HOW much has changed in the world of alarm panels? For many years there have been LCD screens and these and clever onboard software solutions that make programming a breeze are probably the major advance we’ve seen in domestic and small commercial solutions over the past 2 decades.

There have been other changes. Some of the latest generation wireless alarm systems take programming ease to a new level with sensor devices registering themselves with the alarm panel with little input from the installer. There’s also a new breed of outdoor sensors with IP65 and IP66 ratings and the ability to handle outdoor installation as part of a perimeter solution.

Fundamentally though, an alarm panel remains a control board designed to power and monitor a series of NO/NC sensor loops and to report NO/NC conditions as alarms at a local keypad and a remote monitoring station via one or a combination of transmission technologies – most commonly digital dialler.

We’ve panned dialler in Security Electronics and Networks Magazine as offering low security while being too expensive to poll in any meaningful way. But dialler’s inherent strengths and longevity mean continued use. When it comes to alarm systems, it seems the driving factors remain economy and reliability, along with dialler monitoring and the too-easy rebates it delivers. Snazzy features offer better security but they are a harder sell.

Line of defense

According to DAS’s Paul Knight, alarm systems are still the engine room of any balanced security solution.

“They are the engine room, absolutely,” he says. “They form a very important line of defense along with mechanical locks, video surveillance, and manpower response. Alarm systems are still the key component in a total security solution in that they alert authorities to an incident.”

Knight agrees that alarm panels have been technologically inert for some time.

“Apart from IP monitoring and the inclusion of access control with some systems, alarm panel technology has been quiet,” he says. “And while IP monitoring is an emerging technology and a future technology, there will still be dialler alarm panels for some time.

“I see the critical factors with alarm panels as ease of use and reliability,” Knight explains. “These along with features that help prevent false activations like fire alarm verification and zone twin trip.”

Knight says the sorts of systems that are installed vary depending on where you are.

“Different markets around Australia have varied trends,” he says. “In some states home builders include standard systems with new homes usually comprising 3-4 movement sensors inside the home while other states tend to install larger numbers of perimeter sensors.”

Knight says that both commercial and domestic installations can benefit from correctly positioned external detectors.

“The critical factors with alarm panels are ease of use and reliability along with features that help prevent false activations like fire alarm verification and zone twin trip” Paul Knight, DAS

“Obviously, placing a sensor in an uncontrolled environment does deliver some challenging scenarios, and unknown activations are still a concern for installers and system users.”

In terms of alarm system type, Knight’s experience suggests hardwired solutions remain dominant with hybrids and full wireless becoming more popular as prices of RF technology fall.

“Hybrid seems to be a popular choice,” Knight says. “Installers are wiring what can be wired to reduce costs, and using wireless where necessary. In terms of total numbers of systems installed, hardwired systems are still ahead, but as wireless technology costs come down, sales of wireless panels and sensors are increasing.

“Monitoring is definitely the driving factor with alarm installations here in Australia, and I think commercial monitoring numbers should remain relative stable, however, domestic monitoring generally suffers in tight economic times.

“Installers and end users all basically look for the same thing with their alarm systems,” Knight says. “They want ease of use, reliability, competitive pricing and most importantly, back up support.”

User friendly

Bosch’s Adam Harris agrees that monitoring is a key driver of alarm system installations but he puts it another way. Harris says alarm systems are the engine room of a balanced security solution because “intrusion control is the driver of response for monitoring”.

Harris says that while IP is the latest trick, traditional reporting paths still hold sway.

“Sales of IP-enabled panels are low,” he explains. “Most systems we sell are dialer-based. It’s true IP is the buzz word and it will definitely have a place in the future, however, uptake to date is low.”

Interestingly, Harris says that key features of alarm systems are simplicity of operation as well as reliability and stability. He has no hesitation in nominating easy interaction as being the most important feature of an alarm system.

“A good alarm panel should be user friendly,” he says. “Most users of alarm systems are not educated. An interface which guides the user in operation of the control panel is important and will greatly reduce false alarms due to user error – which is a significant source of false alarms.

“Along with this, a 2400-baud modem is important, with the local telecommunications networks struggling to support legacy 300 baud dialers in many locations.”

Harris says Bosch has spent recent years working on making operation easier for users and enhancing underlying reliability.

“For some time we have been focused on improving user interfaces and making them more intuitive for both installers and end users,” he explains. “Our older designs have been updated for compatibility with the current telecommunications network and soon all panels we provide to market will feature a dedicated 2400-baud modem chip on board.

“Using a quality detector is very important. The best intrusion control panel in the world will not go into alarm without input from a detector. Similarly it will generally only false alarm as a result of incorrect input from a detector” Harris, Bosch

“Without giving away too many secrets, we will work to continue to improve user interfaces for both installers and end users,” Harris says. “There is probably little room to improve footprints on our system portfolio as there will still be terminals required for zones, outputs, power etc and we already make significant use of multi-layer and surface mount technologies in our designs. When it comes to system design, making products more functional for both the installer and the end user is the key.”

In terms of the sorts of systems being installed in the Australian alarms market, Harris says that both economy and features are legitimate selling points.  

“There will always be a position for both economy and feature-rich products in the market,” he says. “Most definitely customers are placing more emphasis on quality and support in their purchasing decisions regardless of the product positioning in terms of price to features.”

It’s easy to ignore the fact that quality sensors are integral to the function of an alarm system and deploying poorly designed sensors or installing quality sensors badly, can hamstring an otherwise excellent alarm panel.

