Spec me a burglar alarm

EdwardTeach

EdwardTeach

EdwardTeach

Soldato
Joined
18 Mar 2010
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We are buying a house, completion is in early December and I would like to get a burglar alarm.

Never had an alarm before, what should I be looking for? are there any companies with good/bad reputations?
 
You would need somebody to survey your house, especially if your looking at a policed monitored alarm. There's a national company "ADT", but I've heard bad things about them.

Your best bet would be to search for a more local installer. If you ensure they hold a certification with NSI, it should be suitable for your house insurance
 
Lots of things to consider, depends on what your property/area is like. I would steer clear of the big national companies like ADT, in our last property they were both more expensive and used cheaper equipment than the local independents.

For example, do you live in a high risk area? If so then individual window sensors may be benficial, if it's a less high risk area then you could probably get away with internal PIR sensors covering the main areas. Also, if a high risk area then wired would be better than wireless and so on.

As janp has mentioned, look for local independents with NSI/Nacoss certification.

Most companies will visit and quote you with no obligation, get three or more in then google them and pick the one that ticks the boxes for you.
 
Find a local company that is Nacoss approved and that you like the look of. I found a Nacoss gold installer and they fitted me a Visonic Powermax system after I was broken into a few month ago. It was cheaper than the equivalent ADT system and probably better quality!
 
We use a secom alarm at my buisness premises. Only one false activation in 4 years. (Well winds blew somthing into a window and cracked it.).

We used adt for a few months at one of the old clubs I worked at ended up ditching them after 20 odd calls at 6am saying there was a breakin. Could well of been the installation at fault but after swapping we only got one call when there was an actual breakin.
 
I take it getting this stuff fitted means they have to put a load of power and other wiring in which means holes/chases in the walls, making good and so on...?

I'd quite like to get one fitted but it wasn't long ago I had the place renovated and decorated. I really don't fancy more mess. :/
 
Narj said:
I take it getting this stuff fitted means they have to put a load of power and other wiring in which means holes/chases in the walls, making good and so on...?

I'd quite like to get one fitted but it wasn't long ago I had the place renovated and decorated. I really don't fancy more mess. :/
Click to expand...

Will hook it up and normally put the control box etc in where your electricity meter is. If you go wired then yes they will have to chase the wire through, our guy was pretty good and kept it right on the skirting and you couldn't tell it was there. if you go wireless then nothing except the control box/internal sounder which as above will normally go in with the leccy meter.
 
Street said:
Find a local company that is Nacoss approved and that you like the look of. I found a Nacoss gold installer and they fitted me a Visonic Powermax system after I was broken into a few month ago. It was cheaper than the equivalent ADT system and probably better quality!
Click to expand...

Nacoss Silver can be just as good tbh, Gold just have to adhere to more standards. But some smaller companies don't have the time/resources for all the paperwork.

TBH ADT don't really want Joe Bloggs, they want national accounts. OP go for a local company. It was probably over quoted as the salesman won't see a large commision.

I'd also recommend any of the following manufacturers:
Honeywell (pref Galaxy, not the FLEX panel, as it is utter pap)
Risco/Gardtec (not the Prosys panel) (PIR's, DT's, door contacts etc from these are probably the best I've ever used)
Menvier
Scantronic
Texecom (British made, the Premier panel is very good, Veritas is ok but doesn't come with all the bells & whistles)

Wiring can (depends on the installer, be laid under carpet at the sides, next to gripper rods)

I'd try and stay away from wireless systems, they really should be used as a get out of jail card. However if you do have to go wireless. It would have to be a Gardtec system imo.

Any questions just ask.

Edit: ohh and if you need some kind of monitoring (ie: police response) I recommend CSL Dualcom. We have a regular on these forums that works for CSL in their technical support department.
 
Everything AS Platinum said.

I'd look for one that does keyfob entry, nearly everyone gets bored of tapping in codes and stops using their alarm, so a fob set system might get used more.

An SMS dialler is nice to have, you can then ring a neighbour to check what's going on.

Don't let them put the bellbox somewhere stupid, a couple I know had theirs smashed up last week, chavs simply climbed onto the porch roof to do it, testing to see if was active (it wasn't).

I wouldn't go mad on this, cover the doors and windows and mount a Dualtech somewhere central, less to go wrong and all you want is a bell to ring.
 
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Go find 3 local companies either registered with the NSI or the SSAIB.

If you require a policed response you will have to take out a maintenance and monitoring contract, both separate charges. There will also most likely be a connection fee to the ARC, some installers levy this others charge the customer.

Depending on the size of the property will determine what coverage you have. Once you have three quotes you'll have an average of prices and then it's up to you to pick a company.

Wireless systems are also excellent these days. While a Risco system is ok it is only 1 way wireless technology. Both the Pyronix Enforcer and the Texecom Ricochet systems are fantastic and for your average domestic property are more than suitable. However if it's due for completion and the floorboards are lifted etc it would be easier to get a hardwired system installed on a first/second fix basis.

ADT/Chubb/Secom etc will take you on as a domestic customer, be in no doubt about that. However they will tie you in to a bigger contract which is harder for you to get out of. Smaller firms generally offer a little bit more personal service, same engineer on maintenance visits etc.

The questions to ask yourself in regards to a burglar alarm;

Do I want to know when the alarm goes off or am I happy relying on neighbors and the fear factor?
Do I want to pay an annual maintenance fee?
Do I want to pay an annual monitoring charge?
What areas of the house do I specifically want to cover?
 
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