False alarms are a major challenge for CCTV monitoring companies and those in charge of site security. When a particular camera repeatedly triggers false alarms, it can be isolated i.e stopped from being monitored entirely.
As a result, this leaves a section of the site vulnerable to real threats.
In this article, we’ll explore what they are, their impact on monitored surveillance systems, and how you can reduce or eliminate them effectively.
Table of contents
What will you learn from this article?
- The challenges false alarms pose for monitored CCTV and site security
- How they waste resources and delay responses
- The impact of isolating cameras due to repeated false alerts
- How they are caused such as wind, animals, and weather conditions
- The best ways to deal with and reduce them
What is a false alarm?
A false alarm occurs when a CCTV monitoring system is triggered by non-threatening events or objects, such as:
- Wind
- Animals
- Rain
- Leaves & branches
These events often activate alarms, even though no real security threat is present.
Examples:
- A CCTV camera is triggered by a tree branch swaying in the wind.
- An alarm is raised because of insects flying too close to the camera lens at night.
- An animal approaches a perimeter fence and triggers an alert
The impact of false alarms on monitored CCTV systems
As mentioned earlier, the impact of false alerts on monitored CCTV systems. can be significant.
Here’s a bit more insight:
- Wasting security personnel’s time by responding to non-existent threats
- Higher costs due to unnecessary call-outs
- Slower response to real incidents as further verification is required
- Isolated or deactivated cameras, leaving sections of the site vulnerable
- Reduced confidence in the reliability of the monitoring system
How to reduce and eliminate false alarms
Reducing false alarms requires implementing a suite of devices and technologies.
Keen to learn more?
Here’s how you can significantly cut down on false alarms and improve your site’s security.
Video analytics
Video analytics uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse CCTV footage.
Perfect for tackling false alarms, it distinguishes between harmless events, like trees swaying, and genuine threats, like human movement.
By filtering out irrelevant triggers, video analytics significantly reduces the threat and impact of false alarms.
For instance, AI can detect and ignore moving animals or weather disturbances while focusing on potential intrusions.
This smart technology ensures that security personnel are alerted only when real threats arise.
As a result, this improves response times, and system integrity and reduces wasted resources.
Thermal cameras
Thermal CCTV cameras detect heat signatures rather than relying on visible light. Therefore, this makes them highly effective in low-visibility situations, such as fog or darkness.
These advanced security cameras, minimise false alarms caused by light fluctuations, shadows, or small animals.
In our opinion, they are one of the best intruder detection devices available.
Since thermal cameras only detect objects emitting heat, they ignore non-living triggers that often cause false alarms.
Lastly, Thermal CCTV cameras are particularly useful for sites prone to poor lighting or environmental distractions, offering a reliable means of identifying real threats while eliminating false alerts.
Alarm + Visual Verification
Combining alarms with visual verification ensures that every alert is checked before a response is triggered.
When an alert is triggered, the alarm monitoring team reviews live footage to confirm whether there’s a real threat.
This two-step verification process filters out false alarms caused by harmless activities.
For example, if an animal triggers the alarm, the monitoring staff can quickly verify it and dismiss the alert, ensuring security personnel aren’t dispatched unnecessarily.
InfraRed IR illuminators & lighting
IR illuminators and lighting enhance visibility in low-light environments without triggering false alarms.
They also repel insects, which are often responsible for setting off CCTV cameras at night.
Insects are attracted to the lights near cameras, but IR illuminators reduce this problem by emitting light that is invisible to the human eye.
As a result, fewer insects swarm around the camera, lowering the chance of false alarms triggered by their movement.
In dealing with false alerts, IR illuminators are a cost-effective solution for sites where insects and nighttime false alarms are a recurring issue.
How do you reduce false alarms – quick summary
Here’s a quick recap of the key points covered in today’s article:
- False alarms are a nuisance and can leave sites vulnerable.
- Repeated false alerts often lead to cameras being isolated, reducing coverage.
Advanced technologies can help reduce false alarms, including:
- Video analytics
- Thermal cameras
- Visual verification
- IR illuminators
Implementing these solutions enhances overall site security.
Reducing false alarms ensures:
- Monitoring systems remain reliable and efficient.
- Focus on genuine threats, improving response times.
Factors to consider
Ahead of implementing any of our suggestions, here is a quick short list of considerations:
- Assess environmental conditions such as weather, lighting, and potential wildlife presence, which may impact false alarm frequency.
- Determine which areas need heightened surveillance and whether certain sections are more prone to false alarms.
- Consider initial setup costs and long-term savings from reduced false alarms to decide on the best technologies for your budget.
- Ensure chosen solutions, such as thermal cameras or video analytics, integrate smoothly with existing monitoring systems.
- Factor in any necessary training for security personnel on new technologies, such as using video analytics or IR illuminators effectively.
- Decide if continuous live monitoring or an alert-based system with visual verification best meets your security goals.
- Choose solutions that can be scaled or upgraded easily as your site’s security needs grow or evolve.
These considerations can guide you toward selecting the best solutions for reducing false alarms and improving overall site security.
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