Video-Verified Alarms: The full picture

Are false alarms at your commercial property causing sleepless nights? You’re not alone. The emergency services respond to an average of 237,418 false alarms each year.

They’re more than just a nuisance. The estimated cost of false alarms in the UK is eye-watering—close to £1 billion annually, mostly in lost productivity and wasted resources.

A reduction in false alarms is just one reason for the rising popularity of video-verified alarm systems. In this article, we’re looking at what they are, how they work, and why they reduce false alarms.

What is a video-verified alarm system?

A video-verified alarm system combines a traditional intruder alarm with video surveillance. When the sensor is triggered, the system immediately streams a short video clip to predetermined personnel so that they can verify the cause.

There are 3 significant advantages of this:

Remote operators can almost immediately see whether it’s a genuine threat or false alarm
Video provides tangible evidence of a genuine threat
It prompts a rapid response from the emergency services

The result is a drastic reduction in false alarms and an immediate, urgent response if the alarm has been triggered by criminal behaviour.

How are video alarms different from CCTV?

There’s a fundamental difference between CCTV and video alarms. CCTV cameras provide continuous surveillance footage, while video-verified alarms do not.

Instead, once the sensor is triggered, the alarm camera immediately springs into action to capture a 10-second video clip showing why the sensor has been activated.

The recorded clip is then swiftly transferred via the mobile network to predetermined personnel—a named individual, your security staff or professional responders at an alarm receiving centre. They view the footage to determine the appropriate response.

How do video-verified alarms work?

The alarm sensors detect a potential security breach via PIR motion detectors.There’s no need for mains electricity or an internet connection because these alarm systems are wireless. They’re powered by long-lasting lithium batteries and operate via the mobile network.

There are a number of optional extras available, including:

Fire and smoke detection
100-decibel sounder
A pre-recorded voice challenge
A variety of other sensors such as fence, window and door detection

Cutting-edge security features

The sensors feature digital video cameras which have built-in infrared lighting, so they can capture clear images both day and night.

The camera records colour images during daylight hours, monochrome images at night, in clear resolution—more than enough for responders to identify the difference between a human intruder and the common causes of false alarms such as animals, tree branches, cobwebs and so on.

Where can video-verified alarms be used?

Because video alarms are wireless, they’re an obvious solution for commercial properties in remote locations which may lack mains electricity or internet access.

Having said that, they offer a host of benefits for a wide variety of business premises. For example:

Vacant commercial units, which are a magnet for squatters. Video footage can provide the tangible evidence needed to prove illegal entry.
Construction sites where valuable equipment and materials present a target for thieves.
Retail premises as a deterrent against shoplifting and protection from vandalism at night.
Hospitality venues to safeguard the premises against overnight break-ins.
Warehouses as security for storage areas and inventory.

The benefits of flexibility

Each alarm can be removed and relocated quickly and easily, giving these systems a considerable flexible advantage over static intruder alarms.

This ease of movement makes video-verified alarms particularly ideal for buildings undergoing maintenance or change, or when left vacated for long periods.

If you’re considering video-verified alarms, we’d be happy to conduct a site audit and risk assessment to gauge their suitability for your premises. Get in touch with the CSG team to book a visit.