Reducing false alarms in a Manchester school provides RemGuard with an invaluable lesson in external PIR detectors

In 2007 the school had an external CCTV system installed by a very credible NSI Gold installation company using 'Conventional External PIR's, but within a few weeks of commissioning the system, it was apparent that the detection was generating lots of false alarms and the school demanded that something was done to eliminate the problem. RemGuard, one of the UK's leading companies in remotely monitored CCTV, urgently needed to come up with a viable and economic solution. In conjunction with their approved installers they removed the original PIR's and replaced them with D-TECT3 detectors from GJD Manufacturing Limited.

Alan Collinge, Operations Director for RemGuard RVRC was a relieved man, he commented -

"To be honest, we were at first very surprised and then greatly encouraged by the low number of false triggers from the GJD D-TECT's. In fact since the site was commissioned there have only been a handful of unconfirmed alarms and every time the D-TECT3's trigger, a genuine activation has been confirmed. What's more, the D-TECT3 outperforms the more expensive products on the market so they score on cost, are much easier to install and set-up, more attractive in design and are probably less vulnerable to attack than other PIR's.

Suffice to say that we and the school are more than delighted with the performance of the D-TECT3 PIR's."

One of the unique features of the D-TECT's is the integral masking curtains, which allows the installer to easily adjust the field of view from 10degrees for perimeters and up to 70degrees for open spaces. The adjustable pan & tilt electronics module, coupled with a mounting height of up to 6 meters, allows the view of the sensor and the camera to be closely matched and as the detector's range is programmable, potential boundary overspill scenarios are prevented. The convenience and time-saving afforded by the GJD hand held remote IR range adjuster is also a big benefit for installers.

On-site Performance Data -

These are actual statistics derived from the conventional external PIR's in the grounds of a new school in South Manchester over a 3 month period.
Month 1 was the last complete month with the 'Conventional External PIR's, the installation company replaced all the external detectors with GJD D-TECT3 units in Month 2. Month 3 was the first complete month with the D-TECT3's.
The reduction in nuisance alarms was immediate.

A monthly comparison shows that:-

Comparing Month 1 to Month 3:
False alarms reduced from 220 to 3
Environmental alarms reduced from 162 to 1
Wildlife alarms reduced from 257 to 2