Major Components of Security Systems
Whether you live in a house, a condominium or an apartment, there are certain consistent major components of security systems. You can expect any discussion with Protech Security Systems to include things that should be done with regard to each of these components.
Security systems for a house, condo or apartment will be chosen on the basis of several considerations. You should research and investigate or calculate several factors that will be critical in designing or choosing the system that provides the best security for your needs. These factors are:
- Budget. A basic understanding of the general pricing of security systems is helpful. You need to decide how much you can afford to spend.
- Set Priorities. What are your top priorities? What are your most serious security concerns? What is the most important type of protection, security, privacy and safety for you?
- Long-term Costs. Be certain that you plan for such on-going costs as monitoring fees, equipment maintenance, fees for accidental alarms (this can be important with children).
- Special Needs. Are there children in the home, frail elderly persons, persons with disabilities? Do you travel frequently for work or pleasure? Is your home uninhabited for extended periods of time?
- Crime Rate. Protech Security Systems knows a good deal about the crime rate in your community. You can view recent crimes at: http://www.crimereports.com
With answers to these questions, you will be prepared to discuss your needs with us. There are several major components of security systems you can expect to discuss. You can save time by assessing the need for these components before we meet.
The first major component of most security systems is security and monitoring of points of access: doors and windows.
Your security system will probably begin with a security door (probably made of steel) and good locks on all windows. Oversize doors, French doors, and patio doors might be equipped with multi-point locks. If you live in a condo or apartment, your doors might be equipped with multi-point locks. This type of lock is especially appropriate on the very wide and tall doors often installed in loft apartments or condos. Instead of just a locking doorknob and a deadbolt, a multi-point lock will also include a metal bolt or bar running the height of the door that fastens into the door frame at two additional points.
You might have something similar or a security bar on a patio door. If you live in a high-crime area, bars on windows and doors might also be recommended. To protect against intrusion through windows, we might recommend adding a film to your windows to make it more difficult to break or shatter the glass. A glass-break alarm might also be recommended. Other alarms might be placed to warn of a window being opened.
The second major component of most security systems is lighting, both interior and exterior.
If you are frequently away from home during hours of darkness, a dusk-to-dawn sensor or a timer might be connected to a few well-placed lamps or interior lights. Motion activated lights might also be recommended for safety inside. Security lighting might also be appropriate outside your home. Whether the fixture installed is a dusk-to-dawn light or a motion-activated light, the light outside doors and windows can be a strong deterrent to potential intruders. Eliminating the ability of the intruder to hide in darkness is a key element of most approaches to home security.
Another component of many security systems for residences is fencing and gates.
There are many kinds of fencing and many types of gates that can offer greater security around your property. Whether you choose a simple privacy fence, a decorative iron fence, cement, stone or vinyl-coated aluminum, fencing and a good gate offers extra protection for your home. Whether you are trying to provide a simple deterrent or you find it necessary to install fences with electric tasers or alarms, fencing can be attractive and functional.
The final component of most security systems is various kinds of motion sensing devices.
Microwave motion sensors are one option. Another is an infrared heat sensor.The purpose of both is to detect anyone who might enter your home. These can be installed and programmed to ignore pets and with controls that offer you the ability to turn them on and off in specific parts of the residence.
Most components of residential security systems are the same throughout the USA. Southern Arizona security systems generally include alarms and devices to prevent unauthorized opening of doors and windows, use of interior and exterior lighting to provide safety and security, fencing and gating the property, and motion sensors. The specific devices chosen and installed in your residence will depend on the particular vulnerabilities of your home.
