever the alarm goes off, in case of a security breach.
As there is a wide variety of burglar alarm monitoring companies, take into account that their quality and experience are extremely important factors, that need to be verified thoroughly. Before contracting a burglar alarm monitoring company, contact the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association and ask them for the brochure “Safe and Sound: Your Guide to Home Security”, and also a list of top companies in your area.
After carefully reading the brochure and familiarizing with home security basics and used terms, you can check for referrals, and contact an insurance agent. Make sure that the company you’re considering has all the appropriate state and/or local licenses, that their employees are trained and certified by the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association and that they participate in the Installation Quality Certification Program.
Also, the burglar alarm monitoring company you choose to decide for must meet some very important requirements:
- the monitoring station must be open 24/7, with a customer service department available at all times, 24/7;
- it is important that they have a backup monitoring center that can take charge in case the main center experiences power problems;
- the monitoring center should have built-in redundancies for its power, phone lines and computer, so that if something goes wrong, the redundancy will allow the center to keep monitoring;
- it is preferable that the burglar alarm monitoring company uses Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed equipment and that the monitoring station is also UL certified;
Home security is a very serious matter, and when the safety of your family is in question, you want to make the best possible solution regarding your burglar alarm monitoring system, and monitoring company. Statistics have proved that a properly installed alarm system can drastically reduce the occurrence of burglary or home invasion. So ponder carefully the monitoring companies in your area and choose the best burglar alarm monitoring company to watch over your safety.
