Far too many business owners know the thrill of groggily driving to their property in the wee hours of the morning, only to discover an alarm has been tripped accidentally.
False alarms are a frustrating, wallet-draining, waste of time. They’re not only an aggravation for the business owner who is ousted from a peaceful slumber, but also by the authorities who arrive at the scene; spending crucial time on a red herring when actual crimes may be occurring elsewhere.
The nationwide plague of false alarms has grown to be so abhorrent, that many cities have instituted fines for repeat offenders.
Reasons for the ongoing irritation range from user error to faulty equipment, and typically fall into one of three categories:
- The human touch (or lack thereof): A lack of training and a failure to perform proper maintenance lead the pack of causes for problematic alarms. The bottom line is that all new employees should be brought up to speed on alarm functionality, including, but not limited to:
- All areas to which they have access.
- Arming and disarming processes for authorized personnel.
- Protocols for alarms that are triggered accidentally.
While initial training is essential for avoiding false alarms, continuing education should be a routine part of your business calendar. Be sure to keep employees informed of any new systems or protocols, and update personnel whenever passwords and credentials are modified.
Additionally, your security company should perform annual checkups on all systems to eliminate the potential for false alarms. However, as a small business owner you can also do your part by regularly replacing batteries where applicable, such as sensors.
- Improper placement: Location, location, location. This old adage is every bit as applicable to alarms as it is real estate. If your sensors have been erroneously stationed next to an operating HVAC system or an open window, you may suffer false alarms triggered by blowing air or bustling curtains. Additionally, smoke alarms placed too close to cooking areas are simply asking for trouble.
- Flat out equipment failure: Not surprisingly, older alarm systems lack modern, “smart” features and can often be triggered by any sort of motion or movement. Today’s alarms and sensors are far more adept at differentiating between real and perceived threats.
Here’s what business owners can do to prevent false alarms. The good news is that Secom, LLC specializes in intelligent intrusion detection systems, which are capable of learning the intricacies of your small business. If and when unusual changes occur on your property, these systems can alert you automatically, allowing you to take swift, appropriate action.
Our state-of-the-art tools can be customized to meet the unique security needs of your commercial facility using integrated tools such as:
- Motion detectors
- Glass break sensors
- Photoelectric beam detectors
- Window & door alarms
- And more!
Our systems are also on the job 24/7, providing unprecedented peace of mind.
- Arm and disarm systems using an intuitive user interface.
- Receive custom alerts whenever motion is detected or when doors are left unlocked or ajar.
- Immediately access video footage of your business and its access points whenever an alarm is activated.
- Manage access permissions remotely.
- Intrusion detection events automatically alert our 24-hour monitoring station. The threat is assessed, and the proper authorities are contacted.
Not only do our systems save time and money, while significantly reducing the occurrence of false alarms – but they also help to provide peace of mind for your employees and customers, while reinforcing your reputation as a safe place to work and do business. Contact us today and inquire about our free quote.