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Consumer Information
Types of Systems
The Electronic Systems Industry includes businesses that sell, install, maintain, service and monitor various types of electronic systems in homes, businesses and government installations including:
- Burglar Alarm Systems – A system that alerts homeowners or business owners to an intruder via annunciators and sensors. A burglar alarm system is activated and deactivated by the user via a control panel or keypad. Visit our guide to Burglar alarm systems for more information.
- Fire Alarm Systems – A system that alerts homeowners or business owners to fire via manual pull stations, smoke or detectors or monitoring of sprinkler systems. Visit our guide to Fire alarm systems for more information.
- Robbery Alarms are also known as hold-up, duress, ambush or emergency alarms and have communications capabilities to alert someone off site when the alarm is activated. Visit our guide to robbery alarm systems for more information.
- Access Control Systems – Allow people or vehicles into a restricted area via identification through coded keys, magnetic cards, or biometric readers such as hand, face, voice, finger of retina readers. These systems are used in many businesses, hotels and apartment complexes. Visit our guide to Access Control Systems for more information.
- Closed Circuit Television Systems (CCTV) – A camera system that displays activity on a premise via video monitors. Used primarily in businesses but becoming more popular in homes as well to view visitors at the door or monitor activity in a baby’s room. Visit our guide to Closed Circuit Television systems for more information.
- Home Control and Automation Systems – Home automation connects all aspects of a system together through one central control panel, keypad or remote. Used in what is called a “smart home” where virtually all home functions can be linked together and controlled via one central remote or keypad. Visit our guide to Home Control & Automation systems for more information.
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Be an Educated Consumer
In order to be an informed consumer you need to understand the different components of a system. The best systems professional will help you determine what components you need to serve your home or business.
Your systems professional should discuss what options fit your home and/or business and lifestyle, for instance, do you have small children, pets, are you away from your home for long periods of time, do you have expensive items such as jewelry you want to protect. All of these things may factor in to determine which system is best for you.
You may decide to install a system for a specific purpose but keep in mind in you can link other devices into your system such as security, fire, entertainment, controlled heating and lighting, and carbon monoxide detection. There can also be cost savings to combine these features versus installing them at a later date. It all depends on what you want and what suits you best.
The best systems professional will customize your system for your needs!
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Selecting a Contractor
If you are considering purchasing an alarm system, do your homework first! By taking a little time now, you can avoid potential problems later.
The False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) recommends that consumers take the following steps BEFORE selecting a systems contractor:
- Understand/identify your needs, environmental factors and budget.
- Contact your local Consumer Affairs Office, Better Business Bureau or state Attorney General’s Office for information on any alarm company with which you are considering doing business. Consumer offices will often maintain records of filed complaints and will provide you with information on the basis for the complaint, as well as its resolution.
- Contact your Police Department/Sheriff’s Office to find out if there are any permit/registration requirements for alarm systems, as well as any fines or fees that may be imposed for false alarms.
- Contact your state or local Licensing Bureau to determine if the alarm company with which you are considering doing business has all of the required licenses, bonds, insurance, etc. (if applicable).
- Know your responsibilities and those of your alarm company before you buy or lease!
- Read and fully understand your entire contract before you sign on the dotted line. Remember, ignorance is no defense! If you don’t understand something, be sure to ask questions until you do.
- Nothing that has been guaranteed to you orally will be enforceable unless it is in writing in the contract.
Comparison shop.
- Select two or three different alarm companies from which to receive written quotes.
- Comparison shop for things such as best price, features you want, most favorable monitoring terms and conditions and for alarm companies that take false alarms seriously and have false alarm reduction plans in effect.
- Don’t be afraid to ask each potential alarm company how their specific alarm system and its installation will avoid potential false alarms.
Knowing what questions to ask is half the battle.
- However, if you’ve never had an alarm system before, how can you be expected to know what is important?
- Do you know the difference between a local and a monitored alarm system?
- How about the difference between a glass break and a motion sensor?
- What are “panic” features anyway?
- Is there a cancellation policy?
- Purchase vs. lease?
- Does the company do its own monitoring or does it contract out to a third-party monitoring center? Is any of this even relevant?!
- The False Alarm Reduction Association, which is comprised of law enforcement personnel from all over the United States and in Canada, has published a Consumer Guide to Purchasing a Burglar Alarm. This guide provides you with fundamental information that you should have in order to make an informed decision. Use the handy chart, which lists questions you should ask of each potential company and record the answers to your questions for future reference.
Be a smart consumer!
- Know what you want (or at the very least, what questions to ask to help you determine what is best for you), what you can afford and what your responsibilities will be as an alarm user.
- Match up your expectations with the alarm company that comes closest to, or matches exactly, your specific needs and desires.
- You want your burglar alarm system to bring you security and peace of mind; isn’t that worth a small investment of your time on the front end so you won’t live to regret it on the back end?
- Ask the companies if they have appropriate state and/or local licenses, if required.
- Ask the companies if they conduct any pre-employment screening.
- Contact your local police department's Crime Prevention Department, state licensing agencies, Consumer Protection Agencies, and the Better Business Bureau.
- Ask your insurance agent, friends, family or neighbors for referrals.
- After you've narrowed the field to three or four alarm companies, ask for the name of the person who will call on you. It is best to plan the appointment time when all those involved in the decision are present.
- When he/she visits, ask to see some company identification.
- Ask each alarm company representative for an inspection, recommendation and a quote in writing. Use a checklist to compare different packages and price quotes.
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Professional Installation Vs. Do It Yourself
Before you decide to install an electronic system yourself consid er these factors:
- Are you aware of all the codes and standards that govern how your system is installed and operated?
- Are you aware of all of the options and features of the equipment you plan to install?
- Have you considered the value of your time to learn about and install the system in calculating the cost of your do it yourself installation?
- Is the equipment you have access to at retail outlets of equal quality to the professional grade equipment?
- Do you own all the tools you will need to install, test and calibrate the equipment you plan to use?
- Will your insurance policies cover you if you are injured or do damage to your property during the installation?
- Does the company you bought the equipment from provide sufficient help in the event something goes wrong during the installation?
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Are Burglar Bars Safe?
Take care when you install burglar bars to keep intruders out as you may end up trapping yourself in if there is a fire. Click here to download the US Fire Administration fact sheet of Burglar Bars.
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