Preventive Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance Testing

The testing performed as a part of a preventive maintenance check should approximate the testing performed during the original acceptance tests (see Chapters 32 and 33). If a local emergency services authority, such as the police department, monitors the system, they may require the system to be recertified each year and a “Certificate of Completion,” a NFPA form prescribed in NFPA 72, issued (although this is primarily for fire alarm systems, some communities also use it for security systems in general). Figure 34-1 shows the first page of the NFPA 72 Certificate of Completion. In some communities, the local fire or police service may reinspect the system, but only if a Certificate of Completion has been issued by the installing or recertifying contractor.

Figure 34-1: The Certificate of Completion prescribed by NFPA 72

Chapter Review

The prevention of false positives or false alarms should be one of the primary purposes of a regular maintenance and testing procedure. There are many causes for false alarms, including user errors, power or battery problems, misaligned or improperly placed sensors and contacts, sensors not configured for pets or children, malfunctioning detection devices, HVAC vents or air drafts that cause light objects to move, and setup configurations lost in the security panel. Most false alarms are caused by user errors and changes made to the home. Some municipalities require a home security system to be inspected and tested by a certified (licensed) technician no less than once a year, with some requiring semi-annual inspections and testing.

A security sensor or contact that is intermittently reporting false alarms may have power or continuity issues caused by cable or wire problems. A window or door contact that is even slightly misaligned may generate a false alarm even if the window or door is closed and locked. All doors and windows should be closed completely and locked before the alarm system is activated. Sensors and detectors incorrectly placed can also cause false alarms. Motion sensors should be configured to avoid alarm signals for small children and pets. The placement of objects in a secured room should take into consideration the location of HVAC vents or room fans.

When troubleshooting a home security system, you must first determine whether the problem is being caused by one of the four major areas of a security system: contacts, sensors, or detectors; the security system controller; wiring; or the interface to the telephone system.

A regular periodic program of preventive maintenance can assure the homeowners that their security system is properly functioning and reliable. The frequency of the preventive maintenance program should never be less than at least once annually, with quarterly or semi-annual programs at the discretion of the homeowner .

The advantages of periodic preventive maintenance on a home security system are: prevention of false alarms, fewer service or problem calls, desired changes implemented when needed; reliability of the system, manufacturer’s upgrades applied regularly, and potentials problems corrected before they cause the system to fail.

In compliance with NFPA 72 guidelines, a home security system must be tested at least once per year. If a local emergency services authority, such as the police or fire department, monitors the system, they may require the system to be recertified each year and a “Certificate of Completion” issued.

Questions

1. What is the primary performance and maintenance issue with a home security system?

   1. Corroding window contacts

   2. False alarms

   3. Dead batteries

   4. System programming

2. What is the cause of more than two- thirds of home security system false alarms?

   1. Faulty wiring

   2. Misaligned contacts

   3. System programming

   4. User error

3. Which of the following could be the cause of window or door contact generating false positives?

   1. Misalignment

   2. Corrosion

   3. Change in the shape or fit of the door or window

   4. Damage to the contact

   5. All of the above

4. Which one of the following is most likely the problem when a motion detector that is otherwise functioning properly does not sense someone entering the room where it is located?

   1. The lighting level is too low

   2. The opening door blocks the scanning field

   3. The sensor is set too high or too low

   4. Too many objects are in the room

5. Which of the following should be included in the troubleshooting process for a security system controller?

   1. Reload the controller’s backup

   2. Apply all manufacturer’s upgrades

   3. Test the system

   4. Disconnect all zone devices before troubleshooting the system controller

6. When troubleshooting NC contacts wired in series, what procedure should be used?

   1. Test all contacts in the series

   2. Disconnect all but the first contact and add the contacts back to the system one at a time

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      Disconnect all but the last contact and add the contacts back to the system one at a time

   4. NC contacts should be wired in parallel

7. Which of the following is a good troubleshooting technique for a suspected faulty contact or sensor?

   1. Disconnect the suspected device and retest the system

   2. Disconnect all but the suspected device and retest the system

   3. Replace the suspected device with a known-good device and retest

   4. Replace the suspected device immediately

8. When performing a visual inspection of contacts and sensors, which of the following should you be looking for?

   1. Corrosion

   2. Cleanliness

   3. Alignment

   4. Wiring

   5. All of the above

9. What is the national standard that governs the installation and testing of fire alarm systems?

   1. NEC 72

   2. IEEE 72

   3. NFPA 72

   4. EIA/TIA 72

10. When troubleshooting an RJ-31X connection, which of the following steps should be performed?

    1. Check jack and plug for damage

    2. Check continuity of wiring to security system controller

    3. Check continuity of wiring to telephone system

    4. Cause a security event from the control panel and verify the interior line has been seized by the system

    5. All of the above

    6. None of the above