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PRESENTED BY THEPRESENTED BY THE
ALARM ASSOCIATION OF ALARM ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDAFLORIDA
Preventing False AlarmsPreventing False Alarmsor or
How to Prevent False Police & How to Prevent False Police & Fire DispatchesFire Dispatches
False Alarm PreventionFalse Alarm Prevention
nn According to the Security Industry According to the Security Industry Association Coalition Association Coalition Model Alarm Model Alarm OrdinanceOrdinance a false alarm dispatch a false alarm dispatch is:is:an alarm dispatch request to the police an alarm dispatch request to the police department when the responding officer department when the responding officer finds no evidence of a criminal offense or finds no evidence of a criminal offense or attempted criminal offense after having attempted criminal offense after having completed a timely investigation of the completed a timely investigation of the alarm site.alarm site.
RegulationsRegulations
nn City, County, State City, County, State nn Local Ordinances Local Ordinances
State Rules & RegulationsState Rules & Regulations
nn There are no rules established for central There are no rules established for central station operations by the state.station operations by the state.
nn The rules for operation are established by The rules for operation are established by Underwriters LaboratoriesUnderwriters Laboratories
nn Personnel in a Central station are Personnel in a Central station are governed by Florida Statutes (F.S. 489)governed by Florida Statutes (F.S. 489)
nn You are in this class to comply with state You are in this class to comply with state regulations for required trainingregulations for required training
Local rulesLocal rules(Local government (Local government
ordinances)ordinances)nn Best example is Boca Raton, and Best example is Boca Raton, and
Delray Beach, FL:Delray Beach, FL:•• In Boca and Delray, unless the alarm In Boca and Delray, unless the alarm
company is UL listed, and the central company is UL listed, and the central station is approved by the city:station is approved by the city:
you may not install or monitor alarms you may not install or monitor alarms within city limitswithin city limits
Industry StandardsIndustry Standards
nn CPO1CPO1nn Enhanced Call VerificationEnhanced Call Verification
National Rules National Rules (NFPA Codes)(NFPA Codes)
nn Monitoring of Fire Alarms are Monitoring of Fire Alarms are governed by NFPA codes.governed by NFPA codes.
nn The National Fire Alarm Code, NFPA The National Fire Alarm Code, NFPA 72, 1996 edition requires a certain 72, 1996 edition requires a certain response to various types of signalsresponse to various types of signals
Industry Standards, Accepted Industry Standards, Accepted Practices, & Approved ProceduresPractices, & Approved Procedures
NFPA UL FS489 FS633NFPA UL FS489 FS633SIAC Model Alarm OrdinancesSIAC Model Alarm Ordinances
Local Building CodesLocal Building CodesLocal Police and Fire Alarm RegulationsLocal Police and Fire Alarm Regulations
Emergency Forces Emergency Forces Dispatching Requirements & Dispatching Requirements &
TechniquesTechniquesnn Florida law now requires every Florida law now requires every Burglar Burglar
Alarm Alarm signal to be verifiedsignal to be verifiednn You You may notmay not delay a dispatch to a delay a dispatch to a
commercial fire alarm signalcommercial fire alarm signalnn You may verify a residential fire alarm You may verify a residential fire alarm
signalsignalnn You You must must comply with other rules as comply with other rules as
they are establishedthey are established
Rules for dispatchingRules for dispatchingPolice & Fire OfficialsPolice & Fire Officials
aa Police and Fire Police and Fire officials risk their officials risk their lives everyday to lives everyday to provide provide emergency emergency services to the services to the residents of their residents of their communitiescommunities
Operating ProceduresOperating Procedures
nn Your operating procedures must Your operating procedures must compliment the local rules and compliment the local rules and regulationsregulations
nn Customers may not override Customers may not override state law, or local ordinancesstate law, or local ordinances
Industry ProgramsIndustry Programs
nn Local Installation Service CompanyLocal Installation Service Companynn Mass MarketingMass Marketingnn Authorized Dealer Program Authorized Dealer Program nn Purchase and LeasePurchase and Leasenn Third Party MonitoringThird Party Monitoring
Internet SalesInternet Sales
nn DO IT YOURSELFDO IT YOURSELF--ersersnn End User MonitoringEnd User Monitoring
Company policyCompany policy
nn Every company establishes their own Every company establishes their own rules and regulations for handling rules and regulations for handling emergenciesemergencies
nn UL merely provides guidelines for the UL merely provides guidelines for the basic operations of a central stationbasic operations of a central station
nn Central Station Manager should develop Central Station Manager should develop and implement these policiesand implement these policies
Requirements of the Requirements of the customercustomer
nn Response to certain signals is Response to certain signals is mandated by the customermandated by the customer
nn State law sometimes supercedes the State law sometimes supercedes the requirements of the customerrequirements of the customer•• ExampleExample--commercial fire alarmcommercial fire alarm--we are we are
required to notify the authorities even if required to notify the authorities even if the customer says they donthe customer says they don’’t want us to t want us to dispatch dispatch (NFPA 72, 1996 Edition)(NFPA 72, 1996 Edition)
nn The International Association The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) of Chiefs of Police (IACP) estimates that each alarm estimates that each alarm system generate 2 alarms per system generate 2 alarms per year.year.
