False Alarm Prevention For Places of Worship

Introduction FARA Tips for Places of Worship 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? FARA Tips for Places of Worship 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 Takes officers and fire fighters away from real emergencies Wastes public resources Delay response when you really need it FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Effects of False Alarms Endangers responding authorities and the whole community FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Another False Alarm FARA Tips for Places of Worship

May make you reluctant to arm your system, exposing your place of worship to undetected theft Effects Continued… FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Cost time & money False Alarm Fines Lost time Service Charges Effects Continued… FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Police Dispatched The Alarm Process Intruder Trips Control Panel Siren Sounds- But Silent On Holdup Alarm Sent to Alarm Company Central Station Alarm Company Calls to Verify Then Calls Public Safety Fire Trips Control Panel Fire Dispatched Employee Trips Control Panel FARA Tips for Places of Worship

COMMON CAUSES OF FALSE ALARMS… Lack of proper training for people given access to your building, such as teachers, workers, meeting attendees, etc… FARA Tips for Places of Worship

More Common Causes FARA Tips for Places of Worship Improperly trained new staff

More Common Causes Open, unlocked or loose fitting doors and windows Weak batteries FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Drafts from heating/air conditioning systems and signs moving plants, balloons, decorations, etc. Another... FARA Tips for Places of Worship

And a Few More... Insects, dust or dirt on motion or smoke sensors FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Last but not Least... Cooking fumes will trip smoke detectors FARA Tips for Places of Worship

False Alarm Prevention Tips for Places of Worship FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Before You Activate Check with your local jurisdiction for registration requirements FARA Tips for Places of Worship

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 FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Before Turning on your Alarm System when leaving… 19 Make sure all alarmed doors and windows are locked Restart the exit time if you reenter FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Keep Clear of Motion Detectors 20 Keep balloons, fans, heaters, plants, curtains, & decorations from motion sensor areas FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Holdup or Panic Switches Use switched that need simultaneous two-button activation Train all personnel on when the button should and should not be used Do not use in areas where items will be stored around or on top of the device FARA Tips for Places of Worship

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

Train Early & Often FARA Tips for Places of Worship Train all new employeesTrain all new employees Include in Monthly meetingsInclude in Monthly meetings Follow-up after false alarmsFollow-up after false alarms Be proactive – cover common causes before they occurBe proactive – cover common causes before they occur

Identify the Cause 24 Make sure your alarm system identifies the device that caused the alarm activation FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Notify your alarm company … 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 Places of Worship

Update Your Alarm Company When you get new employees who will open or close When phone numbers change Before you do remodeling FARA Tips for Places of Worship

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

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

Cancel False Alarms Follow your alarm companies instructions to cancel all false alarms FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Ask For Help! FARA Tips for Places of Worship 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 FARA Tips for Places of Worship

Why? 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 Places of Worship

Remember FARA Tips for Places of Worship

False Alarm Reduction Association Vanderbilt Circle #4 Rockville MD Brad Shipp, Executive Director