UK Home Improvement Blog

There is no doubt that CCTV is the most effective form of crime prevention, and more and more people are having systems installed to protect their family and property.

It stands to sense, really, doesn’t it? If you were a burglar would you choose to try to enter a house that had CCTV fitted or one that did not?. It’s a no-brainer.

You might say, but I have a burglar alarm fitted, and that is surely just as good a deterrent. At one time that may well have been the case, but have you noticed these days that no-one seems to take notice when they are activated?

With CCTV, of course, you have the additional comfort in knowing that even if someone was daft enough to break in, you would have the footage

necessary to identify them and bring them to justice.

Price?

If you are concerned about cost, then there is no need to be. Especially if you are sufficiently confident enough in your DIY skills to do the installation yourself. In fact, there is little to it, really.

DIY Route

There are now various digital kits available on the market which make it significantly easier, because everything you require is provided in one pack. While it has been known for professional installers to use them, they have been specifically designed for those people, like you, who have a more limited knowledge of the technology involved.

What is more – and this may be particularly appealing – the kits are considerably cheaper than if you went out and bought the parts separately.

Professional Route

It may be that you would prefer to go along with the extra cost and leave it to a professional, and that is understandable. Companies like CCTV.co.uk can advise you on home CCTV installation.On the other hand, of course, there are pros and cons attached to the various CCTV systems available, with regard not only to cost, but also quality, installation and maintenance, and you do need to delve very thoroughly into these matters before making any decision.

All you need do in that case is go on-line where you will find thousands of recommended security specialists across the UK. You can even call up a list of those in your area. Just key in the type of job you require and you can not only post your job for free you can get several quotes and also be provided with the opportunity to review ratings in order to be able to select the most suitable tradesman for you.

 

Whichever route you take, just remember that houses fitted with CCTV are 90 per cent less likely to be burgled than those which are not.

 

Jonathan writes for cctv.co.uk.

 

Tags: Home Security by UK Home Improvement Team
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When leaving your business premises you expect to return with your assets intact and untouched. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case. Whether you have become the victim of wanton vandalism or have had your assets stolen, installing an alarm system within your premises or to the perimeter can prevent such things from taking place.

Alarm systems have long been used in commercial properties for this very reason, and comprehensive alarm systems have become increasingly important in recent years to protect classified, hazardous, and expensive assets. There are a wide variety of options available today from wirelessly operated, to 24 hour a day monitored systems. Sometimes your alarm system need never be triggered – simply the presence of one acts as a threat to the perpetrator and can be very effective as a deterrent.

In most cases your mains operated alarm system will have a battery backup option. However, some systems are battery operated as their sole source. You might use a combination of the following alarms or each one in isolation; whichever you choose, remember to find a reputable supplier with years of experience – understanding your system and finding the perfect solution for your premises is of upmost importance, there is much to be gained from choosing a knowledgeable specialist supplier. You will benefit from their experience and they will be able to advise which products would be best for you so you can have an alarm system you can trust.

Bell only

Bell only alarms do exactly what they say on the tin – once the alarm is triggered, a loud sound such as a bell or siren will be blasted throughout the premises. This works as a dual function: it can startle the perpetrator into losing their nerve and thus vacate the premises leaving assets unharmed, and it brings the invasion to the attention of personnel within the area making it very unlikely the intruder on site will remain unnoticed. Alarm systems can be linked with the local authorities however, in some cases an alarm can be triggered accidently – such as a pet exploring – and police will not automatically attend the scene unless a witness also reports the break in. For this reason we recommend a bell only system is combined with a monitored system as mentioned later in this article.

Circuit break

Circuit break alarms can be used anywhere that an intruder might gain access to the property, be it through a door, window, or locked gate. The point of entrance will be rigged so that if it is opened whilst you are away the circuit will be broken. An alarm will then sound or an alert will be sent to a monitoring agency, your onsite security, or the police. You are completely in control and can set the alarm to go off a set number of seconds after entry; this allows for the alarm to be disabled should a member of staff be the one to trip the circuit before an alarm sounds. These can be used in conjunction with the bell only system or as part of a monitored system explained below.

Detection

If your premises are based within an industrial estate with public access or in an area without an external security perimeter of any kind, you might want to consider an internally based detection system. This type of alarm works by detecting intruders once they have gained access to the premises. The alarm is simply set by the last member of personnel or your security team upon exit of the property. Like the circuit break system you can control how long after the alarm is triggered it will sound, allowing entrance to the property and disabling of the alarm in a time you deem appropriate.

Monitored

You could use any of the above systems in conjunction with a company monitored alarm. When the premises are vacated, should the alarm be triggered by unauthorised persons, the company who installed your alarm will also monitor it and respond. The company will have special alarm monitor systems with dedicated staff. This might mean they send their own security team to the scene to reset the alarm, or work in conjunction with the police by notifying them, yourself, and a nominated key holder of your choice in the process. So you can be sure even if a member of your own security team is offsite it will be taken care of, saving you time, worry, and hassle!

