Guest cdyckes Posted July 25, 2004 Posted July 25, 2004 I'm replacing an old 9448 system in a bungalow with a Texecom Premier 48 with RKPs and new PIRs and fire sensors and new screened wiring throughout. Reading the comment on one of the home pages on this site about being able to disable a system without codes in 30 seconds has made me pause and think about the best place to put the control panel. I'd have to agree that this would seem trivial to do with access to the panel by moving 1 or at most 2 wires, so presumably the answer is to secure the panel. So.... Where do i put it I've considered a locked metal cabinet in the loft, but worry about temperature. What about a lockable metal cabinet in a cupboard? What's a good maximum ambient for panel reliablility? Any input would be appreciated. Colin
morph Posted July 25, 2004 Posted July 25, 2004 The loft is not a good place at all, consider the humidity and temeperature and it may be easy to get in if you remove the tiles. The thing to consider is that no location is fool proof, but if you design the protection in the house so that it would be impossible to get to the panel without triggering the alarm then this would be the best option.There is also a requirement to protect the panel in the British Standards. Most panels get fitted under the stairs or in an upstairs airing cupboard. A good lock on the door also helps. Some houses have a window in the understairs cupboard so you would also need to protect this as well as the entrance to it. If you put it in a locked metal cabinet other than the enclosure it comes in, you must make sure that all your electrical feeds are correctly installed and fused and that you have correctly earthed the panel and its new enclosure. Protecting the routes to the panel is the best option, afterall if someone does breakin and get to the panel without setting it off, what was the point in installing the alarm to start with. Colin.
norman Posted July 25, 2004 Posted July 25, 2004 hello and welcome cdyckes, Firstly I would consider the practicalities of servicing your panel and balance that against the possibility of physical attack, you also have to bear in mind the probability of such an attack which realistically is very slim. You have to assess the level of risk you wish to address. most panels will work in an environment of (approx) -10 to +50'C but the extremes of this scale will have effect on the back up battery installed. I personally think that unless the risk is very high, a metal enclosure would be too extreme for most installations, I would be tempted to install in a cupboard out of sight obviously, and ensure that any on-board loudspeakers are disabled, mounting an external one adjacent the entry door. On a bungalow I would be more concerned with the location of the external sounder, and if feasible would spec this for as high as possible (possibly even on the chimney) otherwise i would perhaps consider a enclosure for the unit, but again you have to weigh up the risk's. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
Service Engineer Posted July 25, 2004 Posted July 25, 2004 Consider having the main panel situated somewhere not in the main entry/exit route. So even if someone breaks in through the front door they still trigger an immediate zone before getting to it. Also consider that the control panel should be protected at all times, so if its going in the loft you should also protect the loft. I personally have no gripes about the panel being located in a Loft, so long as its not damp, and not gonna get too hot. The rule is keep the panel well ventilated, I`d choose the loft anyday over an airing cupboard for instance. ........................................................ Dave Partridge (Romec Service Engineer)
Service Engineer Posted July 25, 2004 Posted July 25, 2004 On a bungalow I would be more concerned with the location of the external sounder I`d consider getting 2 working Bellboxes. That way if someone messes with either one the other will start sounding. ........................................................ Dave Partridge (Romec Service Engineer)
Guest cdyckes Posted July 25, 2004 Posted July 25, 2004 Thanks for the replies guys. I'm amazed at how quick the responses were The panel is currently planned to go in a ground floor cupboard that is externally protected by PIR, but I suppose I'm trying to prevent someone breaking in, setting off the alarm, opening the control panel (single screw ) and disarming the bell just by moving a wire or two - the terminals are even labelled for ******* sake. I think the conesensus is that this is normal, but I just hoped to be able to improve on that. Colin
Service Engineer Posted July 25, 2004 Posted July 25, 2004 The panel is currently planned to go in a ground floor cupboard that is externally protected by PIR Could you fit a descent lock to the cupboard door. This would buy your panel sometime. ........................................................ Dave Partridge (Romec Service Engineer)
norman Posted July 25, 2004 Posted July 25, 2004 disarming the bell just by moving a wire or two - the terminals are even labelled for ******* sake. Tip-ex? Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
Red Fox UK Posted July 25, 2004 Posted July 25, 2004 disarming the bell just by moving a wire or two - the terminals are even labelled for ******* sake. Tip-ex? 18462[/snapback] I have mine under the stairs... Hall is protected by PIR, door has a contact meaning I can have the PIR as an immediate zone. I tihnk this is safe? And with the mess inside my panel, no bugger can move around in it Warren Red Fox | Hosting Affordable and Reliable UK Based Web Hosting
Paul Giles Posted July 25, 2004 Posted July 25, 2004 What about monitoring? PG Security Systems Somerset SSAIB Certificate of Merit Installers. www.pgsecurity.co.uk
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