OPTEX, the sensor manufacturers, reports that it’s offering a complimentary training and technical support service to to installers, customers, and remote video monitoring centres.
The product company says it wants to help ensure security applications are installed correctly to reduce nuisance alarms. The firm’s intrusion detection sensors are often specified by a consultant, and installed by a third party. Although stability and catch performance of PIRs (passive infra-red detectors) is very high, the firm adds, sometimes the equipment can be unaligned, causing an overspill and unwanted nuisance alarms.
This was the case at Jemma Lloyd’s specialist baking store, IcedJems, in Stourbridge, pictured. Backed by nearly 200,000 social media followers, Jemma opened her first store in an area with previous break-in history, so called her father, Tony: a CCTV Security Consultant at Lloyd Asset Protection.
The system, specified by Tony and installed by a third party, is comprised of two OPTEX HX-40 high-mount detectors covering the approach of the building and triggering CCTV connected to Cougar Monitoring, the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). Straight after installation, false alarms, particularly when larger vehicles passed the site, caused regular nuisance alarms at the monitoring station, although no obvious cause could be identified.
Tony contacted OPTEX. He said afterwards: “OPTEX manufacturers reliable equipment, and its engineers are well versed in the product range, so if the system was false-alarming it probably meant it had been installed incorrectly.” This proved to be the case: “The sensors were overspilling by three degrees onto the road and being triggered by the smallest movement, such as a bus driving past, until we aligned them properly. Now they are working perfectly.”
An OPTEX engineer adjusted the detection angle, and the system is now not producing nuisance alarms.
Jemma says: “The front sensor detected an attempted break-in at the next door store shortly after being re-installed. Its good to know the system will protect my own premises, and even sense untoward activity next door too.”
Tony says that installers should take note: “That such a small installation error can cause nuisance alarms highlights to all installers that conducting a minimalist ‘walk-through’ test isn’t enough to tell whether the equipment is fully functioning.”
Ricky Miwa, Managing Director of OPTEX Europe, adds that it is exactly this scenario where the installer may need support: “Our sales and technical staff are trained to support consultants and installers in selecting the right product for a particular application. But no matter how good and stable our sensors are, they have to be correctly installed for best results,” he continues. “With this in mind, OPTEX’s training and technical support is there to ensure nuisance alarms are reduced, and the security application is functioning at 100 percent, 24-7.”
Visit http://www.optex-europe.com.