nn 98% of these dispatches are 98% of these dispatches are determined to be determined to be false alarmsfalse alarms
nn A survey by the CSAA indicated A survey by the CSAA indicated that monitored systems filter that monitored systems filter out 90% of false activation'sout 90% of false activation's
Communications Communications
nn Telephone Lines Telephone Lines nn CellularCellularnn Radio Relay Radio Relay nn Line MonitorLine Monitornn Line ProtectionLine Protection
The Duties of a The Duties of a Central StationCentral Station
nn Provide the safety and security Provide the safety and security their customers expect their customers expect
nn To act responsiblyTo act responsiblynn To help avoid unnecessary alarm To help avoid unnecessary alarm
dispatchesdispatchesnn Help reduce false alarms Help reduce false alarms
TrainingTraining
nn Most Central Stations train their Most Central Stations train their new employees for at least 40 new employees for at least 40 hours before allowing them to hours before allowing them to handle alarm signals. handle alarm signals.
nn Underwriters Laboratories Underwriters Laboratories requires record keeping of all on requires record keeping of all on going traininggoing training
nn Florida now requires training for Florida now requires training for anyone selling, installing or anyone selling, installing or servicing alarm systemsservicing alarm systems
Why alarm companies are Why alarm companies are concerned with false alarmsconcerned with false alarms
nn Additional Cost Additional Cost nn Appearance of degraded reliabilityAppearance of degraded reliabilitynn SafetySafetynn Customer Good WillCustomer Good Willnn AttritionAttrition
Why alarm users should be Why alarm users should be concerned with false alarmsconcerned with false alarms
nn Increased cost due to false alarm Increased cost due to false alarm finesfines
nn Possibility of being placed on: Possibility of being placed on:
““No ResponseNo Response””nn Police may lose faith in the quality of Police may lose faith in the quality of
alarm system placing themselves, alarm system placing themselves, and the users in dangerand the users in danger
Effects of False AlarmsEffects of False Alarms
nn Increased central station activityIncreased central station activitynn Increased follow up costs forIncreased follow up costs for
•• service departmentservice department•• sales departmentsales department•• customer service departmentcustomer service department•• productive time diverted to non income productive time diverted to non income
producing projectsproducing projects
Non ResponseNon Response
nn Some authorities have enacted Some authorities have enacted ordinances that stop responses after ordinances that stop responses after a certain number of false alarmsa certain number of false alarms
nn Several area have eliminated Several area have eliminated response to alarm signals entirelyresponse to alarm signals entirely
Methods of Reducing Methods of Reducing False DispatchesFalse Dispatches
nn Verify burglar alarms before Verify burglar alarms before dispatchingdispatching
nn Proper data entry of information prior Proper data entry of information prior to system to system ““going on linegoing on line””
nn Proper education on the use of Proper education on the use of system to all who will use the system system to all who will use the system at the time of installationat the time of installation
nn Offer additional training if neededOffer additional training if needednn Make repairs at no chargeMake repairs at no charge
Alarms Reduce Crime!!Alarms Reduce Crime!!
nn Residences with alarm systems were Residences with alarm systems were 6 times less likely to be burglarized 6 times less likely to be burglarized than homes without security than homes without security systemssystems11
nn Monitored systems reduce police Monitored systems reduce police dispatchesdispatches22
Interaction with Interaction with Police and Fire OfficialsPolice and Fire Officials
nn Attitudes of the PoliceAttitudes of the Police•• Industry is getting rich on their serviceIndustry is getting rich on their service•• Audible alarms do not decrease crime, Audible alarms do not decrease crime,
silent alarms do.silent alarms do.•• Alarm systems increase police workloadAlarm systems increase police workload•• Alarm industry is not trying to solve the Alarm industry is not trying to solve the
crimecrime•• Failure rate of alarms is 98%Failure rate of alarms is 98%
Example of Alarm Companies Example of Alarm Companies and Police Working Togetherand Police Working Together
nn Palm Beach County, FloridaPalm Beach County, Florida•• An Alarm ordinance has been in effect since An Alarm ordinance has been in effect since
1988.1988.•• In 1993 the ordinance was revisedIn 1993 the ordinance was revised•• In 1999 the ordinance was revised againIn 1999 the ordinance was revised again•• In all instances the Alarm Community played In all instances the Alarm Community played
an important part in the development of the an important part in the development of the ordinance.ordinance.
