What are the most important factors when securing a vacant property, asks Simon Morris, Commercial Director of Compound Security Systems Ltd, pictured.
Securing vacant properties has always been a bit of a headache and the easiest option has historically been the use of metal cladding for the windows and doors. Over the last half a decade, the use of cladding systems on vacant property has declined as thieves have become more determined and landlords have become aware that the use of cladding brings down the tone of an area, which is not good for business or for other local residents.
This change has in part fired the development in electronic security systems that can be used in properties that have no power or telephone connection. Over the past several years the popularity and sophistication of these rapid deployment alarm systems has increased significantly, in fact to a point where there are a multitude of such vacant property systems available within the UK.
In April 2012, the SSAIB published a code of practice for the use of rapid deployment alarm systems, or temporary alarm systems as they call them, and this code has been adopted by many of the larger insurance companies. The reason behind the issuance of this code of practice is to standardise this emerging sector to one standard, as the multitude of systems on the market range significantly in terms of sophistication and reliability. The code of practice also includes what the installers must consider prior to and during installation. In this way, for the first time, clients can be assured that not only is their security up to par, but that in most cases, is approved by their insurance underwriters.
After years of designing rapid deployment alarm systems and working with clients securing internal and external property, here are the top 10 most important factors to consider when proposing to install a rapid deployment alarm to a domestic or commercial property:
1) Has everything of value that can be reasonably removed from the property been removed? Many thieves will smash toilet just to get a few ounces of copper valves.
2) Is the property weather-tight? Apart from the obvious means of gaining entry, serious drafts and bad weather can affect some temporary alarm systems adversely, causing false activations.
3) Depending on how much your customer is prepared to pay for a system, there are three main areas to be protected. These are the front door, back door and hallway. If the client can afford to secure every room, then that’s great, but if not, consider securing rooms that have windows that are not easily visible from the street as they present the highest risk of forced entry.
4) How will you respond to an alarm activation? Can you get there within ten minutes? 20 minutes?
5) What type of communication do you require from the system. GSM or GPRS? GSM systems simply send a text message to a number of mobile ‘phones. Whilst these systems are still used, most users are switching over to GPRS systems that can be monitored by an accredited alarm receiving centre (ARC) or by your own control room via secure internet connection. GPRS systems generally have a degree of reporting functionality built in, which is handy to present to customers with their bill.
6) Which network will give you the most reliable coverage? Do you require a dual-SIM system, which will switch networks if one goes down, to ensure your signals are received? Check several mobile phones with different network providers and see which network has the strongest signal at the install site.
7) All wireless battery powered alarm systems have a limited range of 200m line of sight up to 1km-plus line of sight; however, these figures diminish rapidly inside buildings. As a rule of thumb, each wall between a sensor and the control unit reduces the operational range by 50 per cent. This can change drastically if the building has thick stone walls or is quite damp. Always do a range test, as more than one control system may be required in larger buildings.
8) Different systems can be armed and disarmed in different ways. Consider how often people will need access to the property and how many of them there will be. Some systems need a coded fob for each user. Some use codes. Some use remote arm and disarm in real time via the control room and some use all of these options. If there are likely to be a lot of trades-people undertaking work on the property, you may find it hard to keep track of all the keys or codes., in which case, a system that can be armed or disarmed via a control room or your smart phone may be the better choice.
9) Will your client want to see a report each month detailing faults, activations, entry and exits by authorised personnel? As a rule, this is not possible with a GSM system, however, it is fairly standard on GPRS systems. Some systems provide this information by downloading the log directly off the control unit to a laptop, however, some systems offer this facility online so that you can download it from the comfort of your office.
10) For the average domestic property, undertaking a walk-test when installation is complete is fairly straightforward and usually there are no problems with the range, however, on larger commercial properties, with ten, 20 or more detectors over several floors, a walk-test can be an extended and tiresome undertaking? If you are likely to deploy a system in such buildings and want to save engineer time, then you may want to consider a system that has a portable engineer walk-test unit.
For more details
For a copy of the SSAIB Code of Practice covering Temporary Alarm Systems and their installation, go to www.SSAIB.org. Compound Security Sytems (CSS) based in Merthyr Tydfil make alarms and the Mosquito anti-loitering device. Visit www.compoundsecurity.co.uk.
