10 Tips for Planning Perimeter Security

With inexpensive options and the improvements in technology against false alarms, more and more dealers and systems integrators are expanding their security to the perimeter. While interior protection will always be a part of a complete intrusion detection system, perimeter security allows end users, on-site guards and remote monitoring centers to know the moment an intruder steps onto the property. Below are ten tips to remember when planning a successful perimeter security system:

Stay current with technology. Your manufacturers should provide in house training at your office for your sales and installation teams at no cost while updating you on trends, technology, and the latest equipment. Successful dealers work directly with the manufacturer's sales personnel to help design, propose, train, and even close your projects for you. Including your manufacturer in the sales process, including sales calls, will lend you instant credibility and close more sales all at no cost to you.

Assess how your client intends to use the site. Make sure that your client understands how the products you are recommending work. This will help to avoid any future problems such as the client moving things around the site and accidentally blocking AIR paths or creating dead spots in front of PIR detectors.

Become certified. Many times a manufacturer will provide certification training on higher-end perimeter detectors at no cost. This not only allows you to become familiar with the product and its applications, it gives you the opportunity to offer more options to the client.

Use the tools available to you. If the manufacturer has tools/appliances recommended to use during set-up, use them. Not only will they make sure the products are set-up/calibrated correctly, they are often a huge time saver during the installation process.

Confirm your design/site plan with the manufacturer. It's important to do this before quoting your customer. Oftentimes the manufacturer will find something you missed or ways to save you money with a different design.

Use recommended manufacturing mounting hardware and accessories. When bundled with photobeam towers, premier manufacturers will mount and assemble your perimeter detectors at no additional cost. This allows for a tremendous amount of savings on labor and opportunity cost. The cost of driving to your local hardware store and standing in line to buy simple items can be saved many times over by having the manufacturer assemble and ship your equipment directly to your job site. This also provides a professional look to your installation.

Go wireless! Eliminate the additional expense of costly labor and wiring to gain more jobs and provide a better-designed system. There are many options for reliable wireless detection for outdoor/perimeter applications.

Utilize video monitoring/verification where possible. When you're dealing with outdoor systems, legitimate activations by an animal or person can often be considered "false alarms" when there is no evidence as the police or client responds 30 minutes later. The majority of photobeam and PIR detectors can easily be set up to trigger a camera.

Strategize and plan your detection coverage. Use redundant measures for true security such as double stacking your photoelectric beams to keep intruders from “jumping over” or crawling under. Along with protecting the perimeter, use rugged outdoor high mount PIR detectors with false alarm prevention technology for spot protection – they are low cost, reliable, and provide a interior trap.

Verify your perimeter's limitations. For example, when using Photobeams as a perimeter, make sure you have enough space between the wall or fence and the detector so that an intruder cannot jump over the beam and bypass the perimeter. If using PIR devices as your perimeter, allow yourself ample room to make sure there will be no bleed-thru beyond the fence line. 

Following these simple tips can mean the difference between a problem free perimeter security system and one that will cause headaches for you and your client. With the assistance of a quality manufacturer and advancement of new technologies, there is no reason to not have a successful install.