Burglar Alarms
Sadly, burglary is one of the most common crimes with one taking place every 105 seconds within the UK. Most often in the afternoon by opportunists who take advantage of our busy lives and know that our homes will be practically empty. Most burglars want to move swiftly to avoid being caught and can be in and out within 10 minutes, taking many of your valuable with them. Worryingly, more than half of all burglaries take place with someone still inside the property.
Equipping your building with a high-quality Intruder Alarm System is one of the most reliable ways you can protect your property. It does not matter how big or small your building is, ensuring that all your doors, windows and other entry points are secure is vital to always keeping your family, employees and valuables safe. Studies have shown that buildings with an effective security system in place are three times less likely to be broken into than a building without protection, so having one installed is something that all building owners and tenants should certainly be considering.
As Texecom registered installers, we can install and maintain hard-wired and wireless Intruder Alarm Systems compliant to your security needs, insurance requirements and budget. All our installations are graded to comply with the current British European Standards and are issued with a formal SSAIB Certificate of Compliance upon completion.
Our services include:
At OC Services we recognise that everybody has their own unique security requirements, possessions they wish to keep secure and people they want to keep safe. That is why for every Intruder Alarm System we work with our customers to ensure the system is personalised to meet their needs.
For every new Intruder Alarm enquiry, we will need to complete a security survey. This visit is offered free of charge and will be completed at a time that suits you best. Together we will walk around your property, identifying things such as entry points, the property type and construction, the size of the building, and the potential risk of break-in. We will also ask you about what user functions you may require, for example at night-time would you like to arm the unoccupied part of your property (e.g., downstairs) while you use another part of the property (e.g., upstairs)?
This information is collated to determine the security grade and perimeters of your system and enables us to produce a bespoke System Design Proposal that meets your security and insurance requirements.
As professional security system installers, we only install Grade 2 – 4 systems that fully conform to the European Standards BS EN 50131, PD 6662 and SSAIB Codes of Practice. Upon completion of your Alarm installation, we will provide you with an official SSAIB Certificate of Conformance, which is the proof your insurance company may require to verify that your alarm has been professionally installed. Every installation we complete comes with a 12 months guarantee.
An alarm system comprises of a network of devices that work together to form a competent security system, making it much more difficult for criminals to overcome without causing a disturbance. Regardless of the size, type, or complexity of the Intruder Alarm System that you may require it will consist of three basic but distinctly separate sections:
1) Control and Indicator Equipment
2) Audible Warning Devices
3) Detection Devices
Simply put, detection devices are the components of an alarm system that ‘detect’ the presence of an intruder and ‘signal’ that information to the control and indicator equipment, which in turn operates the audible warning device(s).
All our audible warning devices are fitted with an automatic cut out device. This will cease the alarm sounding after 15 minutes, safeguarding your compliance with the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (2005) if your alarms triggers for any reason.
For more information on how Intruder Alarms work, see our Guide to Intruder Alarms
Wireless alarm systems often achieve a neater installation due to their lack of wires; these systems also allow for outbuildings such as garages to be included in the system without the issue of having to externally run cables. These types of systems are becoming more and more fashionable among tenants who require extra security within their rented properties as well as those who have residences in which it is unachievable to hide wiring.
These systems are often referred to as ‘audible only’, or sometimes ‘locally signalled’ as their activation is usually only indicated by the initiation of an audible warning device, e.g. a siren, located on the outside of the premises. If the alarm is triggered an audible alarm sounds to alert, you that an intruder has entered or is trying to gain entry to the premises. Response to such systems relies on someone nearby both hearing the alarm and then taking suitable action to investigate its cause or alert others to the activation.
Unmonitored systems are typically used at lower risk homes (those without significant amounts of contents/valuables) and which, for a potential response, have other homes adjacent. This type of system should always be installed by a certified installer to the current European Standards.
