When most people think about alarm monitoring, they imagine someone sitting at a desk watching a screen. The reality is more sophisticated - and the quality of that chain has a direct impact on how well your property is protected.
What is an ARC?
An Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) is a secure, staffed facility that receives signals from alarm systems 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When your alarm activates, it sends a signal to the ARC within seconds. Trained operators then verify the activation and take the appropriate action - whether that's calling you, dispatching a keyholding response, or contacting the police.
Not all ARCs are equal. For your monitoring to be taken seriously by insurers and police, the ARC must be approved to BS 5979 Category II and hold NSI or SSAIB approval. At Security 4 Wales, we connect your system to an NSI-approved ARC that meets these requirements.
How does the signal get from your alarm to the ARC?
This is where signalling path matters. There are several ways a signal can be transmitted:
- Broadband (IP) - Your alarm panel connects via your internet connection. Fast and reliable, but vulnerable if the broadband line is cut.
- Mobile/cellular (GSM/4G) - The panel uses a SIM card to communicate over the mobile network. Works even if your phone line or broadband is cut.
- Dual-path signalling - Uses both broadband and cellular simultaneously. If one path fails, the other takes over automatically. This is the gold standard for residential and commercial monitoring.
Why dual-path matters
Single-path signalling has a critical weakness: if a burglar cuts your phone line or broadband cable before forcing entry, your alarm may activate locally (bell box sounding) but fail to signal the ARC. Dual-path signalling eliminates this vulnerability - the cellular path operates independently of your fixed-line infrastructure.
For most commercial premises and any residential customer requiring police response, we recommend dual-path signalling as standard. The cost difference is modest; the security benefit is significant.
What happens when your alarm triggers?
Here's a typical sequence of events with a professionally monitored dual-path system:
- Alarm activates - sensors detect intrusion and signal the panel
- Panel sends signal to ARC via both broadband and cellular (within seconds)
- ARC operator receives alert and checks your account for instructions
- Operator attempts to contact you (and your nominated keyholders) in order
- If contact cannot be made or a confirmed activation is established, operator dispatches police (if URN held) and/or keyholding response
- You receive a call/message confirming what action was taken
Confirmed alarm activation and police response
Most UK police forces now require a confirmed alarm before responding - this typically means two independent signals indicating a genuine intrusion, such as two detector activations or a detector activation combined with CCTV visual confirmation. This policy (governed by BS 8243) was introduced to reduce false alarm responses.
If you want police response capability, your system design needs to take confirmed alarm requirements into account from the start. We build this into every monitored system we design.
Keyholding response
For commercial premises where no one lives on site, a keyholding service provides a manned response when your alarm activates. A trained response officer holds a key to your premises and will attend within a specified time - typically 20–40 minutes depending on your location. We can arrange keyholding services alongside your monitoring contract.
How much does monitoring cost?
Monitoring costs vary depending on the level of service, signalling path and contract length. Typical residential monitoring starts from around £15–£25 per month. Commercial monitoring with dual-path signalling and keyholding typically ranges from £30–£60 per month. We'll provide a clear, itemised quote during your free survey.