| ACPO | Association of Chief Police Officers. The ACPO approve the usage of certain alarm components, usually for high security/monitored installations. |
| Active IR | Active Infra-red detectors, as opposed to Passive Infra-red (PIR), comprise an IR transmitter and receiver and are usually used to provide a long curtain coverage e.g. the perimeter of a compound. |
| Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) | Also known as Central Station. An ARC is a secure location which monitors signals from alarm systems connected to it. The ARC uses Confirmed Detection to verify that an alarm has been generated by an intruder (audio - listening device on premises, visual - CCTV on premises, Sequential Confirmation) and on confirmation will contact the Police. |
| Auto-dialler | A device connected to the alarm control panel which dials up to 4 pre-programmed telephone nuimbers and delivers pre-recorded voice (with some systems text as well) messages. On control panels with a suitable communicator output the type of alarm (intruder, fire, Personal attack) can be differentiated and a specific message for the type of alarm can be sent. Other sensors may also be connected to the autodialler, e.g. a temperature sensor in a cold storage room to send a message that the temperature has risen above a preset value. |
| Back-up Battery | A rechargeable battery used to power burglar and Fire alarms in the event of mains power failure. All systems should be fitted with a battery of suitable capacity, which should maintain the system in a quiescent (non-alarm) state for at least 8 hours. For example a burglar alarm system comprising a Control Panel (70mA) 8 x PIRs (15mA x 8 = 120mA) and an external Sounder (30mA) uses a total power of 220mA, thus a 12v battery rated at 2.1Ah will maintain the system for 9.5 hours if the battery is in perfect condition. Batteries remain in reasonable condition for up to 3 years but they should be checked annually (voltage should be 13v - 13.6v) |
| Bell | Formerly used in burglar alarm installations, still used in some fire alarm installations - output approx. 90dB |
| Bellbox | A housing, usually external used to enclose audio (formerly a bell but now Piezo Sounder(s)), visual (Strobe) or nothing (Decoy or Dummy). |
| Blank End-station | A Blank End-station is an alarm control panel without an on-board keypad. All programming and setting/unsetting is carried out at one or more Remote Keypads (RKPs). Blank End-stations can be hidden from view (attic etc.). |
| Break-Glass Detector | An intruder alarm detector comprising a microphone and signal processor to identify the unique sound frequencies of breaking glass, |
| BS4737 | British Standards for design, installation and maintenance of intruder alarm systems |
| BS5979 | British Standards for construction and working practices of an ARC |
| BS6799 | British Standards for wireless intruder alarm systems |
| Cable (alarm) | Wired Alarm systems use multi-core cable to monitor the detectors and to connect to sounders. Cable is available in 4, 6, 8, and 12 core versions and in white or brown. Non-powered detectors (e.g. magnetic contacts) require a minimum of 4 cores (2 for alarm, 2 for tamper), Powered detectors (e.g. PIRs, vibration detectors) require a minimum of 6 cores (2 for alarm, 2 for tamper, 2 for 12v power). Self Actuating Bells (SABs) and SCBs usually require 5 cores of a 6 core cable. More than one detector may be connected to the same cable in this case the alarm circuit and tamper circuit are each connected in series (daisy chained) such that any detector on the circuit will cause the circuit to go open corcuit. The power supply to powered detectors is connected in parallel. |
| CCTV | Closed Circuit Television |
| Decoy Sounder/Bellbox | An empty external sounder enclosure to provides a visual deterrent. Most sounder manufacturers supply matching decoys for their live sounders. Can be fitted with battery operated flashing LEDs |
| Detector | A device which sends a signal to the control panel indicating a change of state (Normally Closed[NC] to Open circuit or Normally Open [NO] to Closed circuit). |
| Digital Communicator | A device connected to the Control Panel which sends a digitised signal to the Alarm Receiving Centre |
| Double Knock | Some Control Panels and Detectors can be programmed to only alarm if two alarm signals are received within a certain time. This can significantly reduce the occurrance of false alarms. |
| Dual Technology Detector | A detector with two different types of detection within the same housing. The mosst common type uses PIR and Microwave technology such that both technologies have to be triggered to produce an alarm condition. This greatly reduces the occurrance of false alarms. |
