24 Hour Security Presence With Fortress Monitored Alarm Systems

Police, insurers and security specialists all agree that the greatest improvement you can make to your home security is to link your security system to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) that can inform the local Police if an intrusion takes place. The knowledge that the Police can be on the scene within minutes is reassuring.

We know a fast response is crucial, because:

Intruders have less time to cause loss or damage
Help can quickly arrive if a personal attack button is activated
By nominating friends, family or colleagues to act as keyholders we know who is available to make sure your property is secured

Qualifying for Police Response

Following the latest guidelines issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), many police forces will not attend alarms from non-monitored systems unless there's also first hand evidence of a crime, whether from a owner or a member of the public phoning in.

The police will attend an alarm signal routed via an Alarm Receiving Centre, from a monitored alarm that qualifies for Police Response.

Your System

Your Fortress monitored alarm connects you to an Alarm Receiving Centre via your telephone line. You are protected from intruders - and Fortress can call on the emergency support you need from the Police, Fire Brigade, or your keyholders.

All systems have a control panel, usually with a keypad, and a series of detectors designed to operate within certain areas. For more information please feel free to call us on 01297 35599.

Smoke and Fire Detectors

You may have decided to have a smoke or fire detector linked to your system*. This is designed to work even when the system is not set.

If you do not have a fire alarm, it can be added to your system in the future.

*Residential systems only

Audible Warning Device

Your system is designed to operate an internal sound alarm. An external sounder may be incorporated and includes a strobe light which will flash when the siren is activated, except where the alarm has been programmed not to sound.

The Code of Practice on Noise recommends that intruder alarm sounders are silenced after twenty minutes. Our policy is to comply with this statutory code, and the strobe light will also cease flashing.

Standby Batteries

There are standby batteries in the system which are designed to keep it running for a minimum of 8 hours in the event of a power failure. Should an alarm condition occur or the siren sound during a power failure, the battery standby time will be reduced. Your system is connected to mains electricity. It is extremely dangerous to open the control panel or any power supply units.

Your Telephone Line

Your system provides 24 hour remote monitoring from the ADT Alarm Receiving Centre, where trained staff are ready to act when an emergency signal is received. This connection relies on your telephone line.

The security system cannot be monitored without a working telephone line. You need to ensure that the telephone line is maintained in good working order at all times.

We recommend that your telephone line is concealed where it enters your property, or if not, that it enters at a high level to reduce the possibility of it being tampered with. You should contact your telephone service provider if your telephone line does not meet this requirement.

A fault with the line itself or any equipment such as an answering machine may affect your system's performance. If you do experience a fault, you should have this corrected immediately - you may with to make alternative short term arrangements to protect your property. If Fortress are called out as a result of a telephone line fault, they will have to make a charge.

You must contact Fortress if the telephone number for the security system is to be diverted at any time, or if any additional equipment or services are to be added to that line. This will enable Fortress to confirm if they will affect the operation of the system.

If additional services are added to the telephone line, this may affect the ability of your system to communicate with the Alarm Receiving Centre.

Such services include:

Call barring
Ring back
Call minder
Incoming call only
Call diversion
BT Home Highway

Fortress Alarms can be installed in homes and businesses with ADSL (broadband) with the use of a simple ADSL filter, this is supplied Free of charge as part of your initial installation, provided we are notified at the time of order.

What happens when an alarm is activated?

If the alarm at the property is triggered:

The Fortress security system sends a signal - using the existing phone line
Within seconds the Alarm Receiving Centre will verify the alarm
If necessary the Alarm Receiving Centre can alert the emergency services
The Alarm Receiving Centre attempt to contact the homeowner. If they cannot alert the homeowner, they contact a keyholder

When your system is activated:

A signal is automatically sent down your telephone line to the Alarm Receiving Centre in seconds.
A pre-arranged emergency contact list for your home appears on our operator's computer screen. This will allow the Alarm Receiving Centre to identify the type of emergency and take the appropriate action either, calling your home, the assistance of your keyholder, or the appropriate emergency services - if the alarm signal has been confirmed.
The Alarm Receiving Centre will call your home to confirm the alarm signal, and if there is no response they will contact the emergency services.
Personal Attack and duress signals receive an immediate response - The Alarm Receiving Centre will not verify the alarm first.
The Alarm Receiving Centre will then contact one of your nominated keyholders so that the emergency services can gain access to your home.

Intruder Alarms >> Fortress Comprehensive Service Plan

Packages:
>> Audible 6 Zone Home Alarm Package
>> Audible 6 Zone Wireless Home Alarm Package
>> 6 Zone Monitored Home Alarm Package
>> Commercial Grade 2 Monitored Home Alarm Package
>> 6 Zone Wireless Monitored Home Alarm Package