Home Improvement Advice for Alarms

Tips Do it Yourself Tips for Alarms

Tips on having the right alarm fitted.

You need to decide whether you want a 'local bell only' system or a monitored system; do you want to know the police will attend or do you want to rely on neighbours being home and then for them to investigate and report it.

Do you want a perimeter system that can detect intruders before entry or a PIR system?

Do you want cables running from each sensor or would you prefer a system using wire free technology?

Make sure the company you are considering buying from has been in business for some time. Companies that have only been in business for a short time may not be around in years to come to service or maintain your system.

Before you sign an agreement be sure you know what you are signing for. You may find that the system you thought you were buying is in fact a rented system and that you are simply paying an installation charge. You may also find that you're tied into a minimum contract period with buy-out clauses being very expensive.

Should this work have a guarantee and/or quality certificates?

Any quality electrical items these days should come with a five year guarantee.

All professionally installed home alarms should be installed to BS4737 and also, in the case of wire free sensors, BS6799. For Wire Free systems to qualify for Police URN response they must conform to BS6799

The company installing the system should belong to an approved body, usually SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board) or NACOSS (National Approval Council for Security Systems). Staff from a company belonging to either will have been vetted to ensure their suitability for the positionMany insurance companies will offer a reduction on your contents insurance premium if you system conforms to the above.