| Dummy Sounder/Bellbox | An empty external sounder enclosure to provide a visual deterrent. Most sounder manufacturers supply matching decoys for their live sounders. Can be fitted with battery operated flashing LEDs |
| Duress Code | An alarm unset code which unsets the alarm system as normal but sends a personal attack code to the Alarm receiving centre. |
| E/E Zone | A zone on the Control Panel to which detectors on the route in and out of the premises are connected. Detectors on this route do not cause an alarm until a user programmed time has elapsed. See also Inhibited/intermediate |
| EN501-31 | Standards for design, installation and maintenance of intruder alarm systems |
| Exit Terminator | A device fitted outside the alarmed area used to set the alarm system. |
| Extension Speakers | Most control panels have terminals for fitting extension speakers or internal piezo sounders |
| Full Set | Most Alarm control panels can be programmed for Full and Part settings. Full set normally alarms all the active zones of the system. part set can be programmed to omit specified zones. The function of the zones can also be changed. For example; a house alarm could be programmed to protect the ground floor and first floor and have the front door as the E/E zone. In Part set only the ground floor is alarmed and the front door is set to Immediate instead of E/E and the PIR at the bottom of the stairs set to E/E. |
| Inertia Detector | Also known as Vibration/shock sensors. Detectors which detect and process vibrations typical of an intruder trying to forcibly open a door or window (or even a wall!) |
| Intelligent Device system (iD) | iD systems use miniature silicon chips (Biscuits) which are easily fitted into any standard detector at the time of installation. Each biscuit uniquely identifies the detector it is connected to, thereby allowing up to 30 detectors to be connected to a single cable. |
| IP | An IP (Ingress Protection) number is used to specify the environmental protection of enclosures around electronic equipment. These ratings are determined by specific tests. The IP (Ingress Protection) number is composed of two numbers, the first referring to the protection against solid objects and the second against liquids. The higher the number the better the protection. |
| LCD | Liquid Crystal Display - these allow the information on Control Panels and Remote Keypads (RKPs) to be displayed alphanumerically |
| LED | Light Emitting Diode |
| Magnetic Contact | A detector comprising a magnetically operated reed switch and a separate magnet. Usually used on doors and windows where the magnet is fitted to the opening door or window and the switsh on the fixed frame such that when the opening door or window is closed the magnet is in close proximity to the switch such that the switch closes and the circuit connected to the switch is closed, This is known as a Normally Closed (NC) detector |
| Master Code | The administrators code for the system which allows all available programming functions |
| Monitored Alarm | An alarm system usually monitored by an ARC. |
| NACOSS | National Approval Council for Security Systems. |
| NICEIC | National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting |
| NSI | National Security Inspectorate |
| Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) | This is a memory chip in the Control Panel which remembers the programmed alarm settings when all power is removed. The NVM can usually be reset to Factory Default settings. |
| Panic ALarm (PA) | Also known as Personal Attack is usually a button which when pressed causes a full alarm condition regardless of whether or not the alarm system is set/unset. This may be programmed to cause a silent alarm if the system is monitored, thus having the same effect as Duress code. |
| Part Set | Most Alarm control panels can be programmed for Full and Part settings. Full set normally alarms all the active zones of the system. Part set can be programmed to omit specified zones. The function of the zones can also be changed. For example; a house alarm could be programmed to protect the ground floor and first floor and have the front door as the E/E zone. In Part set only the ground floor is alarmed and the front door is set to Immediate instead of E/E and the PIR at the bottom of the stairs set to E/E. |
| Passive Infra-red (PIR) Detector | This detector 'sees' the temperature of the area it is covering. A lens at the front of the detector splits the area 'seen' into several zones, when the temperature 'seen' in adjacent zones changes at a certain rate then an alarm is triggered. |