•• As alarm installations increasedAs alarm installations increased--the number of the number of police & fire dispatches decreasedpolice & fire dispatches decreased…………..>..>
RecognitionRecognition
nn In 1995 In 1995 SIACSIAC recognized the Palm recognized the Palm Beach County SheriffBeach County Sheriff’’s Office for s Office for having the lowest false alarm rate in having the lowest false alarm rate in the country.the country.
nn Since that time alarm companies Since that time alarm companies working in conjunction with PBSO working in conjunction with PBSO have reduced false dispatches by have reduced false dispatches by more than 30%.more than 30%.
Permits Compared to Responses
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999*
Permits
Responses
Cancellations
Dispatch Rate as Percentage
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1996 1997 1998 1999*
Dispatch Rate
Response Rate
Cancellation Rate
So now letSo now let’’s look at the s look at the specifics of the local specifics of the local alarm ordinance and alarm ordinance and
what requirements must what requirements must be followed in your town:be followed in your town:
Reasons for False DispatchesReasons for False Dispatches
nn 8080--95% of all false alarms are 95% of all false alarms are caused by the system user.caused by the system user.
nn 5% due to equipment malfunction5% due to equipment malfunctionnn And the remaining 5% from:And the remaining 5% from:
•• WeatherWeather•• System MaintenanceSystem Maintenance•• And undetermined causesAnd undetermined causes
So now So now ---- how can you help?how can you help?
nn By following some very simple By following some very simple procedures, you can reduce false procedures, you can reduce false alarms responses to your home and alarms responses to your home and business:business:
PowerPower
nn BatteriesBatteriesnn TransformersTransformersnn Power SuppliesPower Suppliesnn AC OutletsAC Outlets
Proper Emergency InformationProper Emergency Information
nn Make Sure your central station has:Make Sure your central station has:•• An up to date password list (and make An up to date password list (and make
sure everyone who will use the alarm sure everyone who will use the alarm knows their password)knows their password)
•• Proper phone numbers to enable a Proper phone numbers to enable a verification call to your home or verification call to your home or businessbusiness
•• List of emergency people to notify List of emergency people to notify should the alarm activateshould the alarm activate
Around your home/businessAround your home/business
nn Keep pets out of areas secured by Keep pets out of areas secured by motion detection devicesmotion detection devices
nn Increase your entry/exit delay times Increase your entry/exit delay times (your alarm company can provide (your alarm company can provide assistance with this feature)assistance with this feature)
nn If new employees are hired, train If new employees are hired, train them on the use of the alarm them on the use of the alarm systemsystem——dondon’’t assume they know t assume they know how it works.how it works.
Your Security or Fire SystemYour Security or Fire System
nn Update antiquated equipmentUpdate antiquated equipmentnn Get additional training if needed from Get additional training if needed from
the security companythe security companynn Keep your system properly Keep your system properly
maintained (this is different from maintained (this is different from updating a system)updating a system)•• Replace batteriesReplace batteries•• Have the system checked at least once Have the system checked at least once
per year by a licensed alarm contractorper year by a licensed alarm contractor
AnnunciatorsAnnunciators
nn Exterior SirensExterior Sirens
nn Interior SirensInterior Sirens
nn BellsBells
nn Strobe LightsStrobe Lights
Installation Installation –– Service Service ----MaintainanceMaintainance
Only permit a licensed alarm Only permit a licensed alarm contractor to perform any alarm contractor to perform any alarm
installations, service or maintenance.installations, service or maintenance.
An unlicensed contractor may save An unlicensed contractor may save you a few dollars now, but it will cost you a few dollars now, but it will cost
you in the long termyou in the long term
If you are unsure about a If you are unsure about a contractor or an individual contractor or an individual
you are using or are you are using or are considering using you can considering using you can contact either any of the contact either any of the
following agencies for more following agencies for more information:information:
Alarm Association of FloridaAlarm Association of Florida800800--899899--20992099
Department of Business and Professional Department of Business and Professional RegulationRegulation--Electrical Contractors Electrical Contractors
Licensing BoardLicensing Board850850--487487--13951395
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