Home Security Monitoring

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Though they protect out home, belongings, and even our lives from outside dangers, many of us don’t understand how burglar alarms work.

In the Good Old Days, how burglar alarms work was simple—the dog barked. But now, how burglar alarms work has become a multi-million dollar science in an industry that is growing rapidly and advancing every day.

We asked Home Security Store’s founder and owner Stacey Winn to help us explain how burglar alarms work.

“You’ll find that there’s a huge variety in alarm systems, from do-it-yourself kits to whole-house wired systems. But most alarms work on the same basic principles, and even the most complex system is based on a pretty basic concept of how burglar alarms work,” says Winn.

How Burglar Alarms Work: Circuit Alarms

The most common first line of defense when it comes to how burglar alarms work is to use the circuit principle. You can have two kinds of circuit alarm: closed circuit or open circuit.

The basic concept is the same: you run an electrical circuit through a door or window. In an open circuit, the electrical current is not completed until the door or window is open, which then triggers the alarm. The only drawback to this system is that all the criminal has to do is cut the wires to prevent the circuit from being completed. In a closed circuit, the current is broken when the door or window is open, triggering the alarm. The all-important control box monitors all the doors and windows and once the circuit is broken, the control box will keep sounding the alarm till someone resets it with a predetermined code.

The control box is often placed in an out of the way place so a criminal can’t easily find it and break it.

The closed-circuit method of how burglar alarms work can be used all around the perimeter of the home. Just create a circuit that will be broken when a criminal tries to enter and you have an alarm system. To make sure the alarm goes off if the window is broken rather than simply slid open; make the glass itself a circuit by running a current through it with a thin foil wire.

Even floor mats can be made into an open circuit alarm. When someone steps on the mat, the circuit is completed and an alarm sounds.

You can surround your home with a closed circuit alarm system that will sound the alarm when an intruder breaks the circuit. But once the criminal is inside, you need a whole different approach to how burglar alarms work.

How Burglar Alarms Work: Basic Motion Detectors

Circuit alarms are highly effective around the outside of your home and business because criminals have to get past the perimeter to get inside. But once they are inside, their movements are too unpredictable to have circuits everywhere inside the house. So then you have to rely on motion detectors.

You run into motion detectors all the time when you are approaching an automatically opening door that uses a radar-based motion detector. A control box above the door sends out radar waves (either microwave or ultrasonic) and then waits for those waves to be reflected back in an irregular pattern, indicating a presence is in the space. For automatic doors, that reflection detection opens the doors, while in an alarm system, it triggers the alarm.

So a motion detector works by constantly monitoring a room for irregular wave patterns. When a room is empty, the radar waves behave one way. But when motion is presented in the room, the pattern changes and the sensor detects the change to trigger the alarm.

How Burglar Alarms Work: More Advanced Motion Sensors

Other than radar-based motion detectors, there are also photo-sensor motion detectors. How burglar alarms work in this case involves beams of light. You aim the beam of light at a light sensor across a passageway in your house. When someone walks through it, the light beam is broken and the sensor triggers the alarm.

More advanced are passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors. These motion detectors see the heat given off by a body. Though the infrared energy tends to fluctuate in any given space, a PIR motion sensor only triggers the alarm when the energy rises rapidly, i.e. when a human, whose average body temperature is 98.6 degrees, enters an otherwise approximately 80-degree room.

If you have a motion sensor alarm system, there is usually delay of a few seconds on the control box to give you a chance to disengage the alarm when you enter the room.

How burglar alarms work has advanced beyond barking dogs and strung-up pots and pans. The science of how burglar alarms work applies measurements of time and space, incorporating the whole room into its security. A good alarm system would combine both circuit and motion sensor alarms, giving you two lines of defense when it comes to how burglar alarms work.

Let’s start with some basic OSHA definitions to understand this topic…

According to OSHA 1910.146 the definition of a confined space is as follows:

Is large enough for an employee to enter fully and perform assigned work;
Is not designed for continuous occupancy by the employee; and
Has a limited or restricted means of entry or exit.

These spaces may include underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, pits and diked areas, vessels, silos and other similar areas.

By definition, a permit-required confined spacehas one or more

of these characteristics:

Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;
 Contains a material with the potential to engulf someone who enters the space;
 Has an internal configuration that might cause an entrant to be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section; and/or
Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazards.

Why care about Confined Space?