“Using a quality detector is very important,” explains Harris. “The best intrusion control panel in the world will not go into alarm without input from a detector. Similarly it will generally only false alarm as a result of incorrect input from a detector.

“In many cases a quality detector will have features that make it easier and quicker to install which will reduce labor and start to offset the increased cost of purchase. When you add the consideration that a single false alarm will cost more than the increased cost in purchasing a quality detector, the use of quality detectors instantly becomes cheaper overall.”

A long term trend in the alarms industry is for project home builders to promote their homes as featuring an alarm system and then to install a very basic solution with a couple of sensors that cannot be used when the family is at home. Not only does this trend undermine quality installers, it devalues the entire concept of domestic alarm systems.

“Many developers simply want to tick a box on their offer to market,” says Harris. “What this means is that it does not really matter if the system is 2 zones or 20 zones, the developer simply promotes the fact a security system is provided.

“As the home purchaser is not educated and likely more focused on the tiles; appliances, colours in the home, etc; the alarm system is generally not going to feature highly on their list of priorities.

“Definitely there is volume in domestic construction, however, it is generally for entry systems,” Harris says. “There are more up-market developments which do include the higher end domestic products but these are the exception not the norm.

“Other drivers for domestic intrusion control are renovations and monitoring is definitely still a driver,” he says. “Conversely I think change of some description drives the commercial market – this may be a change in tenant/owner of commercial premises, a change in focus on security as a result of theft, or an independent audit or risk assessment.”

According to Harris, Bosch has plenty to offer installers and end users, giving installers intuitive, reliable product and users simplicity of operation and again, reliability.

“Bosch has a quality product backed by an industry leading warranty and a highly regarded, global, consumer brand,” he says.

“Our panels are all wireless-capable. Our development of the user interface on our newer LCD control panels featuring graphic displays with intuitive menus and the ability to provide common names to zones; outputs, areas and schedules, ensures installers and their customers get an advanced system that is simple to use and maintain.”

Features are king

Central Security Distribution is distributing the Paradox range of alarm panels which boast a number of interesting features that seek to take panel operation in new directions.

“Paradox has spent millions developing a new range of panels that exceeds the demands and needs of integrators and end-users,” says CSD’s Scott Hamilton. “The result is StayD panels which are designed to allow perimeter protection day and night.

“When thinking about the best alarm panels I would tend to move away from what is common,” he says. “Instead it’s what is unique that defines the best panels and puts them above their competitors. This means underlying quality features need to be created and improved upon.

“From CSD’s point of view right now that differentiating feature is StayD, which is a development that allows a series of perimeter zones to be set up on Paradox panels that will stay armed 24x7 even when the system has been disarmed by a user. This is an important development that I think revolutionizes the perimeter protection capabilities of alarm systems.

“An alarm system should be able to provide protection to people as well as buildings and belongings,’ says Hamilton. “That’s the big deal with StayD. The system is on when the family is home, it’s on when they’re asleep and vulnerable. This system protects a large perimeter that can include a pool gate or a garage or a workshop door. And StayD never forgets to arm the perimeter or monitor high risk areas of the home, 24x7.

“Another key development CSD is offering is Magellan, which is a wireless development from Paradox that offers more functional and reliable solutions,” Hamilton says.

“What Magellan does is provide intelligent 2-way wireless with functionality delivered to remotes, as well as to keypads – and that includes programming. Other strong features include menu-driven programming to give integrators faster installs and flash upgrades across the product range.”

At the same time he outlines these strengths, Hamilton says that so far IP connectivity, the technological doyen of the day, is being installed as a backup for monitoring of alarm panels but is not yet being used widely as the main alarm comms path. But he says CSD expects and hopes this will change rapidly.

“In terms of local communications we see hybrid panels being a favorite,” Hamilton explains. “They offer everything in one package and that allows for integrators to be flexible with customer needs and site demands. There are also benefits in cost effectiveness to the integrator and customer.”

Hamilton says that along with the new StayD, Magellan and flash-upgradability, Paradox is also bringing out a din-rail panel called the Imperial which will feature a wide range of expanders and accessories and should hit the market later in the year.

“This panel will shock a lot of people when it’s released,” Hamilton enthuses.

In terms of systems currently being sold by CSD, Hamilton says the majority are 4-8 zones hard wired but he points out that hybrid panels are becoming increasingly popular.

“As for dialer, I think that needs to be addressed, as most users have minimal polling because call costs are too high,” he says.

Hamilton is forthright on the subject of dialler polling and the way it cripples many alarm systems through its hidden layer of monitoring fees.

“Look at the cost to the end-user,” he says. “They are having to pay for every signal sent and that means monitoring is too expensive to justify or alternatively, the panel is being programmed to report once a week with no reports of openings and closings.

“Having a monitored alarm should be about having every detail of when and who armed or disarmed the system, including every zone alarm and restores, not to mention daily reporting of system status. A home could be off-line for a week before anyone would know - what’s the appeal in that?”

“We hope that IP reporting will be the solution to non-polling of domestic alarm systems because it provides cost effectiveness to end-users as well having the ability to give highly detailed reports,” Hamilton says.

“This additional functionality potentially means more monitored clients for the integrator, balancing out the income currently generated by rebates.”

“From CSD’s point of view that differentiating feature is StayD capable alarm panels, which allow a series of perimeter zones to be set up that will stay armed 24x7 even when the system has been disarmed by a user” Scott Hamilton, CSD