Alarm Responses

In an evaluation of one of my products a concealed carry instructor recently wrote:

But what about when the person is not present? The pistol pad is an intrusion detection device, but not an intrusion/theft prevention device… There are indeed criminals bold enough to break into houses that have alarm systems because they know full well that the alarm company will mess around with trying to contact the owner before alerting the police. A criminal can be in and out of a house in minutes.

Realizing that the general public may not be aware of actually how alarm response is prioritized my following response to his question/statement should be relevant to anyone with an alarm system.

Every alarm company in the USA and, to the best of my knowledge, every State by law or rule recognizes the following three (3) alarm response categories.

Priority 1 – Fire – Takes precedence over any other signals being processed by the central station. Emergency responders notified immediately. No Verification Call to the location. This represents a catastrophic threat to human life and property. Priority 1 – Fire devices can not be bypassed or disarmed; only silenced and/or reset.

Priority 2 – Panic – Takes precedence over any other signals (except Fire) being processed by the central station. Emergency Responders notified immediately. No Verification Call to the location. This represents a serious threat to human life. Priority 2 – Panic devices can not be bypassed or disarmed; only silenced and/or reset.

The Pistol Pad is designed for use as a Priority 2 – Panic device that can be shunted (disarmed) at the device itself with its security key.

Priority 3 – Intrusion – Lowest level taking precedence over administrative communications only. May require one or more verification calls prior to notification of Emergency Responders. Delays of 15 seconds or more may be required before any communication attempt to the central station is initiated following activation of an intrusion alarm. This represents a threat to property only. Priority 3 – Intrusion devices can be bypassed or disarmed.

For any monitored alarm system owner that has a panic button immediately available; even if the system is in full alarm with the sirens blasting, Push The Panic Button! This changes the status of your alarm signal from a Priority 3 – Intrusion to a Priority 2 – Panic and should significantly increase speed of notification to and response priority of Emergency Responders.