As an Owner, Safety Manager, Safety Coordinator, Site Manager or other related title, you must have knowledge and understanding of the serious risks for your employees that work in confined spaces.  It is imperative that written procedures to protect your employees, contract workers and representatives from entering permit spaces must be developed and made available to all parties.  To help you evaluate your workplace to determine if spaces are permit spaces, this Decision Flow Chart is a useful tool. If it is, the employer must inform exposed employees of their existence, hazards they pose and location. Effective measures must be taken to prevent employees from entering permit spaces if they are not allowed. You must be prepared to deal with increased risk of exposure engulfment, entrapment and hazardous atmospheric conditions. These issues would not normally come up in an open workplace/setting. For further info, you can review the OSHA Permit Required Confined Spaces article.

Gas Dangers

Confined spaces may contain toxic hazards that can be detected only through testing. Oxygen (O2) deficiency, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon monoxide (CO), and methane (CH4) are common hazards in confined spaces that can be detected with a portable gas monitor. Depending on the industry, other gas hazards may be present.  Relying on a portable gas detector for H2S readings, and not sense of smell, is the most reliable method of ensuring that workers are notified well before dangerous levels are reached. In the range of 200 to 300 ppm, eye inflammation, respiratory tract irritation, and a loss of consciousness can occur. When levels of H2S reach 500 to 700 ppm, death will occur within 30 minutes to an hour.

Gas Safety is important. The risks can be divided into three categories: combustible gas, toxic gas, and high or low oxygen levels.  Making the worker’s assignment as safe as possible is the employer’s responsibility. A work location assessment is a requirement.

Combustible gas

            For combustion to occur, the air must contain a minimum concentration of      combustible gas or vapor.  This quantity is called the lower explosive limit     (LEL).  At concentrations equal to or greater than this, combustion will occur in the presence of a suitable ignition source such as a spark or hot        surface. For most combustible gases and vapors, the LEL is less than 5%        by volume, and a combustible atmosphere is usually described as “         hazardous” at 10% LEL.

            Some examples that present dangers are as follows: storage vessels             which have contained hydrocarbon fuels and oils, and fuel leaks in         pipelines, gas cylinders and engine-driven plant. For workers in sub-          surface environments such as sewers and pits, methane is an almost universal danger.  It’s an odorless gas underground and it’s formed by        decaying organic matter

Toxic gases and vapors

            Depending on the environment and the nature of the work, confined space      workers may be exposed to any of a large number of toxic compounds.  For example, generators used in a confined space produce carbon         monoxide in the exhaust fumes thereby creating a serious poisoning   risk.  Workers near vehicle traffic may be exposed to carbon monoxide            and nitrogen dioxide from exhaust fumes. Subsurface hazards are       hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide due to bacteria decomposition.

High or Low Oxygen Levels

            The normal concentration of oxygen in fresh air is 20.9%.  If it falls below         19.5% or goes above 23.5%, an atmosphere is considered hazardous. If          the concentration falls to 17%, mental and physical agility are noticeably             impaired; death comes very quickly if it drops only a few percent more.  At             these levels, unconsciousness takes hold so rapidly that the victim will be       unaware of what is happening.

            How does a location get oxygen-deficient? Numerous reasons such as:          the result of oxygen displacement by a toxic or inert gas, microbial action,     oxidation caused by rusting metal, combustion, and absorption.

            High oxygen levels are also dangerous.  As with too little, too much will            impair the victim’s ability to think clearly and act sensibly.  Moreover,           oxygen-enriched atmospheres represent a severe fire hazard.  From            clothing to grease, materials which would not normally burn become    subject to spontaneous combustion under these conditions.  Common      causes of oxygen enrichment include leaks from welding cylinders and even from breathing apparatus.

Gas Testing

Nowadays, multi-sensor confined space instruments are increasingly much less expensive, rugged, compact, easy to use than ever before.  A confined space gas detector kit makes stratified testing easy and generally includes a multi-gas monitor with pump, 10-foot sampling hose for pre-testing (longer lengths are available), spare batteries (rechargeable or alkaline), quad-gas cylinder for bump testing, and calibration with gas regulator, all conveniently contained in a rugged carrying case.

Stay Well and Be Safe in Confined Space!

On March 23 a sunday while i was at work and my home was burglarized around 3pm by 2 juveniles 1 was caught by police they broke in through a window. I asked the landlord for burglar bars on windows and the doors and a security system he said he would be over on mon. to to have his security guy put in a system he didn’t make it mon. (i stayed home from sun. evening when i got off from work until tues) Mon. landlord still a no-show i left home tues. around 3pm (to pick up 8-month preg girlfriend from work) got home around 430 to find my home burglarized a 2nd time in 2 days this time the backdoor kicked off the hinges the landlord now has the security man out thurs and maintenance man out fri. putting in monitored alarm system and burglary bars on the back and side of the house windows and doors my home was burglarized again may 8th around 9pm front door kicked in landlord send MM around 8am he nail’s door to frame and promises it cant be kicked down i go and bump the door it falls in

