Commercial Security Systems

Commercial security alarms usually require a more sophisticated design than residential Systems. With commercial systems, it is usually necessary to take into consideration, that there will be multiple people that will be using the system, and that they may come and go at various times that may need tracking. Additionally, these people may leave your employment and have to be locked out of the system. The design of a commercial system may require detector placement to ignore equipment that may automatically start when the building is empty (air compressors, various pumps, fax machines, etc.). Commercial systems are also traditionally larger and require more zones for ease of use and tracking of false alarms or open zones. Commercial systems are available for up to 250 zones and hundreds of different arm / disarm codes.

A) Keypad placement and quantity considerations (one is required, the rest are for convenience).

1) Hint ... Keypads should be placed at the most convenient areas that you will want to control the system from. Examples might be; near the employee entrance, near the front office door (common entry / exit points), in the computer room, or higher security areas.

2) Hint ... Remember that with each keypad is an expense; try to design the system so that multiple areas can be serviced with one keypad if practical.

3 ) Hint ... Remember, commercial systems can be divided ( if necessary ) into multiple partitions to allow arming of different areas within the building at different times, office areas separated from production areas, computer rooms separated from technology labs, ATM's and vaults separated from building alarms, and each can be controlled with different combinations and pass codes.

4) Hint ... Under no circumstances should you place the keypads ... Behind a door, (place them over a light switch so they will not be blocked)

5 ) Hint ... Keypads should be mounted at about shoulder height ( remember that the keypad will need to be read to determine certain conditions and functions, and it is no fun having to bend over each time you need to check the display ).

6) Hint ... Remember that there are panic buttons on the keypad. This may be a consideration about keypad placement near a front door (you could activate an immediate panic alarm if someone tried to force their way into the business).

7) Hint ... Remember that you are making a long term purchase. Take into consideration future conditions that may come about such as building expansions or modifications.

B) Perimeter detection considerations...

1) Hint ... "total" perimeter protection consists of devices on all exterior openings (windows, doors, skylights, etc.). In order to "totally" protect the area, the devices must not only detect if a window or door is opened, but additionally, if there was glass breakage. 

2) Hint ... "partial" perimeter protection consists of devices on all exterior doors, coupled with some sort of interior detection as a backup. (More forgiving if you have equipment that is left in random areas or positions every night.)

C ) interior detection considerations ...

1 ) Hint ... Infrared motion detectors are the most popular. There are multiple versions with different detection patterns. Some detect 30' x 30' for average rooms, some detect 70'x70' for larger rooms, and yet others detect 5'x50' for long narrow halls.

D ) specialty device considerations ...

1 ) Hint ... Do not be narrow minded about the capabilities of your security alarm system.  There are many accessory types of detectors that can be added to your system to enhance your security. Devices such as carbon monoxide sensors, gas detectors, and high water sensors for floods or sump pump failures, portable panic alarms or hold-up buttons, power outage sensors, low and high temperature detectors, etc., all can add an additional level of detection to protect your facility.

E) Fire detection devices...

1) Hint ... Do not ignore fire detection!!! The average burglary loss is about $1,500.00 to $2,000.00, while the average fire loss is closer to $20,000.00.

Early detection of fire not only protects property but saves lives!!

 Smoke & heat detectors can be added to any security alarm system to give you an even higher level of protection.