When a property is under alarm monitoring, there are a few clear steps between a detector going off and the response team arriving. Here is how it works and what you can do to make sure everything goes as it should.
Step 1. A detector registers an event
The alarm reacts to a door or window opening, movement in a room, breaking glass, smoke or a panic button press — depending on which detectors are installed.
Step 2. The signal reaches the monitoring station
The alarm is instantly transmitted over protected communication channels to the central monitoring station. Operators are on duty there around the clock, so the signal does not depend on whether anyone is on site.
Step 3. The operator checks the alarm
The operator sees which property and which zone have been triggered and follows the procedure agreed with you in the contract: calls you or the person in charge and dispatches the team.
Step 4. The rapid response team sets off
A rapid response team heads to the property. On site it inspects the premises, establishes the cause of the alarm and acts according to the situation, while the operator keeps you informed.
Panic button
A panic button is the fastest way to call for help when you or your staff are on site. Pressing it sends the alarm to the station immediately, and the team is dispatched without further questions.
Fire alarm
If a fire alarm is connected, the «Fire» signal reaches the fire monitoring station. The duty operator contacts the person in charge of the site and calls the fire service if needed. Learn more on the fire alarm monitoring page.
What if it is a false alarm?
Sometimes the alarm was not disarmed or a detector was set off by a pet or a draught. The procedure for such cases is set out in the contract: whom the operator calls, how to confirm that everything is fine, and when the team still goes out to check. False alarms become rarer when detectors are chosen and configured correctly and the system is maintained regularly.
What you can do
- Keep contacts up to date. The phone numbers of the people in charge listed in the contract must be working.
- Check the system status. Modern alarms such as Ajax show the arming status and events in a smartphone app.
- Do not postpone maintenance. Flat batteries and dirty detectors are the most common causes of failures.
Kodeks Bezpeky has its own central monitoring station and its own rapid response teams working around the clock. Learn more on the alarm monitoring and apartment and house security pages. For a comparison with a standalone alarm, read «Monitored security or a standalone alarm».