Every time Bush says that he is going to do something good, then he turns around 180 degree doing the opposites.The best three examples:
“Operation Iraqi Freedom” After disposed Saddam Hussein and declared victory, he turn around and start OCCUPATION.
“Smaller Government” This is not just Bush’s Policy, it is the whole Idea of Republican and I like it too. But he turn around created the biggest agency ever “Home Land Security” and spy on every one in this country(USA).
“No more Free Pork” Government not suppose to give free money to its own people(Wellfare), but he turn around give $18 billion to the oil companies for free, free money for farmers not to produce wheat and other produces to control the prices. Do you see anything else that why his policies did not work?

I have one in my new house and I have no idea how it works or if I have to pay monthly to use it?

If you have spent any amount of time watching TV then you most likely have seen more than a few spy movies or crime thrillers where at some point the guy pulls out a pair of wire cutters and deftly disables an alarm system. Another favorite method of TV criminals is the suction-cup-circular-glass-cutter-thing that is attached to a window and with one quick turn produces a big round hole in the glass.

The truth of the mater is that this is all mostly a bunch of TV drama, because many alarm systems two or three decades ago were even easier to disarm and some could actually be shut off by simply turning off the power at the power box. Other times criminals simply cut a hole through the floor, roof, or wall. Other times the systems didn’t even work, because they were so finicky and unreliable that business and homeowners didn’t bother to have them repaired after they had malfunctioned for the sixth or seventh time.

The good news however is that that was then and this is now and new technological advances have rendered modern alarm and security systems far more reliable, tamper proof and affordable. Now with a fully monitored alarm system your home or business is actually monitored by fully trained security person ell, twenty-four hours a day. In fact you can now even call the control panel on your system to check on it and it will tell you if everything is OK.

Of course every system now comes with a battery powered back up power source that can run the system for weeks if the main power supply is ever shut off. Also, now modern up to date home and business security systems have multiple layers of security protection that make it almost virtually impossible for even the most professional burglar to do his job.

Your home or business will of course still have trip sensors on all of the windows and doors but now they can be wireless, battery powered sensors, that have no wires that can be cut. There is no need to worry about the batteries running dead either, because the sensors will signal the control panel when the begin to run low every three years.

New state of the art, high tech, battery powered wireless body heat and motion detectors have a range of thirty-five feet and can be used both inside and outside of a building. These high tech units are so accurate, that they can tell the difference between things such as blowing curtains, ceiling fans, dogs, cats and a human.

Now security systems even come with the technology to detect fires and carbon monoxide gas, if the deadly poison should leak from your gas heating system. Because these sensors function by detecting heat, rather then smoke, they function better in places like kitchens and industrial settings where smoke can set of false alarms. So, the final verdict is that todays alarm systems can be completely tamper proof and provide far more security protection then they ever have before.

How do licensed electrical contractor companies work? How do their employed company electricians work within their system? Most people do not really know, and do not take the time to know, how electrical contractor companies and electricians work. Except for those people in the construction or building industries, very few others even realize that practically all aspects of their day to day lives are affected by the work done by licensed electrical contractor companies and their electricians. In fact, modern day societies owe so much to the work of electrical contractor companies and their electricians that pretty much everything would come to a standstill if they stop working.

In the most general sense, the work of licensed electrical contractor companies and their electricians involves designing, installing, maintaining and repairing all kinds of residential, commercial and industrial electrical systems and electrical projects. Licensed electrical contractor companies also provide all the electrical parts & supplies required in every project they handle. Their customers and beneficiaries therefore encompass all sectors and levels of society. In effect, all electrical usage, whether private or public, in the home, schools, hospitals, offices, commercial areas, recreational areas and even government areas are dependent on the work done by electrical contractor companies and their electricians.

Maintenance and repair work done by licensed electrical contractor companies and their electricians covers upgrading and electrical repairs of electrical boxes, control panels, electric motors, electrical panels, concealed wiring and underground wiring; cable fault locating; and installation, maintenance and repair of street lights, parking lot lighting, landscape lighting, commercial lights and security lighting. Electrical contractor companies also have fully equipped bucket trucks that respond quickly to electrical emergencies.

In hurricane prone areas, licensed electrical contractor companies and their electricians set up and maintain lightning protection systems and do generator installation, ensuring surge protection from surge protectors.

Throughout the United States, electrical contractor companies and their electricians do electrical code consulting to ensure that clients avoid government electrical code violation. This is needed in the construction of new buildings as well as in the maintenance of old infrastructure. The 40-Year Building Inspection Program of Miami-Dade County in Florida, for example, obliges all buildings aged 40 years and above to go through safety inspections every ten years. This includes electric inspection.

