The document discusses the role and history of Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs). ARCs play a crucial role in protecting people and property by remotely monitoring alarm systems on a 24/7 basis. They were originally established in the 1970s to address issues with direct alarm lines to emergency services. Today, ARCs are highly secure facilities that monitor a wide range of alarm types through various communication methods and provide an escalated emergency response as needed. The future of ARCs remains strong as technology continues to evolve and more services are offered remotely.

1. Alarm Receiving Centre’s. Their Crucial Role in
Protecting People & Property
DAVID FOSTER
General Manager, Response Service Centre
IFSEC INTERNATIONAL 2013
Tuesday 14 May 2013

2. Scope of Presentation
• Typical Role of an Alarm Receiving Centre
– Broad Definition
– History
– Key Elements / Accreditations
– Role of an Alarm Receiving Centre’s (ARC)
– Services Provided by ARC
– Future of the ARC
BS5979 CAT ll ARC 24/7 Human Response

3. Definition of Alarm Receiving
Centre
• Activity based secure environment.
• Manned 24/7 – 365 days per year.
• Processes electronic data from various external sources (Alarms Systems,
CCTV Systems, Building Management Systems etc).
• Analyses and Interprets the data transmitted (Electronic / Human Interface).
• Communicates a suitable response based on specific escalation procedure,
compliant with current regulation i.e. ACPO etc.
• Closes incident once escalation procedure has been completed.
BS5979 CAT ll ARC 24/7 Human Response

4. History of Alarm Receiving Centre
• Remote monitoring of alarm signals dates back to1970s.
• Originally took the form of automatic tape diallers calling 3rd
parties i.e.
Police, Owners, Neighbours, Security Guards etc.
• Used standard telephone line to call recipient.
• Played recorded message providing location and other related information.
• Used by all major security installers and emerging businesses.
• Increased use of automatic tape diallers resulted in significant demand on
emergency services.
BS5979 CAT ll ARC 24/7 Human Response

5. History of Alarm Receiving Centre
Cont’d
• Large number of alarm signals were false alarms.
• Taped message often of poor quality...information not discernable.
• Monitoring easily overcome – cutting of telephone line.
• Pressure from Police, Insurers and other Stakeholders resulted in improved
forms of communication being developed and implemented.
• Direct lines to Police stations became an option.
• Increased call volumes, need to reduce Police resource required to monitor
alarms, combined with further regulation resulted in the demise of the Direct
Line. Direct lines were subsequently abandoned and a need for 3rd
party
monitoring evolved.
• The Alarm Receiving Centre was born.

6. What is an Alarm Receiving Centre?
– Fully secure environment – Significant Financial Investment
• Building (Purpose Built)
• Access Control
• CCTV System
• Intruder Alarm/System
• Panic Alarm System
• Fire Alarm / Fire Suppression
– Communications – Multi-path routing from
independent service providers
– IT Resilience – Multiple Servers etc.
– Disaster Recovery and back up station
– Staff screening BS7858
– Full quality process, management and audit programme

7. BS5979 Cat ll – Accredited by NSI and/or SSAIB.
BS7858 – Security Screening.
BS8484 – Police Response for Panic Alarms / Lone Worker Protection.
BS8418 – CCTV Remote Monitoring.
LPS1020 – Fire Systems
ISO9001 – Quality System.
Key Accreditations

8. The Role of the Alarm Receiving
Centre
• Alarm Receiving Centre’s (ARC) plays a critical part in protecting both
people and property.
• Monitors a wide range of systems on a 24/7, 365 day per year basis.
• On receipt of an alarm signal, the ARC will perform an escalation procedure
agreed by the client and in line with current regulation.
• The required response is dispatched and both people and property remain
protected.
• The key stakeholders are
– Installers.
– Customers.
– 3rd
Party maintenance providers.
– Emergency Services.
– Other key responders (security patrols, keyholders).
BS5979 CAT ll ARC 24/7 Human Response

9. Services Provided by Alarm
Receiving Centre’s
• Alarm Receiving Centre’s (ARC) play a critical part in the remote monitoring
of signals of varying types which are transmitted electronically through
various communication paths.
• Examples of signals/alarms are:
– Intruder.
– Fire .
– Panic / Lone Worker.
– Assisted Living / Tele-Care.
– Mobile / Vehicle Tracking.
– Environmental Signals
– Adhoc Signals
– Proprietary Software - Flexibility
• The above list is endless. All signals received are processed and filtered in
line with both customer and industry specific escalation procedures and
often involve response from emergency services.

10. Services Provided by Alarm
Receiving Centre’s Cont’d
• Alarm Receiving Centre’s also have the ability to perform specific functions
as part of their widening scope of service provision.
• Other functions are as follows
– Conventional and I.P CCTV Monitoring.
– Remote Video Guard Tours.
– Bespoke Monitoring (FM Services).
– Plant, Machinery, Process Failures.
– Managed Access Control.
– Responding to Elevators/Barriers.
– Wireless Alarms (Void Properties).
– Out of Hour Call Handling.
• Service provision is limited only by the technology available to us today.
BS5979 CAT ll ARC 24/7 Human Response

11. Range of Monitoring Services
• Alarm Receiving Centre’s use a range of monitoring services specific to the
signals being generated and received.
• Intruder
– BT Redcare
– CSL Dualcom
– Webway One I.P.
– Emizon I.P
• CCTV
– Adpro
– Dedicated Micro
– Heitel
– TeleEye
– Video Domain Technology
• The list is not exhaustive and many of the above may be present at IFSEC
today

12. The Future for Alarm Receiving
Centres
• There are currently some 60+ Alarm Receiving Centre’s in the UK.
• Demands for monitoring increasing and further growth is to be expected.
• The barrier to entry is significant in terms of cost and investment.
• Significant opportunity for existing ARC, market is becoming more
competitive in nature.
• Quality and Service provision are seen as key enabler to customer retention
and future growth.
BS5979 CAT ll ARC 24/7 Human Response

13. The Future for Alarm Receiving
Centres
• Technology continues to develop and provides opportunity and of course
some significant challenges (CCTV, Mobile, and I.P.)
• Regulation is changing constantly to reflect developments and commercial
environment
• Methods of verification are changing as video and audio are further adopted
by manufacturers and installers.
• The aforesaid technology is an enabler for ARC’s to improve their
verification processes and further reduce false alarms.
BS5979 CAT ll ARC 24/7 Human Response

14. The Future for Alarm Receiving
Centres
• Remote configuration and maintenance of installed systems by
ARC’s/Installers offers further add on services, reduces cost to installer and
customer.
• Mobile technology is fast developing and with the advent of mobile, vehicle,
people and asset tracking, significant advancements can be expected in
these key areas of growth.
• Overall, the future of the evolving Alarm Receiving Centre is assured.
BS5979 CAT ll ARC 24/7 Human Response

15. Thank you for your time
Any questions?
Remember to visit us at
Stand J30
David Foster
General Manager – Response Service Centre