False alarms are common among Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS). This fact should encourage PID manufacturers to come up with a solution and find ways to reduce false alarms in their systems. You can do your best to pick only the best perimeter intrusion detection system, but there are also other ways to lower false alarm rates in your PIDS.
False alarms from burglar alarm systems bring adverse effects on your business. This is especially true when such alarms take your security personnel away from other high-risk security matters. Not only that. When false alarms occur frequently, they are likely to get ignored when it sounds due to real threats. Your Perimeter Intrusion Detection System now becomes ineffective in deterring crimes.
The most common causes of false alarms in burglar alarm systems are:
- Employees who do not follow procedures for opening and closing the facility.
- Providing unlimited access to suppliers and non-employees to your facilities.
- Employee oversight.
- Failure to follow procedures by cleaning and maintenance staff.
- Defective alarm system.
- Strong winds, electrical storms, and other acts of nature.
Preventing and Minimizing the Occurrence of False Alarms in PIDS
Threat detection can be made more accurate so that your security personnel only reacts to genuine threats. This avoids wasting of time and resources. You can lower false alarm rates in your PIDS through the following:
- Training your employees on how to properly manage your perimeter intrusion detection system especially if it’s new.
- Holding a drill to make sure all employees know how to operate the system especially after changing pass codes.
- Be especially attentive during late night office parties and all-nighters. False alarms are common during these times due to carelessness of employees.
- Keeping hanging objects away from motion detectors and sensors.
- Making sure all doors and windows are locked before arming the system.
- Keeping the monitoring office informed in case you change arming codes, pass codes, and authorized users.
- Contacting your security provider if you are suspicious of a possible defect in your perimeter intrusion detection system.
- Upgrading all obsolete alarm systems.
- Making sure your perimeter intrusion detection system fits your business needs.
- Working with a reliable security provider that can take complete responsibility for securing your facility.
A perimeter intrusion detection system is installed mainly to detect potential crimes in your facility. They can, however, become ineffective when they give off false alarms too often. It is, therefore, important to find ways to lower false alarm rates in your PIDS.