The range of functions done by licensed electrical contractor companies in the United States determines their classification.

The work of line electrical contractors or outside electrical contractors spans the full transmission of power starting from the power plants down the line to power substations, power facilities and power users. High voltage power plant equipment, electric generation and hydroelectric energy systems are, therefore, within the realm of line electrical contractors and their electricians.

The work of inside electrical contractors and their electricians spans all electrical needs within the residential, commercial or industrial property lines of clients, exactly where the work of line electrical contractors or outside electrical contractors ends. Home energy audits, heat tracing, electric meters, circuit breakers, junction boxes, fuse boxes and fuses, switches, electric wires, indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, recessed lighting, outdoor fans, patio fans, ceiling fans and ceiling fan repair and water heaters are within the realm of inside electrical contractors and their electricians.

The work of voice/data/video (VDV) electrical contractors or integrated building systems (IBS) electrical contractors spans low voltage auxiliary power generators; power monitoring; emergency electrical & lighting systems; energy efficient solar energy and wind energy; security systems; telecommunications systems including closed circuit television and wireless networks; climate control systems including fire detectors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and exhaust fans; and fiber optics.

The rest of us can only rely on the good work done by licensed electrical contractor companies and their electricians.

My BF and I both work high-stress jobs. In addition we both started a little side-company recently. To add to that, we have been dealing with some thefts of things from our garage and most recently a break-in to my car and the theft of my car stereo system to which we responded by setting up a home security video monitoring system … so, lots of stuff! In any case, I’d like to take him on a relaxing picnic this weekend. What are some good suggestions and do guys really enjoy picnics?

In the United Kingdom alone, fire incidents reached up to 804,000 in the year 2007. With these incidents, fatal casualties totaled to 443. Alarming as it may be, many ways have already been created and various equipments invented in order to prevent fire incidents, especially in business establishments. One of these equipment is the fire alarm system. Basically, the fire alarm is a series of fire protection devices that signal the building and the people inside it when fire is detected. Fire alarms can be found almost everywhere as a precautionary measure, from private homes to institutions and most especially to business or commercial buildings.

These are basic things which you need to know about fire alarm systems so you will have an idea on how to strategically install them in your work place. The fire alarm system mainly consists of three things: an alarm initiating device such as a smoke detector or heat sensor, a notification device which signals people of a possible fire occurring (usually in the form of a siren or an improvised strobe light for deaf people), and a fire control device such as sprinklers and fire extinguisher systems. These three devices work in harmony so that when fire breaks out in a building, building occupants are automatically aware and can therefore evacuate the premise or put out the fire before spreading at a larger scale.

Fire alarms are often referred to as “fire protection units” which mean that they can either be activated mechanically or electronically. Mechanical activation can take the form of break glass stations, buttons and the like. These are often found near escape routes or emergency exits of business buildings. On the other hand, electronic activation takes the form of heat sensors, smoke detectors, flame detectors, and even carbon monoxide detectors in a commercial building.

Some fire alarm systems are even designed to be directly connected to nearby fire departments, so when a fire breaks out at a certain building, these departments can easily be alerted and can quickly come to the rescue. There are a lot of varying types of fire alarm systems that will suit different types of business buildings. Also, these fire alarm systems vary in price and complexity; however, sharing one goal which is to protect the building and save its occupants in case a fire breaks out.

Once the smoke or heat detector detects an abnormal level of smoke or heat that is present within the premise, it will automatically signal the notification device. In turn, such device will alarm the people within the building through the use of a loud siren or blinking lights for deaf people. With such signal, the occupants of the building can immediately leave the premise and perhaps even help stop the fire from spreading. For larger buildings, it is much advisable to install automatic fire alarm systems, since regularly monitoring a large area may be a difficult task. More importantly, these fire alarm systems should be placed near emergency exits, windows or emergency ladders.

We just installed a new ADT security system with multiple motion detectors etc… We are trying to figure out a way to secure our master bath/closet. The ADT guy suggested a glass break for the bathroom as there is a large tempered glass window in there that doesn’t open. When I questioned if it would work for tempered glass, he was unsure, so we didn’t install it.

1. Does the glass break monitor work with tempered glass?
2. If you don’t know, what would be your suggestion on securing the master bath/closet?
need to be secured and just secure the master bedroom, BUT our home was just broken into and they spent most of the time in our master bedroom/bath/closet. So, we need secure that area to alert us immediately if this happens again.

Thanks
Since the window is in the master bath, by code, it cannot be regular glass. It MUST be tempered glass. So we have to work with what we have.