FALSE ALARM PREVENTION FOR YOUR HOME 1

Introduction 2 FARA Tips for Residences What is a false alarm? Why are false alarms a problem? How do alarm systems work? What are some causes of false alarms? What can you do to prevent false alarms?

What is a False Alarm? 3 FARA Tips for Residences False Burglar Alarm - A notification of an alarm to law enforcement when the responding authority finds no evidence of criminal offense or attempted criminal offense False Fire Alarm - A notification of a fire signal, resulting from a cause other than an actual fire

Effects of False Alarms 4 Takes officers and fire fighters away from real emergencies Wastes public resources Delay response when you really need it FARA Tips for Residences

False Alarm Effects 5 Endangers responding authorities and the whole community FARA Tips for Residences

6 Can lead to neighbors ignoring your alarm when it activates, making you’re alarm system less reliable and credible Effects Continued… FARA Tips for Residences

7 May make you reluctant to arm your system, exposing your home and property to undetected theft Effects Continued… FARA Tips for Residences

8 Cost time & money False alarm fines Lost time Service charges Effects Continued… FARA Tips for Residences

Police Dispatched The Alarm Process Intruder Trips Control Panel On site Siren Sounds Alarm Sent to Alarm Company Central Station Alarm Company Calls Public Safety Fire Trips Control Panel On site Fire Dispatched 9 FARA Tips for Residences

Common Causes of False Alarms… 10 Lack of proper training for people given access to your home, such as cleaning people, real estate agents children, neighbors, guests, relatives, babysitters, workers, etc… FARA Tips for Residences

More Common Causes 11 Unsecured Pets Open, unlocked or loose fitting doors and windows Weak batteries FARA Tips for Residences

12 Drafts from heating/air conditioning systems and open windows moving plants, curtains, balloons, etc. Another... FARA Tips for Residences

13 And a Few More... Insects, dust or dirt on motion or smoke sensors FARA Tips for Residences

14 Last but not Least... Cooking fumes will trip smoke detectors FARA Tips for Residences

False Alarm Prevention Tips for Residential Alarms 15 FARA Tips for Residences

Before You Activate 16 Check with your local jurisdiction for registration requirements FARA Tips for Residences

Before You Activate Understand how the alarm system works; what it does and does not do Ask your alarm company for written instructions, a DVD and a demonstration 17 FARA Tips for Residences

Before Turning on your Alarm System when leaving… 18 Make sure all alarmed doors and windows are locked Restart the exit time if you reenter FARA Tips for Residences

Keep Clear of Motion Detectors 19 Keep balloons, fans, heaters, plants, curtains, decorations & birds from motion sensor areas FARA Tips for Residences

Training is Important! 20 FARA Tips for Residences Teach ALL users how to operate your system, including: Arming codesArming codes PasswordsPasswords Phone numbersPhone numbers Cancellation proceduresCancellation procedures

Identify the Cause 21 Make sure your alarm system identifies the device that caused the alarm activation FARA Tips for Residences

Notify your alarm company … 22 If your system is not working properly If you plan to remodel or install new wiring of any kind (telephone, DSL, VoIP, etc.) Before you test your system FARA Tips for Residences

Update Your Alarm Company 23 If you …. Hire domestic help Get a new pet Change phone numbers Plan to sell your house FARA Tips for Residences

Tell Your Alarm Company 24 Do Not dispatch public safety on Power outages Weather related signals Low battery signals Temperature sensors FARA Tips for Residences

Request ECV! 25 Tell your monitoring company to use Enhanced Call Verification (ECV) FARA Tips for Residences ECV requires making two calls to a responsible party prior to requesting a dispatch

Cancel False Alarms 26 Follow your alarm companies instructions to cancel all false alarms FARA Tips for Residences

Ask For Help! FARA Tips for Residences 27 Ask Your Alarm Company For Help To train new users Find the cause for each false alarm Plan for a new addition or remodel

Maintain Your Alarm Keep your alarm system in proper operating condition Upgrade old systems 28 FARA Tips for Residences

Why? 29 Public safety resources are limited and should never be wasted Thousands of hours are spent investigating alarm reports that turn out to be “false alarms” FARA Tips for Residences

Remember 30 FARA Tips for Residences

31 FARA Tips for Residences False Alarm Reduction Association Vanderbilt Circle #4 Rockville MD Brad Shipp, Executive Director