Guarding and Alarm Response Services
Guarding and alarm response services comprise the deployment of security personnel and connected monitoring and alarm receiving centres that react to alarms from detection systems and intervene on site when an event occurs.
Role within the security concept
Guarding services complement technical detection systems with a physical response: a monitoring and alarm receiving centre accepts alarms, verifies them as far as possible, and, depending on the contractual arrangement, triggers an intervention run by a guarding service or notifies the police. Stationary guarding through patrol or gatehouse duty adds permanent physical presence where required.
Requirements for centres and personnel
Monitoring and alarm receiving centres must demonstrate redundant communication paths, documented response times and qualified staff; the alarm response and intervention certificate confirms the contractually agreed response time between alarm receipt and arrival on site. Security service providers should hold recognised quality credentials from their industry associations.
Insurance relevance
The actual intervention time between an alarm being raised and personnel arriving on site is often more decisive for the extent of a burglary loss than the detection technology alone. Insurers take documented, contractually secured intervention times into account when grading the risk of particularly high-value sites.
Standards and codes
- VdS 2529 – Alarm Response and Intervention Certificate for Detection Systems
- VdS 3138-1 – Monitoring and Alarm Receiving Centres, Part 1 Requirements