Bells-only or fully monitored. Find a certified installer to specify, fit, and grade an alarm system that does what it needs to.
An intruder alarm is the most direct way to deter a break-in and to alert someone (you, your neighbours, or an Alarm Receiving Centre) when one is in progress. Modern systems combine motion sensors, door/window contacts, glass-break detectors, and optional video verification cameras, all reporting back to a central control panel. What an experienced installer brings is judgement on the design choices that actually matter: sensor placement, false-alarm tolerance, and response procedure.
Insurance is the other reason to take this seriously. Many commercial policies (and a growing number of home insurance policies on properties with significant cover) specify the alarm grade you need: typically Grade 2 for residential and small commercial sites, and Grade 3 for sites with more valuable contents. The installers in this directory are familiar with the grading system and will fit equipment that satisfies your insurer.
Where intruder alarms make the biggest difference.
Bells-only systems for deterrence, or monitored systems where the ARC contacts you (and optionally the police) on activation. Grade 2 covers most domestic situations.
Out-of-hours protection for shops, units, and offices. Often paired with CCTV for video verification, which reduces false alarms and gets a faster police response when activations are confirmed.
Grade 3 systems for warehouses, jewellers, and other premises with high-value contents, where your insurer specifies the grade. Usually monitored, with keyholder response or police URN.
A few things that separate a good install from one that ends up triggering false alarms every weekend.
UK alarm installers can carry NSI Gold or SSAIB approval. Both indicate the company has been audited against BS EN 50131 / PD 6662. Many insurers and police forces require approved installation. Ask which scheme each installer is in.
Grade 2 vs Grade 3 isn't just a number. It dictates panel, sensor, and signalling specifications. Confirm the grade with your insurer first, then make sure quotes are like-for-like against that grade.
PIR sensors can be specified to ignore animals up to a given weight. If you have pets, raise it early. Sensor selection and mounting height both matter.
A system that triggers two false alarms a week will end up ignored. Ask how the installer handles false alarms during commissioning, what the ARC's escalation procedure is, and whether video verification is offered to reduce false dispatches.
Most modern panels offer arm/disarm via a mobile app and integration with smart-home platforms. Confirm the installer will commission the app on your device and document the credentials before they leave.
Verified installers offering intruder alarm system installation.
Chelmsford, Essex
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Since 2014, based in the South East of England, including London, Essex, Kent, and Hertfordshire, we are a trusted, family run business comm…
View ProfileLiverpool, Childwall
SSAIB certificated and insurance approved Police registered family business with over 40 years experience.
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The grade rates how resistant the system is to a knowledgeable attacker. Grade 2 covers experienced opportunists; Grade 3 covers attackers with detailed system knowledge and specialist tools. The grade dictates everything from sensor anti-tamper requirements to dual-path signalling. Most domestic and small commercial systems are Grade 2; warehouses, jewellers, and other premises with high-value contents are usually Grade 3. Ask your insurer which they require.
Bells-only is a deterrent. When activated, the external sounder rings and any nearby people or neighbours hear it. Monitored systems also send a signal to an Alarm Receiving Centre that follows your escalation procedure (call you, dispatch keyholders, request police response if you have a URN). Monitoring adds a monthly fee but turns the alarm from a deterrent into an active response. See our Monitoring Services page for what's involved.
Yes, but the sensor selection and placement matter. PIRs can be specified to ignore movement below a certain weight (commonly 25 kg or 35 kg), and curtain or beam-shaped detectors can be used in stair voids where pets don't go. Mention pets at the survey stage so the installer can plan around them.
Police response requires a Unique Reference Number (URN) issued under ACPO/NPCC policy. Two confirmed activations at a monitored, professionally installed alarm system can earn a Level 1 response. Repeat false alarms can lose you the URN, which is why false-alarm management is critical. Your installer applies for the URN on your behalf as part of the install.
Usually yes, provided the installer is NSI- or SSAIB-approved and fits to the grade your insurer specifies. Ask for the certificate of installation (sometimes called a NACOSS or SSAIB certificate) and keep it with your policy documents.
Alarms work best alongside the wider security setup.
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