Choosing a Company You Can Trust

Albion Detection supply and install high quality security and detection systems across Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and South Yorkshire. You can browse our website or pick up the phone today and one of our friendly and helpful team will be on hand to deal with your enquiry.

www.albiondetection.co.uk

 

Tags: Home Security, Other by UK Home Improvement Team
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Roller shutters are ideal for the security conscious who want proven security in place for their home or business. First and foremost, roller shutters are an excellent deterrent to criminals due to their robust and complete construction. Unlike some other forms of permanent security, they can be rolled up to let in light and air during the day, and quickly rolled down at night to provide security. Their metal construction makes  it extremely difficult for anyone to gain access to your property without heavy duty cutting equipment.

Take a look below for additional benefits of roller shutters:

Temperature Regulation

Insulated roller shutters are ideal for keeping the cold out and the warm in, or vice versa during Summer. Their solid construction lets little heat and cold in or out. A high quality shutter can prevent almost 90 percent of a building’s heat escaping and as much as 70 percent of cold from moving in. It is for this reason that many people choose roller shutters to help regulate a comfortable living or working environment, working with your exisiting climate control measures and reducing the need for expensive air conditioning, therefore reducing your energy bills.

Sound Proofing

The same properties that make roller shutters excellent temperature regulators also helps to keep out the distracting noises of the outside. Consistently high levels of background noise are known to lower productivity and increase stress, so for your or your employees benefit an investment in an insulated roller shutter may be a good choice. Insulated shutter doors can reduce external noise by as much as 50 percent. And for domestic installations, roller shutters are perfect for preventing loud noises from bothering neighbours. So for those who like their music at home loud, or regularly play loud intruments, a roller shutter may be the ideal solution to your noise problem.

Blocking Light

For most people, the light kept out by curtains or blinds is plenty enough, but for those situations where a total blackout is required, roller shutters do the job perfectly. Roller shutters cover the entire window area, leaving no gaps at the top or sides. Whatever your reasons for needing total blackout, whether you’re a shift worker, have problems from glare from the sun or just want the added privacy, a roller shutter might be the perfect solution for you.

Roller shutters have other applications aside from those listed here, however these tend to be the most typically overlooked. For more advice on choosing the right roller shutters Nottingham and elsewhere for you, whether domestic or commercial property, contact the specialists at Total Security Systems Ltd.

Tags: Doors, Home Security by UK Home Improvement Team
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More and more people are choosing CCTV as a means of additional home security nowadays. But professional security camera installation can be quite a costly procedure and so one option is to install the camera and systems yourself.

The first thing to consider when installing an outdoor security camera is where it is going to be located, and what it is going to watching. There are various issues regarding privacy and the Data Protection Act when it comes to home security cameras, but a rule of thumb is as long as you are not watching another person’s property and invading privacy, you should be OK (however we would always suggest getting legal advice before installing a CCTV camera). As the camera is also an important deterrent to would-be intruders, making sure it is not hidden from view is a good idea.

The most important areas at the front of a property are typically the driveway and the front doorway, though if your camera is automated and can be moved then you could focus on the driveway at night when your car is parked there, and on the door during the day when you are at work (assuming you take your car with you). A second camera at the rear of the property will normally be focussed on the back door, but keeping an eye any shed or outhouse might be advisable as well.

Regardless take into account blind spots and before settling on a location to site a security camera, see what kind of coverage you get from test locations. Ensure cameras are placed out of reach to prevent vandalism, but make sure they aren’t too high as to miss details or to provide blind spots. Also take into account if you are going to be using a wireless camera or if you will need to run wires through wall or window frames. Wireless security cameras are the less hassle but are a bit more expensive, but there are some very reasonably priced models available. If you are going to be powering your camera from inside your home, ensure you have enough cable to reach into your home and connect to the power source.

Along with any power cables, there is the issue of video cables as well. Once again wireless cameras receive a feed from the camera without the need for wires, whereas you will need to run the video cables for a wired camera to the recording/viewing source, so ensure that is taken into account. That includes wire length requirements, holes that need to be drilled for them and filling any gaps around the holes for the wires with caulking or fillers.

The only other point to consider is weather proofing. Many CCTV cameras (especially those designed for outdoor use) are weatherproof as standard, but some are not and many people will adapt an indoor camera for outdoor use. If this is the case you will need a weatherproof enclosure for your camera as well.

Once all of this is decided, you will need to mouth the camera (run wires first, it makes life a lot easier) using some sturdy, hardwearing and heavy duty bolts, ensure no naked wires are susceptible to the elements and any enclosures for the camera are weatherproofed. Test all connections and ensure you are receiving a signal and if all is well you have yourself a working security camera to protect your home and deter intruders.

Always remember to get advice before fitting any kind of CCTV security system from local authorities or the police, as well as from professional security system installers where possible.

Tags: Home Security by UK Home Improvement Team
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