Alarm systems are meant to defend lives and property if they are positioned, used, and maintained properly. Statistics show that homes without a burglar alarm system (for example) are 5 times more likely to be targeted. Alarm systems are also great for fires and other crises. Alarm systems are put in strategically in conference with residential and commercial owners. Another plus of alarm systems is that insurance companies will extend minimized premiums for building and/or homeowners insurance if the proper burglar and/or fire alarm systems are installed. And dont forget, Fire alarm systems are operative and on-duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

There are a multitude of assorted applications for alarms. The most frequent are of course the fire and trespass types, but other applications are being unfurled at a torrid pace. Think of applications such as medical alarm systems (also called personal emergency response systems, and medical alert devices). These systems are contrived to spark off the EMS service in the event that a sufferer becomes helpless, sick or ill.

Alarm systems can be stand-alone (i.e. some kind of warning device is set off in the event of an encroachment or fire event), or they may be supervised by an outside monitoring company. Remote alarm systems are exploited to link the control unit to a preset monitor of some sort, and they come in many different configurations. Telecommunication lines are traditionally utilised to transmit a communication when an alarm event (fire, break-in, etc.) occurs. These systems are interfaced with an auto-dialer that will automatically send word to the fire or law enforcement sections in the event of burglary or fire. Most monitored burglar alarm systems are fitted out with advanced battery and/or mobile backup systems that step in right away should your power or phone link fail. This forbids a would-be thief from cutting off the phone line to forbid the alarm system from notifying the monitoring service.

Some alarm systems are tied to video surveillance systems so that current video of an intrusion area can be instantly displayed on a remote monitor, not to mention recorded. With new technology, alarm systems are not only available as hardwired devices, but also as wireless. The introduction of wireless alarm technology means that new sensors can be added quickly and easily without the need to run wires back to a control panel.

One of the major downsides to alarm systems are false alarms. When an alarm system is not properly installed, used or maintained, the number of calls for police and fire dispatches may increase. In many municipalities the alarm owner may be fined or cited if the alarm system becomes a nuisance. But this being said, in 1994 the International Association of Chiefs of Police passed a Board Resolution stating that professionally installed and monitored alarm systems are useful instruments to deter crime and provide peace of mind for residential and business owners.