| Pet Immune (PIR) Detector | This type of detector is similar to a standard PIR but has a reduced sensitivity. Typically not detecting animals weighing up to 80 lbs. Also available in Dual Technology versions. |
| Pet Lens | A lens fitted to a PIR which alters the beam pattern such that the detection zone is raised a certain height above the floor usually okay for dogs, but not necessarily so for cats. |
| Pulse Count | This facility is available on most PIRs and is similar to the Double Knock (see above) in that the detector has to detect 2 or 3 alarm events within a specific time before it creates an alarm state. |
| Push-to-set | A terminal on the control panel which allows a button outside the alarmed area to be pushed to set the alarm. |
| Power Supply Unit (PSU) | All Control Panels have a PSU usually rated at 1.0 Amp. This is normally sufficient to supply around 15 powered detectors (PIRs, Vibration Detectors) and two sounders. If extra power is required a separate PSU can be added. |
| QUAD PIR | A PIR detector with two heat sensors |
| Remote Keypad {RKP) | A keypad located remotely from the control panel used to set/unset/programme the alarm. The RKP can be connected to a Blank End-station (Controlpanel without on-board keypad) or a stand-alaone control panel. Most control panels allow between 4 and 6 RKPs to be connected. |
| Security Grades | A system under which alarm components are graded (1 to 4) according to the level of protection they afford. |
| Self Activating Bell (SAB) | The 'bell' is a legacy term but the function is the same. Most external sounder units are SAB devices, that is that they can operate independently of the control panel. They contain a rechargeable battery and charging circuit. In non-alarm condition the battery is charged from the control panel and the LEDs (if fitted) indicate a healthy state. In alarm condition the sounder is triggered (and strobe if fitted) and powered by the control panels power supply. If the cable to the sounder is cut the sounder will still operate using its internal battery. |
| Self Contained Bell (SCB) | This is similar to the above except that in alarm condition the power is derived from its internal battery. Some sounder units can be set to operate in ether SAB or SCB mode. If the amount of power from the panel is insufficient to operate the sounder then it can be set to SCB mode. This is useful when fitting multiple sounder units |
| Verification | The means of verifying that an intrusion has taken place. Can be via audio, visual or sequential means. |
| Vibration/shock Detector | Detectors which detect and process vibrations typical of an intruder trying to forcibly open a door or window (or even a wall!) |
| Zone | A typical Control Panel will usually have 8 zones and in the majority of cases these are individually programmable as
- Entry/Exit - detectors on this zone do not cause an alarm if they are triggered within a user set time. Some panels have a final door set which sets the alarm as soon as the final detector goes to closed circuit.
- Inhibited or Intermediate - detectors on this zone will not alarm within the Exit time (as set on the E/E zone), however once the alarm is set they operate in immediate mode unless the entry into the premises is through the E/E zone.
- Immediate - detectors on this zone trigger an alarm immediately.
- Fire - some control panels have a dedicated fire zone and on some any zone is programmable as fire. The fire zone is designed for connection of smoke detectors. The zone operates 24hrs (i.e. whether the alarm is set or unset). The sounder(s) usually have a distinctive sound when triggered by this zone.
- Tamper - some control panels have a dedicated tamper zone and on some any zone is programmable as tamper. The zone operates 24hr (i.e. whether the alarm is set or unset) however when the alarm is unset only the internal sounder is activated, when the alarm is set both internal and external sounders are activated.
- Personal Attack (PA) - some control panels have a dedicated PA zone and on some any zone is programmable as PA The zone operates 24hr (i.e. whether the alarm is set or unset). Both internal and external sounders are activated. The zone is designed for the connection of PA buttons.
- Double Knock - some control panels can have a zone programmed to only alarm if two alarm signals are received within a certain time. This can significantly reduce the occurrance of false alarms
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