Having an intruder alarm system in place for your business gives you peace of mind that your property is protected from theft, damage and unauthorised access. But what happens if there is a power cut? Will your intruder alarm continue to work as normal?
In many cases, intruder alarms may start beeping during or after a power cut. This can happen when the system has lost mains power or when the backup battery does not have enough power to keep the system running correctly.
What happens next will depend on the type of alarm system you have, how it communicates and the condition of its backup power supply.
Internet-Based Alarm Systems
If your intruder alarm relies on an internet connection, a power cut can affect both your security system and your router.
Without power, your internet connection may stop working. This can prevent the alarm from communicating with a monitoring centre until the internet connection is restored.
For this reason, it is important to understand how your alarm system communicates and whether it has a reliable backup option in place.
Phone Line Alarm Systems
Some intruder alarm systems communicate using traditional phone lines. In certain cases, these can continue to operate during a power cut, especially if the alarm system has a working backup battery.
Most intruder alarms are designed with a backup battery that can power the system for a period of time if the mains electricity fails. This is often between 10 and 24 hours, depending on the system, the condition of the battery and when it was last serviced.
Like all batteries, alarm batteries can degrade over time. As they age, their capacity and operating life can reduce. A healthy backup battery should be able to keep an intruder alarm running for several hours during a power cut.
Although replacing batteries may seem straightforward, it is always best to have your system serviced by a professional. They can test the alarm, check the battery and identify any issues that may affect performance during a power cut.
Why Alarm Maintenance Matters
A power cut can expose problems with an intruder alarm system, particularly if the backup battery is weak or the system has not been serviced recently.
If your alarm fails during an outage, your home or business could be left more vulnerable. This is why regular maintenance is important for both commercial and domestic alarm systems.
At Aegis Security, we can help source, install and maintain intruder alarm systems to suit your requirements. Our team provides routine maintenance, preventative checks and emergency corrective maintenance to help keep your system working properly.
With a maintenance agreement in place, you can also benefit from a 24/7 emergency callout service. This means that if a fault occurs, including during or after a power cut, our skilled technicians can respond and carry out the necessary repairs.
How Aegis Security Can Help
At Aegis Security, we provide security system servicing and maintenance across Suffolk, Essex and the surrounding areas.
If you need advice about your intruder alarm, backup battery or maintenance plan, call us on 01206 323900 or email info@aegissecurity.co.uk for free advice or a no-obligation quote.
