DOMESTIC “Home owners are becoming used to advertisements from equipment suppliers pointing out e.g. how they can check up on their house using IP cameras which can be viewed over a mobile phone while sitting on a beach in Thailand” (from previous page) they could ask a neighbour to check their property for any sign of an intruder, or if CCTV cameras are connected to the panel they can verify an intrusion is taking place and call the police. “CCTV has become much more affordable and homeowners tend to stick a couple of cameras of the outside of their properties, but if those cameras are not triggered by a detection system, and not connected to an alarm transmission system, they will only be used for evidence purpose but not as prevention system,” says Nigel. “A combination of outdoor PIR sensors triggering CCTV cameras to provide visual identification, and voice warnings issued by an alarm monitoring station, will provide the best property protection, and deter burglars. This type of early detection system is widely used in mainland Europe, but somehow there is a misconception in the UK that any outdoor detection system might trigger false alarms. In our experience however, with the right sensor technology outdoor detection does work, and is even more efficient when connected to cameras and helps homeowners and businesses prevent theft.” So having external security is a must in order to try to make a home less of a target but how do you deal with a population that ranks “Whether immediate neighbours have children who are likely to scream” almost twenty places higher in their top 50 concerns than home security? Perhaps in the long run the willingness to run domestic functions through smartphone will bring security further to the fore. There are plenty of solutions from established intruder alarm manufacturers that have apps for mobile access and these can also link to other home automation devices so there are options already for those that want a professional-level smartphone enabled solution. Yet it is perhaps the rapid growth in the hardware store DIY alarm market that may drive homeowners towards the professional system once they realise that their £99 wireless home intruder system just doesn’t cut the mustard when it comes to protecting their most expensive asset, but this is a long process especially when so many people admit to not even having external lighting. Speaking to PSI back in 2015, Alex Carmichael of the SSAIB told us the keys to the problem and his comments still resonate today: “Relevant factors here may include the cost of installation, maintenance and monitoring, the different nature of protective risks facing householders compared with businesses, insurance requirements, and the relative lack of awareness among home owners – witness, for example, the number of houses still using ‘Type B’ unmonitored intruder alarms. Householders simply do not expect to make use of the type of sophisticated electronic security that a commercial security manager would regard as a basic necessity,” he said. “Yet this scenario is changing and represents an opportunity for installers and system integrators to take advantage of these evolving circumstances. At this point in the technology cycle, for instance, surveillance is more adaptable, user-friendly and price competitive than it’s ever been. Home owners are becoming used to advertisements from equipment suppliers pointing out e.g. how they can check up on their house using IP cameras which can be viewed over a mobile phone while sitting on a beach in Thailand. What’s more, they can walk into High St shops such as Maplin and see this kit on the shelves for themselves. At the same time, recent stories about increasing withdrawal of police response to domestic break-ins are gathering pace in the media. “From a commercial business perspective then, so far, so good. But the dangers of DIY security are manifest – as are the claims that watching a burglar breaking in on your phone whilst hundreds or even thousands of miles away is either an easy or practical solution to such risks. Security providers therefore need to explain and promote the benefits of professionally specified, installed and monitored systems – including the advisability of 'Type A' monitored intruder alarms to provide 24/7 monitoring to ensure continued police response,” advised Alex. “For public reassurance, residential customers need only use a certificated installer to gain the many benefits available from such an accredited body. I would urge certificated security companies to sell the advantages they gain from this accreditation and thereby steal a march on their market competitors into the bargain.” And that is vital in being successful with a domestic installation. Remember that a professionally installed intruder alarm system comes with a number of benefits to the keyholder, so be sure to focus on those; if security just isn’t important enough to fund then customers will need convincing if wavering due to cost. Final words of advice for installer come from RISCO’s Steve Riley: “Look at your value proposition – why should a consumer choose you, what can you offer them that an electrician can’t and how do you differentiate yourself from your competition? To quote Henry Ford ‘If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got’. This has never been more relevant to the security industry than it is today.” 28 www.psimagazine.co.uk
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