False Alarm Prevention For Places of Worship

1. False Alarm Prevention For Places of Worship

2. Introduction • What is a false alarm? • Why are false alarms a problem? • How do alarm systems work? • What are some causes of false alarms? • What can you do to prevent false alarms? FARA Tips for Places of Worship

3. What is a False Alarm? False Burglar Alarm - A notification of an alarm to law enforcement when the responding authority finds no evidence of criminal offense or attempted criminal offense False Fire Alarm - A notification of a fire signal, resulting from a cause other than an actual fire FARA Tips for Places of Worship

4. Effects of False Alarms Takes officers and fire fighters away from real emergencies • Delay response when you really need it Wastes public resources FARA Tips for Places of Worship

5. Effects of False Alarms Endangers responding authorities and the whole community FARA Tips for Places of Worship

6. Another False Alarm FARA Tips for Places of Worship

7. Effects Continued… May make you reluctant to arm your system, exposing your place of worship to undetected theft FARA Tips for Places of Worship

8. Effects Continued… • Cost time & money • False Alarm Fines • Lost time • Service Charges FARA Tips for Places of Worship

9. The Alarm Process Siren Sounds- But Silent On Holdup Employee Trips Control Panel Alarm Sent to Alarm Company Central Station Intruder Trips Control Panel Police Dispatched Alarm CompanyCalls to Verify Then CallsPublic Safety Fire Dispatched Fire Trips Control Panel FARA Tips for Places of Worship

10. COMMON CAUSES OF FALSE ALARMS… Lack of proper training for people given access to your building, such as teachers, workers, meeting attendees, etc… FARA Tips for Places of Worship

11. More Common Causes Improperly trained new staff FARA Tips for Places of Worship

12. More Common Causes Open, unlocked or loose fitting doors and windows Weak batteries FARA Tips for Places of Worship

13. Another... • Drafts from heating/air conditioning systems and signs moving plants, balloons, decorations, etc. FARA Tips for Places of Worship

14. And a Few More... Insects, dust or dirt on motion or smoke sensors FARA Tips for Places of Worship

15. Last but not Least... Cooking fumes will trip smoke detectors FARA Tips for Places of Worship

16. False Alarm Prevention Tips for Places of Worship FARA Tips for Places of Worship

17. Before You Activate Check with your local jurisdiction for registration requirements FARA Tips for Places of Worship

18. Before You Activate • Understand how the alarm system works; what it does and does not do • Ask your alarm company for written instructions, a DVD and a demonstration FARA Tips for Places of Worship

19. Before Turning on your Alarm System when leaving… Make sure all alarmed doors and windows are locked Restart the exit time if you reenter FARA Tips for Places of Worship

20. Keep Clear of Motion Detectors Keep balloons, fans, heaters, plants, curtains, & decorations from motion sensor areas FARA Tips for Places of Worship

21. Holdup or Panic Switches • Use switched that need simultaneous two-button activation • Train all personnel on when the button should and should not be used • Do not use in areas where items will be stored around or on top of the device FARA Tips for Places of Worship

22. Training is Important! • Teach ALLusers how to operate your system, including: • Arming codes • Passwords • Phone numbers • Cancellation procedures FARA Tips for Places of Worship

23. Train Early & Often • Train all new employees • Include in Monthly meetings • Follow-up after false alarms • Be proactive – cover common causes before they occur FARA Tips for Places of Worship

24. Identify the Cause • Make sure your alarm system identifies the device that caused the alarm activation FARA Tips for Places of Worship

25. Notify your alarm company … Before you test your system If your system is not working properly If you plan to remodel or install new wiring of any kind (telephone, DSL, VoIP, etc.) FARA Tips for Places of Worship

26. Update Your Alarm Company • When you get new employees who will open or close • When phone numbers change • Before you do remodeling FARA Tips for Places of Worship

27. Tell Your Alarm Company • Do Not dispatch public safety on • Power outages • Weather related signals • Low battery signals • Temperature sensors FARA Tips for Places of Worship

28. Request ECV! Tell your monitoring company to use Enhanced Call Verification (ECV) ECV requires making two calls to a responsible party prior to requesting a dispatch FARA Tips for Places of Worship

29. Cancel False Alarms Follow your alarm companies instructions to cancel all false alarms FARA Tips for Places of Worship

30. Ask For Help! • Ask your alarm company for help • To train new users • Find the cause for each false alarm • Plan for a new addition or remodel FARA Tips for Places of Worship

31. Maintain Your Alarm • Keep your alarm system in proper operating condition • Upgrade old systems FARA Tips for Places of Worship

32. Why? • Public safety resources are limited and should never be wasted • Thousands of hours are spent investigating alarm reports that turn out to be “false alarms” FARA Tips for Places of Worship

33. Remember FARA Tips for Places of Worship

34. False Alarm Reduction Association10024 Vanderbilt Circle #4Rockville MD 20850 301- 519-9237 Brad Shipp, Executive Directorbradshipp@4yoursolution.com www.faraonline.org FARA Tips for Places of Worship