These include collection storage and other collection bearing areas and here we also establish an interior perimeter as well as interior motion zones. Inside the museum there are areas of greater risk than other areas. Of course, we use more detectors in galleries and collection bearing areas like storage and labs. Generally, we provide motion detection inside all glass windows, all doors, at elevator and stair doors and in high security areas. Since a break-in is not the only threat we face and someone could easily enter legally as a visitor and stay behind at night, we provide interior motion detection strategically throughout the building. Every opening must be secured including access from the basement, access to the roof via doors and skylights, and access from the sides including windows, doors and other openings like vents. The goal of alarm systems is to secure both the perimeter and the interior of the space. Alarm systems can also monitor any type of detector including temperature and humidity sensors, panic buttons, beams, etc. Impact detectors detect the impact against the glass and acoustic detectors are tuned to the sound of breaking glass and signal when they “hear” that frequency. Door contacts, almost always magnetic type, detect the opening of a door, and glass break sensors detect the breaking of glass. These detectors detect motion within the space and trigger the alarm. The most common detector is the infrared motion detector and many use detectors that work with multiple technologies such as infrared and microwaves in one detector. These systems can handle any type of detection device. Which is used depends upon the service available in the area but most use cellular. But because phone lines can be compromised, we generally back up the phone line using some form of cellular or radio system.

When set up to send a signal to a central station, this is done generally over phone lines. You can set them up to operate a printer, display a message on a keypad, sound a bell or siren, or send a signal to a central station. These systems annunciate in a number of ways. And while we call them alarm panels, they are really computer chip based systems that are really quite complex. While this means that the museum technically has two alarm systems, they can function as one system transparent to the user. Some institutions require more zones than a typical panel can provide so they use multiple alarm panels. Generally these panels divide the detectors into zones or partitions. Most alarm panels can handle a relatively large number of door contacts, motion detectors and other detection devices. A keypad is the means of interfacing with the panel and annunciating the alarms. With a panel based system, a control panel is installed in a closet or basement or elsewhere out of sight. Smaller museums and house museums often use panel based systems. Burglar alarm systems are generally divided into two types.

Museum security systems