Job One of Home Security Is to Secure. So Why Do so Many Home Security Alarms Fail to Do So?
How many times have you heard the siren of a home security alarm and ignored it? An all-too-commonplace scenario, Australian homeowners are often left to pick up the pieces when poorly installed or monitored home security fails them. A lack of understanding about quality, industry licensing and regulations could be why home security systems across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth aren’t delivering the level of safety consumers expect.
The main purpose of any home security system is to protect your home from burglars or intruders. You want to feel comfortable that your family, your property and your assets are all taken care of. This means having an advanced security system that deters burglars at the outset, while providing you with the emergency attention you need if danger happens to strike. But how do you ensure the security system in which you’ve invested is going to deliver?
Perfecting the foundations from which your security system is built is crucial to both your personal safety and the protection of your financial investment. You can start protecting your investment at the very beginning by educating yourself about security installation and alarm monitoring.
Make Sure You Have a Professionally Installed Home Security System
Make sure you have a licensed security system installer. Seriously, failing to do this could place you at risk both physically and financially.
The first, and arguably the biggest mistake Australian consumers are making is the failure to check the credentials of their security system installer. This can place you doubly at risk. How? Firstly, an unlicensed operator is prone to unprofessional errors. Secondly, an unlicensed or unqualified installation may end up costing you your insurance claim, if not your life and property. So what do you need to know about Australia’s security licensing laws?
- Each state and territory has its own licensing conditions and government body regulator.
- Security licensing applies to installers, technicians, salespeople, contractors, monitoring operators, patrol services and guards.
- Licensing is mandatory under each state’s legislation, making it illegal for an unlicensed person to undertake security installation in your home.
- Operators undertaking illegal security work can be prosecuted and face substantial fines.
- Operators who are unlicensed have typically not undertaken a criminal history check. Do you want that person installing your ‘security’?
Head to the ASIAL website to check that your security provider performing at the highest national standards.
How does poorly installed home security affect you?
As a homeowner, illegally installed security may render your home and contents insurance invalid in the event of a burglary. Your insurance provider should have compliance standards, and any unprofessionally installed security system will no doubt fail to meet these.
At a more immediate level, unprofessionally installed security systems place you at risk of intruders and burglars. A recent Australian security system survey found that:
- 18% of panels were incorrectly located outside an alarmed area;
- 15% were located within the entry/exit point and;
- 46% of panels were not capable of dual end-of-line supervision.
These all constitute errors in the installation of a security alarm system, making them vulnerable to tampering and failure. However they’re not the sort of thing a typical homeowner would know to look out for. It’s important to be sure you’re dealing with a knowledgeable, legitimate security installation provider, not simply someone who claims they install alarms.
A poorly installed alarm also means you could end up dealing with frequent false alarms. Improperly installed security systems are set off by everyday disturbances like curtains, winds and pets. This is even though it’s easy to have a pet friendly alarm system when properly designed and installed.
You can find out more about security licensing from ASIAL’s “Who Needs a Security Licence” resource page.
Head to the ASIAL website to check that your security provider performing at the highest national standards.
How does poorly installed home security affect you?
As a homeowner, illegally installed security may render your home and contents insurance invalid in the event of a burglary. Your insurance provider should have compliance standards, and any unprofessionally installed security system will no doubt fail to meet these.
At a more immediate level, unprofessionally installed security systems place you at risk of intruders and burglars. A recent Australian security system survey found that:
- 18% of panels were incorrectly located outside an alarmed area;
- 15% were located within the entry/exit point and;
- 46% of panels were not capable of dual end-of-line supervision.
These all constitute errors in the installation of a security alarm system, making them vulnerable to tampering and failure. However they’re not the sort of thing a typical homeowner would know to look out for. It’s important to be sure you’re dealing with a knowledgeable, legitimate security installation provider, not simply someone who claims they install alarms.
A poorly installed alarm also means you could end up dealing with frequent false alarms. Improperly installed security systems are set off by everyday disturbances like curtains, winds and pets. This is even though it’s easy to have a pet friendly alarm system when properly designed and installed.
You can find out more about security licensing from ASIAL’s “Who Needs a Security Licence” resource page.
