J Nitro

What is your business worth to you?

Security systems are really quite inexpensive when you consider how much money they can save you. The system can use sensors that detect not only intruders, but carbon monoxide, smoke, and water or cold temperatures. This will not only protect you and your assets but it can also protect your business from damage and even save your life! At ADI we give you the choice of having the system monitored for a monthly fee or just as a stand alone system. With automation options you can check the status of your system, view cameras over the Internet or receive an email if the alarm is armed, disarmed or triggered!

ADI can install a security system to protect you and your business from a variety of threats. We can also add Surveillance Cameras for extra piece of mind. Call or email today for a free quote! Keep reading if you would like to know more about Alarm Systems.

Security systems are available with a wide range of features and at a wide range of prices. Let's talk about some of the things that you may want to consider when selecting an alarm system.

HARD-WIRED OR WIRELESS

In a hard-wired system, wires are run from every sensor in the system to a main control panel. Most Commercial Installations will use this option since it is easy to run wires above the dropped ceiling. If you have hard to reach areas, or a very large facility, then a wireless system will usually make the most sense. In a wireless system, the sensors are not hard wired to the main control panel. Instead, they transmit radio signals to the main control panel. The bottom line is that in a wired system, the hardware is cheaper, but the installation is more expensive than the wireless system. Wireless systems are less reliable and have more on-going maintenance since all of the sensors have batteries that will need to be replaced from time to time.

TYPES OF SYSTEMS

Once you have determined whether you will use a wired or wireless system, the next thing to consider is how many zones the system will handle. Usually, every sensor in the system will require a zone. Control panels can be purchased with 8, 16, 32 or more zones. Some control panels have some number of wired zones AND some number of wireless zones. Most all panels are expandable so that more zones can be added later. In the higher end control panels, you can get features like relays and lighting control. This allows you to do things like turn on lights in a room when a motion sensor detects movement or close the overhead door from the alarm keypad. At ADI, we proudly install DSC alarm systems.

TYPES OF SENSORS

• Door sensors--Most alarm systems will start with door sensors on all of the main doors. Door sensors are recessed into the door jam, so that you can't even tell that they are there! You can also put a door sensor on your overhead Garage Door in your warehouse. With an alarm sensor on it, a quick look at the alarm keypad on your way out will let you know that the door was left open.
• Motion Sensors--Next, you would add some PIR (Passive Infrared) motion sensors. These sensors must detect both a change in temperature and motion to trigger an alarm. This dual action cuts down on false alarms. 
• Perimeter Sensors--Perimeter sensors are used to secure outdoor areas like a parking lot. There are many different technologies like IR, Microwave or Laser available here.
• Glass Break Sensors--Glass break sensors are basically microphones that "listen" for the frequencies that make up the sound of breaking glass. Glass break sensors can either attach directly to the window, or can mount on a near-by wall or ceiling covering multiple windows with a single sensor. Window attached glass break sensors are rarely used anymore.
• Smoke Detectors--Smoke Detectors and heat detectors can be used to safeguard against fires. We can add sensors to various areas of your business or if you already have a fire system in place, we can connect a relay output from that system to our system.
• Temperature Sensor--If your business sits empty for some period of time, you might want a low temperature sensor. If your heating system fails in the winter then the alarm system can let you or the central station know that the temperature is below a safe level, say 40 degrees. This could save you a lot of money if it keeps your pipes from freezing.
• Carbon Monoxide Sensor--A Carbon Monoxide sensor can be added to the system so that you will be alerted to the presence of deadly carbon monoxide gas. Carbon Monoxide gas is colorless and odorless, and can kill you if levels get too high.
• Water Sensor--A water sensor will alert you if it senses water due to a broken/frozen pipe. We can even set it up to shut off the water to your business if it senses water! This can save you thousands of dollars in the event of a water leak.

TYPES OF KEYPADS

Keypads are the devices that allow you to arm and disarm the system, and give you feedback as to the status of the system. Usually you would put a keypad by each exit/entry point. Standard keypads have LEDs that let you know which zone has been tripped. We recommend using upgraded keypads that have an LCD display. Instead of telling you that "zone 1" has been tripped, it tells you in clear text that "Front Door" or "Warehouse Motion Sensor" has been tripped. This way, you know exactly which sensor is causing the alarm without having to remember what sensor "zone 1" represents.

AUTOMATION

In addition to or in place of Keypads, you can connect the security system to a control system. This allows you to use a Touch Screen Controller to control the alarm system. So the same Touch Screen controller that you use to control your conference room or lighting can also be used to arm/disarm and monitor your alarm system and view surveillance cameras around your business! There are also web based options so you can control your alarm system and view cameras remotely using a web browser.

A Control4 Touch Screen Controller can be used to control everything including your Alarm System and even view Surveillance Cameras!

MONITORING

You can choose to have your alarm system monitored if you want. That means that if your alarm is set off, the system will dial up a central monitoring station, which in turn will call you and the police or fire department. At ADI, we use a company called Criticom as our monitoring service provider.

WIRELESS MONITORING

With standard monitoring, your phone line is used to dial the central station when an alarm is triggered. A professional thief may cut the phone line before he breaks in to your business (if it is accessible) so that the system can't dial the central station. To guard against this, a wireless dialer or network based backup can be used. This would use cell phone technology or the Internet to alert the central station if the phone line is cut.

COSTS

Cost can be set up two ways. Some of our competitors install the alarm system for free, but force you into a monthly monitoring contract for 3 or more years. Prices can be as high as $89.95 per month. Typically, you don't own the equipment at the end of the time period, you are just renting the equipment! At ADI, we charge for the alarm system, but allow you to choose whether you want monthly monitoring or not. Typical cost for the system and installation is $800.00 to $1,900.00 depending on the number of sensors and features. Monthly monitoring is $39.95 per month if you choose to have the system monitored.