It takes as little as 20 seconds for a burglar to gain entry to a poorly secured property. Thankfully, alarm systems have kept pace with even the most determined of criminals, ensuring that you can keep your home or business safer than ever before. From mobile text updates and automatic police alerts to CCTV integration, alarm systems use modern technology to make your life easier.
ICU2 Security offers a free, no-obligation quote within Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley, Sheffield, Scunthorpe, Goole, Leeds, Wakefield, Chesterfield and surrounding areas. After our surveyor inspects your home or premises, you will receive a quote and have an opportunity to ask any questions to ensure you find the best system to meet your needs.
Domestic Alarms
Don’t leave your home security to chance – a domestic burglar alarm greatly reduces the risk of a break-in. In fact, research by the British Security Industry (BSIA) found most residential burglars avoided properties with alarms entirely.
You may even save on your insurance premiums, with many companies offering discounts for alarm-protected homes.
All of our alarms are installed to the latest European Standards, and you’ll receive a certificate of conformity after your installation. 24/7 monitoring with police response is available for all of our systems. See below to learn more about our security grades.
Systems start at £400 inc VAT
Monitoring services start from £65 inc VAT
Commercial Alarms
Can you afford the headache and hassle of a break-in? From theft to damage, one lapse in security can leave you playing catch up.
Protecting your business against a burglary saves you from financial losses but also considerably reduces the disruption and ensures the health and safety of your business for you and your employees.
In most cases, insurers require a monitored alarm system for commercial premises. We offer continuous monitoring to meet these needs.
Additionally, we can install your alarm system with SmokeCloak (a release of dense fog on activation) or CCTV integration.
Prices start at £450 inc VAT
For enhanced security, consider having your intruder alarm system monitored. A monitored alarm is connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) via the telephone line, phone network, or both.
An ARC is a call centre staffed around the clock by personnel dedicated to monitoring security alarms. They contact the appropriate authority – usually the Police or the Fire Brigade in case of a fire – when an alarm is triggered. An ARC operates under strict legislation, ensuring the highest level of operational standards.
Passive Monitoring
Passive monitoring is a type of intruder alarm system where your premises are connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) through a dedicated phone line using a Digital Communicator. This system is called “passive” as it doesn’t actively check the phone line’s status, and the monitoring centre is only notified when the alarm is triggered.
Once the alarm is activated, the ARC is alerted and contacts the relevant authority, typically the Police. However, this monitoring system is unable to detect line cuts. Therefore, if an intruder cuts or damages the phone line, the alarm won’t reach the monitoring centre, and they won’t be able to notify the authorities.
Active Monitoring
Active Monitoring services such as British Telecom (BT) Redcare connect your burglar alarm system to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) via a phone line. However, Redcare does more than just that. It actively ensures that the phone line is always available, and in the event of an intrusion, it relays a signal to the ARC even if the phone line has been cut.
By using an existing BT phone line, you can save on the cost of installing and renting an additional line. With Redcare, there are no additional call charges, and a small attachment allows it to work on the same line as other digital equipment like a fax machine or PC. While a dedicated line is recommended for servicing and maintenance, Redcare’s method of operation does not require one.
Dual Signal Monitoring
For a more robust active monitoring service, you can choose a two-signal path for ultimate coverage. This uses a telephone line, as well as a mobile phone network path, in order to continuously monitor an alarm system. If one of the paths is attacked or damaged, the other continues to monitor and transmit information to the Alarm Receiving Centre.
ICU2 Security recommends BT Redcare GSM, as it is the only monitored system that completely conforms to the new Police Policy (ACPO Policy A.C.P.O. 2006/PD 6662). The policy states that all new security systems must now be capable of generating an initial alarm activation followed by a second one confirming the first to qualify for Police response.
EN50313 European Standards For Intruder Alarms Systems
The European Standards 50131 has replaced the previous British standards for alarm monitoring. This new set of standards is designed to ensure that alarm systems across Europe are tested and graded to the same high level.
The European Standards 50131 covers everything from the installation and operation of the alarm system to the level of monitoring required to maintain its effectiveness. Compliance with these standards is essential for ensuring the safety and security of your premises, and it provides peace of mind for both you and your insurance provider.
Because European Standards are not retrospective, systems that were installed to British Standards will continue to be maintained and updated to that standard.
Risk Assessment
All alarm systems installed to the new European Standards must be assessed according to the risk level of a property, also called security grading. The grade of the system is determined by a number of factors.
The EN 50131 defines the grade of the system based on the type of intruder and the level of effort they are likely to put into a burglary. This ensures that the system provides adequate protection against potential threats, and it also helps to determine the appropriate level of monitoring required to maintain its effectiveness. With the appropriate grade, you can have peace of mind knowing that your premises are well protected against potential intruders.
Security Grades
There are four security grades based on the European Standards:
Alarm Grade
1
2
3
4
Level of Risk
Low
Low to Medium
Medium to High
Very High
Type of Premises
DIY Type Installation
Residential
Residential & Commercial
Banks etc
Insurance Approval
NO
YES
YES
YES
Notification Options
NO
YES
YES
YES
What are the grades of security system?
Grade 1 is the lowest level of security, typically used for properties with a low value of contents or where the risk of intrusion is minimal. Grade 1 protects against opportunistic intruders that have limited knowledge of alarm systems by securing the main points of entry, usually the front or back doors.
Grade 2 is for a slightly higher risk of theft and is typically used for properties with a moderate value of contents or where the risk of intrusion is moderate. Grade 2 protects against intruders with some knowledge of security systems by monitoring all common entry points including doors and windows.
Grade 3 is is typically used for properties with a high value of contents or where the risk of intrusion is high. Grade three protects against intruders with a working knowledge of security and alarm systems. It secure a property by monitoring all points of entry, including doors, windows, walls and the ceiling.
Grade 4 is the highest level of security, typically used for properties where the risk of intrusion is severe. This system is specifically engineered to withstand even the most sophisticated intruders with advanced plans and high-grade equipment. It is ideal for protecting spaces or objects that hold significant value.
Choosing the right grade for your installation
The exact security grade you need will depend on what you’re protecting and what your insurance company requires. The UK tends to require grades that are higher than other countries (e.g. a shop in Belgium at grade 2 could be grade 3 in the UK).
Here is how we typically approach grade allocation:
Grade 1 is suitable for domestic properties with low-risk of intruders (without an insurance replacement for an alarm system)
Grade 2 is suitable for most domestic properties and commercial properties with low-risk of break-ins (e.g. florists)
Grade 3 is suitable for high-risk domestic properties and most commercial properties (e.g. a newsagent with cigarette sales)
Grade 4 is suitable for extremely high-risk domestic and higher risk commercial properties (e.g. jewellery stores or art galleries)
Mixing Components of Different Grades
The EN standard says that different grades of components can be used in the same intruder system. For example, if the system is grade 2, it’s okay to use a grade 3 power supply. But if a grade 2 component (like a detector) is used in the system, the system can only be rated up to grade 2.
It’s possible to have a part of the system rated at a higher grade, but all associated parts must be rated the same or higher. For instance, an intruder system with hold-up (PA) functionality can have a grade 4 hold-up system and a grade 3 intruder system, as long as the power supply, alarm transmission system, and warning devices used by hold-up (PA) parts are also grade 4. The whole system would still be rated as grade 3.
Contact us
For advice on any product our our services, please do not hesitate to call us, email us, visit us or contact us via this website.
01302 562412
sales@icu2security.com
