What do Insurance Companies Look for in an Alarm?
Saturday, October 9th, 2010How to Get An Insurance Approved Burglar Alarm
Insurance companies frequently reduce premiums to homeowners when approved alarm suppliers fit and maintain your alarm. But how do you know which alarm installer to go for? Business owners usually have to jump through several hoops to be covered. Alarms companies in Bristol deliver insurance approved alarms.
NSI and SSAIB Approval
There are just a couple of bodies that issue certification to alarm installers. They are the NSI (formerly NACOSS) and SSAIB. Insurance companies insist that commercial and home alarms are fitted by one of the intruder alarm companies approved with these bodies. Make sure that your chosen security systems firm is registered with one of these organisations to guarantee that you are covered by your Insurance.
Home Intruder Alarms
Home insurance firms generally demand that any alarm is maintained under a maintenance contract by an NSI or SSAIB approved company. Several insurers will offer a discount on insurance premiums, after all home owners are more likely to ring their alarm maintenance provider when faults occur if they are covered by an alarm maintenance agreement and the insurance company recognises this fact in its pricing.
Commercial Burglar Alarms
Company leaders are often required by their insurer to install and maintain a burglar alarm as a condition of cover. Sometimes insurance firms lay down specifics for a grade 2 or 3 system under the EN50131 standards and also specify if it must include 24 hour monitoring and/or a police response.
Insurers of business premises might stipulate a BT Redcare GSM system or Dualcom GPRS system as they involve using two ways of sending a signal about a activated alarm. If a telephone line is severed or is faulty, signals are sent via the GPRS or GSM mobile network, rendering these systems are great when it comes to stopping a burglar in his or her tracks.
ACPO Regulations
The Association of Chief Police Officers also stipulate that alarms are put in by NSI and SSAIB approved suppliers. Your alarm supplier should also be listed with them, especially if you need a police response to be insured.
intruder alarm systems, fitted to EN50131 and ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) standards, by an alarm company approved by the NSI or SSAIB are the only ones that get an automatic police response. Bristol alarms provide an example of such a firm.
Lower Insurance Premiums
In June 2007 Aviva Risk Services encouraged UK businesses to install alarms fitted by NSI or SSAIB registered companies. According to their research, a quarter of firms have the wrong type of alarm. In addition they recommend installing a burglar alarm in domestic buildings too and keeping it serviced once a year. Aviva is one of the major insurance firms that do reduce premiums when an appropriate alarm system is fitted.
