| This article describes the procedure for fitting Pressure Mats.
Introduction
Pressure mats comprise two conductive membranes held apart such that when the mat is walked on the membranes are pushed together and the circuit is made. This type of detector is termed a Normally Open (NO) detector and as such is connected into the alarm circuit differently than the usual Normally Closed detectors (PIRs, Inertia etc.).
The mats are usually fitted under the carpet. The mats should NOT be fitted in heavily walked on areas and NOT where there is a possibility of being walked on with stilletto heels.
Installation
The mats as supplied have four connection wires at one corner; two are the alarm circuit and the other two are the tamper circuit. The two tamper wires can be identified using a continuity tester - they should form a circuit. Physically fit the mat as follows.
- Lift the carpet and underlay at the position the mat is to be fitted.
- Position the mat on the floor such that the connection wires are at the most convenient point for connection into the alarm circuit - avoid running the connecting cable under the carpet where it may be walked on. If possible fit the mat close to the skirting board such that the connection into the alarm circuit can be made through a junction box.
- Fix the mat into position using adhesive tape, glue or tacks - take care not to tack through the membrane or to tape the membrane closed.
- Run a length of 4 core alarm cable from the control panel to the pressure mat and connect it to the pressure mat - this is best done through a junction box, but if this is not possible then the connections should be soldered and insulated.
- At the control panel daisy-chain the 2 tamper wires into the global tamper circuit.
- Connect one of the alarm wires into the one of the global tamper circuit terminals - i.e one of the tamper terminals will have 2 wires in it - one from the daisychained global tamper circuit and one from the pressure mat. Connect the other alarm wire into one of the zone terminals - see diagram below. If the zone is not used for other NC detectors then a link should be fitted across the terminals. When the pressure mat is walked on, the alarm will be signalled on the zone the wire is connected to.
- Check all the joints and refit the carpet.
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