-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alarm Types and Default Handling Procedures Bulletin 2010 05/21/98 Copyright (C) 1992, Coastal Security Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The central station uses mnemonic abbreviations to define the various types of alarms which can be received. These mnemonics are assigned rank according to U.L. specifications which control the order in which they are processed. The use of standard alarm type mnemonics also aids in the preparation of reports and the collection of statistics which the central station management uses to track and enhance the flow of alarm traffic. Every signal defined in the central station computer is assigned one of the following alarm type mnemonics (an asterisk indicates alarm types which may be received as pin statuses): AMB* Ambush This signal indicates the alarm system was disarmed under duress. If the area O/C status is known it is updated to OPEN just as if an opening signal was received. BUR Burglary This signal indicates an intrusion alarm occurred while the system was armed. BYP* Bypass This signal indicates that one or more zones of the system has been taken out of service. It does not indicate the system was armed (see FAR). CAN* Cancel This signal will cause the central station operator to cancel a pending burglary alarm. It may also indicate a previous alarm condition has restored. CLO* Closing This signal, which is always auto-logged, indicates the system has been armed. Area O/C status is updated. EMP Employee Trip This signal logs the arrival of an employee or runner at the premises. It is seldom used. FAR* Forced Arming This signal indicates the system has been armed with one or more zones of protection out of service. If the area O/C status is known it is updated to closed when this signal is received. FIR Fire This signal indicates a fire alarm has been tripped. FTR* Fail to Restore This signal indicates that a zone which is required to restore has not restored within the time allotted. FTT Fail to Test This signal indicates that a system has failed to transmit a communicator test signal or any other signal within the communicator test interval defined for the account. It is seldom used since this type of problem is reported daily on the subscriber trouble report. HUP Hold Up This signal indicates a robbery is in progress. INV Invalid This indicates a signal was received which is not defined in the subscriber database. Invalid signals appear in the daily trouble signal report and should be followed up by advising the central station what the signal really is. See also bulletin 1010. LOG This signal is simply auto-logged when received. LTC Late to Close This signal is generated by the central station computer when an area or premises which is supposed to be closed is not closed. LTO Late to Open This signal is generated by the central station computer when an area or premises which is supposed to be open is not open. MED Medical This signal indicates a medical emergency. NUL This signal is used for communicator tests. It updates the date and time of last non-system signal but is not stored in the alarm history. OPN* Opening This signal indicates the system has been disarmed. If the area O/C status is known it is updated to open. PAN Panic This signal indicates any type of police emergency. RES* Restore This signal indicates a previous alarm condition has restored. Receipt of this signal will not stop the dispatching of a previous burglary signal. (see also cancel). SPC Special This "catch all" signal can be used in connection with anything not covered by another mnemonic in this list (ie: vending machine empty, water level too high/low). Special signals are never redundant. SUP Supervisory This signal indicates that part of a life safety system has been disabled. TAM Tamper When used in connection with an intrusion alarm, this signal indicates tampering with the intrusion system. When used in connection with a fire alarm, this signal indicates the water supply to a sprinkler system has been shut off. TBL* Trouble This signal indicates a variety of trouble conditions. A text description usually accompanies it. TEM Temperature This signal indicates the temperature in a controlled environment is either too high or too low. TST Test This signal is used for communicator tests which are to be included in the alarm log. It is seldom used. Alarm types always consist of two mnemonics. When the signal received does not include a pin status (or when the pin status is alarm), the first mnemonic will be the alarm type defined in the database (from the list above). The second mnemonic will be AUD if the alarm is audible or SIL if the alarm is silent. When a pin status (other than alarm) is received, the first mnemonic will be the pin status and the second mnemonic will be the alarm type defined in the database. The alarm types above which contain an asterisk can be an alarm type defined in the database or they can be a pin status received from the communicator. Pin Status Alarm Type Audible? Two Part Mnemonic ---------- ---------- -------- ----------------- none fire yes FIR-AUD none hold-up no HUP-SIL alarm burglary yes BUR-AUD restore burglary yes RES-BUR trouble trouble no TBL-TBL -------------------------------- Standard Operating Procedures You may provide the central station with specific, step by step instructions for handling all or any signals received. For information about the signal handling options available to you, order bulletin number 2020. If you do not provide specific instructions, the central station will use default instructions from the following standard operating procedure: Alarm Types Dispatcher Action ----------- --------------------------------------------------------------- AMB HUP PAN 1. Call premises to verify the alarm. Require code to cancel. 2. Dispatch police. BUR TAM 1. Call premises to verify the alarm. Require code to cancel. 2. Dispatch Police. 3. Notify a call out. BYP CAN CLO No Action. EMP FAR LOG NUL RES TST FIR If not an NFPA required fire alarm system: 1. Call premises to verify the alarm. No code required. 2. Dispatch fire department. 3. Notify a call out. FIR NFPA required fire alarm system: 1. Dispatch fire department. 2. Dispatch Runner with One Hour ETA. 3. Notify a call out. FTR Take the same action which would be taken in connection with the original alarm. If none, notify the dealer (24 hours). FTT Notify the Dealer (24 hours). INV Follow the procedure which the dealer established for the particular code and zone received. If no procedure has been established, take no action. LTC 1. Call premises to verify the alarm. Code is required and the person giving the code must appear on the access list. 2. Notify a call out. LTO 1. Call premises to verify the alarm. No code is required. If the verify call is answered there is probably a problem with the communicator. 2. Notify a call out. MED 1. Call premises to verify the alarm. No code is required. 2. Dispatch paramedics. 3. Notify a call out. OPN If supervised: 1. Call premises to verify the alarm. Code is required and the person giving the code must appear on the access list. 2. Notify a call out. If unsupervised: No action. SUP 1. Call premises to verify the alarm. No code required. 2. Dispatch a runner with one hour ETA. TBL For NFPA required fire alarm systems: Dispatch a runner with four hour ETA. All other trouble conditions: No action. TEM 1. Call premises to verify the alarm. No code is required. 2. Notify a call out. -------------------------------- Additional Procedures: Cancel signals and opening signals which immediately follow a burglary alarm will cause the dispatcher to cancel the burglary alarm. For more information about this procedure, see bulletin number 2030. When a signal is received and the same signal (type and zone) was dispatched or AL'ed within the previous thirty minutes, the dispatcher will cancel the new alarm as being ALready dispatched. If a call out was reached when a prior signal was handled and more than thirty minutes has passed, the dispatcher will try to reach that call out before re-dispatching a police or fire department. Call outs are not required to give code word if the central station calls them and they are not physically on the protected premises. The person cancel- ling without code must be named on the callout list. Whenever a police department notifies the central station of any information pertaining to an alarm such as the subscriber is on a no response list, an open door was found, broken window, etc. The central station delivers the message to a callout so they can be aware of the situation. For more information about special instructions please read bulletin 3000.