What Is a Central Station Alarm?
A central station alarm system is one that feeds directly into a central monitoring station. If a sensor on the central station alarm system is triggered, such as fire, smoke, C02, or burglar, the system does much more than just set off a loud siren or send an email alert telling you to log into an app. Rather, a central station alarm system sends an immediate notification to a central monitoring station where around-the-clock, specially trained staff make decisions on how to respond to the situation.
Why Consider a Central Station Alarm System?
A central station alarm is extremely beneficial for alarms that are triggered when you are not in your home or office or may have become incapacitated and can’t respond to the emergency yourself. You have peace of mind knowing that a specially trained representative will notify the proper authorities. A central station alarm system also allows you to use panic signals, ambush codes, and duress codes to help keep you and others safe.
How Does a Central Station Alarm System Work?
A central station alarm system transmits signals to the central monitoring station in several ways. Plain old telephone service (POTS) lines are quickly fading out of fashion as the method for transmission and cellular, internet, and radio network technologies are taking over in popularity.
When the central monitoring station receives the alarm signal, there usually is a verification process that occurs. The verification process may include the monitoring company calling a specified individual to verify the alarm wasn’t triggered accidentally or, if the company has CCTV cameras, the station usually has permission to access them to expedite its response time.
The central monitoring station will then alert the proper authorities to respond or reset the system if a false alarm occurred.
When is a Central Station Alarm Required?
Building codes require central station alarm systems for fire alarm and sprinkler systems in most commercial buildings. There are some exceptions if your building has 24-hour on-site security staff. However, this is extremely costly for most businesses. While they may choose to have on-site security during business hours, it is more cost-effective to have a central station alarm system for off-hours.
The central monitoring station itself must comply with the governing Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards, as well as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and standards. These standards include items such as 24/7 operations, trained staff, regulations for backup power, record keeping, reporting, and testing and maintenance.
FSS Technologies can provide central station alarm solutions like fire alarms, burglar alarms, and security cameras at an affordable price. Contact us today for your free estimate.
Explore Our Other Blogs
Vacation-Proof Your Home
When planning a vacation, you are almost always considering what clothes to pack or booking a place to stay. But while you are away, you need to make sure that your home will be safe from burglars or thieves who may target an empty home. Before you pack up and leave for your vacation, there…
What Are the 5 Classes of Fires?
While it can be hard to tell the difference at first glance, different types of fires occur based on the materials that fuel them. Just as you wouldn’t try to put out a grease fire with water, specific ways to extinguish each fire class exist and depend on what sustains it. Some atypical classes of…
Should My Business Have a Panic Button?
What Exactly is a Panic Button? As the name implies, a panic button is a button or switch that an individual activates when there is an emergency that needs immediate attention. Panic buttons are often hidden from plain sight so they can be activated subtly or in secret by the correct individuals. How Does a…
4 Questions & Answers about Smart Home Devices
Smart Home Technology Let’s face it; we are in love with our smartphones. According to Pew Research Center, more than 81% of Americans now own one; that is up from just 35% in 2011. With so much power in the palm of our hand, it’s not surprising that we want to use our smartphone for…
Why Fire Alarm Monitoring is Essential for Your Business
We’ve talked about the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in previous blogs and how it is essential to understand and obey their standards when installing, testing, and maintaining fire alarm systems. Fire Alarm Monitoring is the Law Your business might need to include monitoring as part of its fire safety system due to NFPA 101® . NFPA…
Holiday Security Tips
It’s a beautiful time of the year, but the holidays come with some inherent risks that you should prepare for amidst all the gift buying, cooking, and decorating. Here are some of our top holiday safety tips to keep your home and loved ones safe over the season. Theft and Burglary Prevention Do not put…
Wired vs. Wireless Security Cameras
Wired or Wireless? When we talk about wired versus wireless in-home security, it has little to do with whether a piece of equipment has physical wires attached to it. The terms wired and wireless refer to the communication signal that is transmitted from one piece of security equipment to another. For a security system to…
How Fast Can Fire Spread?
What Is Fire? Fire is the result of a chemical reaction called oxidation. Oxidation is the combination of oxygen with another substance. In the case of a fire, the oxidation happens so quickly that light, heat, and sound are released. A fire needs oxygen, heat and fuel to burn. These factors are frequently referred to…
Security Integrations with Avigilon Alta
Security systems and integrations For business owners and managers, security systems are a key tool in protecting your customers, property, and commercial operations. There are several components to consider when working to create the best security system for your business, and there’s never a one-size-fits-all solution. A helpful approach to finding the best fit for…
The Top 5 Reasons Why Your Smoke Alarm Is Beeping
Do you hear a faint chirping noise coming from the back hallway or the basement? Don’t ignore it. It might be your smoke detector. Smoke detectors are designed to chirp or beep when they need servicing. Common Reasons for Smoke Alarm to Beep When the battery in your smoke alarm is starting to get weak,…