Monitoring & Maintenance of Systems

Monitoring – Find a Monitored Alarm System to suit you

There are different ways of “Monitoring” your alarm system. Having an alarm professionally installed can allow you access to a range of monitoring services, which means that if an intruder gains access to your property, or a Fire starts, the alarm will be notified to you, even if you’re not around to hear it yourself.

Central Station Monitoring, with Garda / Emergency Services response

The alarm system signals to an “Alarm Receiving Centre” who, directly contact you or your keyholders. If appropriate, it can call the Gardai or Fire brigade. Most business premises insurance policies stipulate that they must have a “Monitored Alarm”. Householders can also get an extra discount off their policy for having their alarm monitored by a central station.

Monitoring directly from the alarm panel to your phone/s by Text, Phonecall and Smartphone App.

For “Better Value Monitoring” – your alarm system can text, make a phonecall, and send you a voice notification on your Smartphone App. We can advise on what type of monitoring is most effective for you and your premises.

Dual/Treble Path Monitoring – For “High Risk” sites.

These are secure dual/treble path signalling systems where if the primary path fails (Lan network fails), a secondary/treble path (usually mobile phone technology) will take over the signalling to the ARC (Alarm Receiving Centre). The modern communications pathways also “poll” regularly, to ensure they are working correctly. This means that if a total path failure occurs,- you the customer is notified.

House/Business Alarm Maintenance

Intruder Alarms are installed to the Irish and European standard, I.S. EN 50131-1:2006/A3:2020. In order for your system to meet this regulation going forward, it must be serviced every year. If a system is not serviced every year, it ceases to meet the standards.

Maintaining your system will ensure it performs correctly, that every piece of equipment is working and prevent other issues arising. If you are claiming a discount on your home insurance, most insurance companies now require that your Intruder Alarm is serviced at least once a year, otherwise they may void any claims on the policy. For businesses, it is mandatory that most business premises have a maintained system as a term and condition in the Insurance policy, as well as being monitored by a central station.

Fire Alarm Maintenance Servicing and Testing

Fire Alarms are installed to the Irish Standard, I.S. 3218: 2024. This is a statutory instrument, which means it is the law. It is the law that Fire Alarm systemsare serviced quarterly (excluding some domestic systems). This means an engineer must visit a system 4 times per year and carry out servicing as per the regulations (see Scope of Service attached).

The requirement for servicing is usually part of the terms and conditions of your Insurance policy, as well as being required by the Fire Officer. Two of the first questions that are usually asked if any incident occur, is, “When was your system serviced last?” and “Who is your Maintenance Agreement with?” Fire Alarm systems not meeting the standards for servicing may, void future claims on your Insurance Policy, and leave you open to prosecution and fines in court.

Emergency Lighting Systems Maintenance Servicing and Testing

To ensure that the system remains at full operational status, essential servicing should be specified. This would usually be performed as part of the testing routine, but in the case of consumable items such as replacement lamps, spares should be provided for immediate use.

(Regular servicing shall be carried out by a competent maintenance contractor as per I.S. 3217:2023.)

Please note I.S. 3217:2023 states the following, that all routine tests and quarterly maintenance tests in accordance with Clause 11 is carried out in the property in which a Emergency Lighting System is installed.

• Daily Inspection:

• Indicators of central safety power supply systems (CPS) shall be visually inspected for correct operation.

  NOTE: This is a visual inspection of indicators and monitors to identify that the system(s) is in a ready condition and does not require an operational test.

  These checks are carried out by OWNER / MANAGER.

• Monthly inspection and testing methodology, schedule and checklist;

  The following shall be checked:

  • visually check that each emergency lighting lamp in all maintained and combined emergency luminaires or combinations thereof are operational and illuminated, and ensure that all non-illuminating lamps are replaced.

  • visually check that LED status indicators on all self-contained luminaires, including ATS (Type S), are illuminated and showing a healthy status,

  • all deficiencies, defects, faults, or combinations thereof previously recorded in the emergency lighting logbook have been rectified.

  These checks are carried out by OWNER / MANAGER.

• Three-monthly (quarterly) inspection and testing methodology, schedule and checklist:

  • The sequence shall ensure that inspections and testing meet the following schedule:

  • carried out four times in a 1-year period,

  • carried out every 3 months on the due date ± 30 days.

  • One of the four required inspections and tests shall be carried out as part of the annual inspection and testing schedule.

  These checks are carried out by HALL ALARMS LTD.

• Service Provider:

  Quarterly and Annual Checks to be done by a company that have the ability to issue Confirmation Documents for the system.

  These checks are carried out by HALL ALARMS LTD.

• Three-monthly (quarterly) Checks:

  • Review of Log Book.

  • Battery duration tests (3 x 30 minutes tests and 1 x 3 hour test).

  • Test and inspect controlling equipment.

  • (100% of devices will be tested on each quarterly visit.)

  • Visual Inspection of fittings for location and damage.

• Annual Checks:

  • Includes Three-monthly (quarterly) Checks / Primarily Test and Report.

  • Review of Log Book.

  • Controlling equipment, Batteries + Every Device (100% of devices will be tested on each quarterly visit.)

  • Visual Inspection of fittings for location and damage.

Maintenance of Other Security Systems

(CCTV, Electric Gates, Access Control, Intercoms, etc.)

• Every one of our installations can be backed up by a maintenance package. Without regular maintenance even the most effective equipment will deteriorate, so it’s important that a qualified engineer checks your system at the recommended intervals laid out in the regulations governing systems.

• This will ensure your equipment is working properly, meets current standards, and is less likely to fail or develop faults in the future. Our maintenance packages also guarantee that if you do have a problem, we will respond quickly.

How Much is Maintenance and What do I get?

We offer two Maintenance Options to customers…

Annual Comprehensive Maintenance OR Annual Service – Only Maintenance

Comprehensive maintenance costs more annually but is more cost effective in that it provides a wider variety of cover on your system (see description of cover below). Service only is cheaper, but only provides servicing of your system and not the additional cover of the comprehensive maintenance. The Cost of maintenance will depend on how much equipment is on your system. Call our office today and we can quote you directly for Maintenance.

Comprehensive Maintenance

This includes servicing as per the regulations governing your system (eg 4 x quarterly services on Fire Alarm). The package also includes FREE Emergency callouts and Labour charges during normal working hours, and Replacement Equipment and Travel time cost to site. It does not cover emergency callout afterhours, accidental damage or vandalism to equipment. It does not cover damage by Fire, Water, Storm, and Lightening. These issues will usually be covered by your insurance policy.

Service – Only Maintenance

As the name suggest, this package covers ONLY servicing on your system, as per the regulations. Emergency callouts, including labour time onsite, replacement equipment and travel time are all charged as extra.