Everyone wants their home and businesses to be protected. It is important for family members, employees, and customers to feel safe while in the building.
Having security systems, fire alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors in the building brings a level of reassurance. Alarm monitoring takes protection to the next level.
What Is Alarm Monitoring?
In its simplest form, alarm monitoring is a notification from the security system. When the security system control panel detects an emergency event, it will send out a signal.
For homes and businesses with self-monitored systems, the notification only goes to the property owner. However, alarm monitoring services are available to provide quick intervention in the event of an emergency.
Alarm monitoring is a service that people pay for every month. This service provides 24-hour per-day attention to possible emergency events.
What Are Alarm Monitoring Centers?
Alarm monitoring centers might also be called central monitoring stations. Companies offering this service have a staff of operators who review alarm system signals. Operators watch and check for false alarms or emergencies.
What Is A Self-Monitored Alarm System?
Self-Monitored alarm systems are also known as unmonitored alarm systems. The system will have a control panel and other security device components. The components are based on what the property owner decides is needed. This could be security cameras, motion sensors, smoke detectors, glass break sensors, and/or other components.
Many self-monitored systems will connect to smartphones. This means people can know what is happening while they are not home. However, they may not be able to do something about an alarm if they are in a place without cell service.
How Does Alarm Monitoring Work?
When a monitored alarm system detects an event in the building, it sends a signal to the central monitoring station. An operator will see the incoming signal. Depending on how the service is set up, the operator may call the property owner to check for a false alarm.
Some systems may be set up as immediate alarms or silent alarms, and the operator will contact emergency services before calling the property owner. Silent alarms will not alert a possible intruder that the police have been contacted.
In an emergency, operators can contact the police, the fire department, or emergency medical personnel and send them to the building right away. For example, if a smoke detector is triggered, the control panel will send that information to the monitoring center. The operator will then contact the fire department and give them the address.
Reasons To Have Alarm Monitoring
With professional alarm monitoring, the property is watched around the clock. Alarm monitoring operators can contact the police or fire department when businesses are closed, and families are asleep for the night, or away on vacation.
Alarm monitoring offers peace of mind at all times, including when businesses are closed or when families are on vacation. If an alarm goes off, the monitoring operators can contact the property owner immediately and send emergency personnel to the building.
Just having a security system can deter potential break-ins. However, some bold criminals will still try their luck. Police solve around 13% of burglary cases. Alarm monitoring services will contact the police as soon as the break-in happens, resulting in better odds of catching the criminal.
Alarm monitoring means faster response times when a fire starts in the building. Local fire departments responded to 1.35 million fires in 2021. The estimated property damage was $15.9 billion.
The alarm monitor operator can have the fire department on the way while a family is evacuating the home. If a fire starts in a business while it is closed, the fire department could know before the building owner. The faster response time means more people are safe and less property damage occurs.
Personal panic transmitters are sometimes available with alarm monitoring systems. At the press of a button, the system will contact emergency medical personnel. This can be a life-saving device for an elderly parent or someone with a serious disease who might need help quickly.
Installing a security system can lower homeowners insurance rates anywhere from 5% up to 20%.
A monitored alarm system provides peace of mind to property owners. They know their families and companies will be protected all day and night.
Alarm Monitoring Is A Good Fit For Many Buildings
No one can personally watch their place of business or home 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Professional alarm monitoring services can. If an emergency happens, alarm monitoring operators can send help fast, possibly saving lives and properties from extensive damage.
