Insurance policy specifications for AMCO alarm systems

The following are the detail and specifications around the insurance compliance and compatibility of AMCO alarm systems.  Please use these details when answering questions from your insurance company.

> What type of monitored alarm system does AMCO install?

AMCO’s LiveTalk alarm monitoring system is based around ‘audio verification’.  Using the LiveTalk speaker / microphone units that are installed, our monitoring staff can actively listen and talk into a property:

- Verification: listening allows to us to ‘verify’ an intrusion / attack / fire incident is in progress. 

- Deterrence: talking allows us to speak to the persons inside the property and either scare them off (if they’re intruders) or verify they’re a legitimate person via asking them for their pre-arranged password.

In the instance of a ‘verified’ (confirmed) incident (intrusion / attack / fire) our monitoring staff will react by immediately calling the relevant emergency service i.e. police, fire brigade or ambulance.

It is the high level of remote verification (via our LiveTalk speaker / microphone unit) that makes AMCO’s monitored alarm systems the most effective on the market; robust in our ability to verify and respond to an incident, as well as limiting the number of false alarm responses by the emergency services (i.e. we only call the police in instances of a verified activity).

> What emergency services connect to AMCO's LiveTalk monitoring?

AMCO's LiveTalk system connects to all forms of 'emergency scenario', including intruder, fire and medical.  LiveTalk provides the highest possible response to an emergency scenario, limiting potential loss for insurance companies.

- Intruder: connecting LiveTalk monitoring is the most standard form of monitoring, meaning that whenever an intruder is detected by your alarm system, LiveTalk will be activated and the police will be informed.

- Fire: it's easy to connect LiveTalk to your smoke alarms / fire system.  This means we can immediately call the fire brigade in a verified fire situation.  AMCO have saved multiple properties over the years with this fire monitoring service.

- Medical: if you connect 'panic buttons' to LiveTalk we can immediately call the ambulance service in the case of a medical emergency (once the panic button has been pressed).  AMCO have saved multiple lives throughout the years via this service.

> What types of ‘channel’ does AMCO’s LiveTalk alarm monitoring connect via?

- Landline / PSTN: this is the standard way to connect an alarm system to the monitoring station.  PSTN (standard telephone lines) are regarded as the most robust / reliable.

- Mobile / GSM: using a GSM unit is a good channel for locations without fixed landlines, or as use as a ‘back-up’ to a landline (in case of failure or line-cut).

- Internet / VOIP: an option for properties without a PSTN line.  N.B. Systems connected via the internet should also include battery-back up systems to your properties router, as in the case of power failure your system will be redundant. [This option will be available from January 2019]

> Is AMCO’s monitoring centre SSAIB registered?

Yes, AMCO Security’s monitoring centre is SSAIB registered meaning that it adheres to the strict regulations and processes set-up by SSAIB, a UK-based security certification organisation. 

> What level of police response do AMCO provide: 1, 2 or 3?

AMCO monitored alarms provide both level 1 and level 2 police response, depending on the type of incident verified by our monitoring staff.

Types of incident and associated police response levels are as follows:

- Verified violent personal attack in progress: Level 1

- Verified violent Burglary in progress: Level 1

- Verified passive Burglary (i.e. burglars no longer on site after being scared off by verbal warning via LiveTalk monitoring staff): Level 2

- Verified passive attack (i.e. personal attack is no longer in process / ended after verbal warning via LiveTalk monitoring staff): Level 2

- Non-verified activity on site (i.e. LiveTalk monitoring staff can’t hear / verify any activity on site): Level 3

> What are police response levels?

    - Level 1: immediate response (subject to police priorities)

    - Level 2: desirable response but dependent on police resource

    - Level 3: no police response (key holder only)

> What is the police response process?

NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council) Unified Intruder Alarm Policy is used by the police across the UK, in which two types of burglar alarm are specified along with relevant police response:

- Type A: reliant on a URN number

- Type B: reliant on evidence / witnesses of an offence in progress

AMCO monitored alarm systems by following the Type B procedure, as our LiveTalk system enables our monitoring staff to verify whether an offence is in progress and call the police.  As AMCO follow Type B procedure and all activities are ‘verified’ our systems are not issued with a police URN (Unique Reference Number).

N.B. police response in both Type A and Type B cases is dependent on the available police resources and competing emergency calls.

> What grade of system does AMCO install?

There are x4 different ‘grades’ of security system, all of which are based around levels of resilience of the alarm system to attacks by intruders or outside influences (level 1 being the least secure and level 4 the most secure).

- Grade 1: lowest grade, with only basic provision for component quality / resilience

- Grade 2: standard level of equipment resilience. Good for home or non-high risk business use (e.g. high street shops / offices)

- Grade 3: high level of equipment resilience including ‘anti-masking’ technology on sensors, to prevent them for being covered up / tampered with.   Good for high-risk businesses (e.g. banks)

- Grade 4: highest level of equipment resilience.

As standard, AMCO install systems that adhere to Grade 2 specifications.  Where required AMCO can also install Grade 3 systems.   AMCO do not as standard install Grade 4.

> What level of alarm system checks / servicing does AMCO provide?

AMCO provide a number of different ‘remote and ‘on site’ system checks and system maintenance services:

- Monthly remote system ‘connection checks’

- 12 / 24 month system on-site maintenance checks (these onsite visits are at the request of the customer, and not mandated - unless specified by your insurance company)

- 4 yearly battery change visit

Read more about AMCO's maintenance and servicing procedures, via our maintenance policy page here >>