When an alarm is activated, a signal informs an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) who depending on your monitoring package will:
Our Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) can process alarm signals received from your system. If your system is activated, a signal will be sent to the centre which will be translated by the computer software. The advanced technology of this equipment distinguishes between an intruder signal and a signal created from the activation of a panic button. After following anti-false alarm procedures, details of your alarm activation will be immediately passed onto either the Police (for Monitoring with Police Response) or your Keyholders (for Monitoring without Police Response) for them to take the appropriate action.
As governed by the regulations we are obliged to make your system 'Engineer Reset' meaning that once activated you will be unable to reset the system yourself. In this instance one of our engineers will need to reset the system for you, this may involve an engineer visit or may be able to be completed remotely.
The European Standards and Police Regulations require a Preventative Maintenance visit to fully service your alarm every six months for systems monitored with Police Response and annually for Audible Only and Monitoring without Police Response (depending on the size of the system).
Our ARC is EMCS, more information about them can be found on their website: www.emcs.co.uk
Remotely monitor your alarm system from your smart phone or tablet. This means that whenever you’re out of your home you’ll be instantly notified if an alarm gets triggered, reassuring you that you’ll be instantly alerted should any problems arise.
The Texecom SmartCom is an Ethernet of Wi-Fi communicator that facilitates the Texecom Connect experience by connecting any Premier Elite Control Panel to a local area network. When your alarm is activated, a notification is sent to your Smartphone advising you of the activation. You can also Set and Unset your alarm when you are away from home ensuring you have complete control of your Security System.
Communicating exclusively using outbound connections the Texecom Connect SmartCom removes the need to open any router ports. As such any installation that has a reliable internet connection can benefit from Texecom Connect.
Having an Intruder Alarm System installed is a key financial investment in securing your property. To protect both your property and your system it is vital that your Intruder Alarm is always in full working order.
You should also be aware that if your alarm is monitored by our Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) and/or receiving Police Response a Maintenance Contract is mandatory to comply with Police Regulations. Similarly, when an installation is an insurance company requirement or when a discount is being provided by your insurance company for having an alarm fitted it is invariably a condition that the alarm system is ‘professionally maintained’ by the subject of a maintenance agreement. For the systems SSAIB Certificate of Conformity to remain valid and to satisfy the requirements of your insurers you must keep the Maintenance Contract up to date.
Our maintenance contracts enable you to have access to our engineers 24 hours a day 365 days a year. We provide you with a priority response over non-contract customers. A maintenance contract will ensure that your intruder alarm is inspected and tested regularly and can often pre-empt issues with your alarm system which would otherwise require an emergency call out. As a contract customer you are also guaranteed a response to an emergency call within 4 hours.
Our Maintenance Contracts are offered on a one-year fixed term basis running from the date of installation. The Company will offer ongoing contracts and will send details and a quotation for the following year’s charges, at least four weeks before expiry of the annual term.
At each inspection we will:
We have different alarm maintenance packages for you to choose from depending on your requirements and budget.
We recommend you arrange a Corrective Maintenance visit if your alarm system is showing any of the following signs:
Experiencing an issue or fault with your existing Intruder Alarm System? Do not worry, at OC Services our engineers are trained to the highest standards and can service and repair a wide range of Intruder Alarm products , regardless of who installed it.
We can also take over and maintain your Intruder Alarm System to ensure its continued operation and compliance to the current standards. For system take-overs, we do charge a small take-over fee which covers our Security Engineers time to attend your property inspect all of the alarm components, test and reprogramme your system. Contact us today to arrange your visit.
We are on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to your alarm queries and emergencies. We are contactable through our email helpdesk, telephone, and out of hours line. So, whether you are decorating and need a detector isolated for works to continue, have a system fault, or a query you want answered, we are here.
Showroom and Office Opening Hours
Monday - Friday
08:30 - 17:30
Emergency Response
Monday - Sunday
Open 24-Hours
OC Services is the trading name of OC Locks & Services Limited. Registered in England & Wales under company number: 12268605. VAT registration number: GB 350 170 733. Registered Address: OC Locks & Services Limited, Units 3 & 4 Bakersgate, 299A Connaught Road, Brookwood, Woking, Surrey, England, GU24 0AD.
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