Burglar Alarm Sirens Guide

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Ari Erenthal
Published Mar 27, 2017 14:15 PM

Sirens are used to alert users to an alarm condition. In this note, we examine how to choose, locate, and install alarm sirens, including

  • Siren versus speaker
  • Form factors - surface mount, flush mount, horns, self contained sirens, armored sirens
  • Acoustics
  • Notification placement
  • Power
  • Siren tones
  • Siren drivers
  • Bell supervision

Sirens ****** ********

* ******* ** * ****** **** reproduces * ***** **** ** ** ******** with *****. 

  • ******* ** **** ********* ***** *** ******
  • ******* ***** *************
  • *******
  • **** *********
  • *** ** ****
  • ******** ***** ***** *******

* ***** ** * ****** **** produces *** *** ******, ******* **** a ***** ** ***** ******. 

  • ** **** ******* ** *** ** two *****
  • ********** **** ***** *****
  • ******
  • **** *********
  • ******
  • **** *** ******* ***** ******

**** **** *** ***** ******** ***** ** *** the ***** '*****', '*******', '****', *** 'sounder' ***************.

Siren **** *******

****** *** ******** **** **** ** weatherproof *** *** ************ **** *******. Sirens intended *** ****** *** *** ***** smaller *** *******. 

******

****** ****** **** ** ******* ***** and ***** *****. ********** **** ** prefer *** ******* *****, ******* **** are **** ****** *** **** ****** to *******. *********** ********* ***** ****** flushmount ******, ******* **** *** **** obtrusive. ********** **** ******* *********** ** ***** may **** ** ***** ***** ***** sirens ** ***** *********** ********* ** a *** ** *************** ********** **** lower **** ************ *********. ********** ********* are ***** ******* ** **** * surface ***** *****.

******* ***** ****** *** ** ********* quickly *** ******. ***** ****** ********* have * ********* **** * ******** for * **** ** *** *****. A ********** ****** ****** * **** for *** ******* ****, ****** *** hole **** *** *********, ***** *** connections, **** *** ******* ** *** backplate, *** ******* ** **** * setscrew. **** ******** *** *********, *********** should ** **** **** ** ***** it *** ***** ** *** *******, as ******* ***** ****** ******** **** ** from *** ***. 

******* ***** ****** ****** *** ** mounted ** ***** ** **** ******** environments. 

********** ****** *** ******* ** ******* mount ******, ****** **** **** * grill ******* **** *** ******* ******* of * ******* ******* ******** *** entire ********. ******* ** * *********, technicians *** * **** ** *** drywall ** *********** *** *******. *** faceplate **** ******** **** **** ***** holes, ***** *** **** ******* ** a **** *****.

********** ****** *** *********** ** ******* because *** **** **** ** *** precisely, *** ******* ** *** ***** is ******* *******, ** ****** ** ************ afterwards. *******, ** ******** *********, ** is *** **** ********* **** * surface ***** *******.

*******

******* ****** **** ** ****, **** contained, *** *******:

  • ***** ****** ** **** ** ********* over * ***** ****, ** **** the ******* ***** ** ** *********.
  • **** ********* ****** ****** ** **** when ********** *** ***** *** ** the ******, ** ***** ************* **** makes ********* ********.
  • ******* ****** ****** ** **** **** extreme ********* ** ******, ** ***** insect *********** ** ********.

***** ***** *** * **** ******** chosen ** **********, *** ** ***** ease *** *********** ** ************ *** their **** *****. *** ****** **** shape ** *** **** ****** ** to **** ***** ***** *** ** a **** ***, ******** **** ***** of ******* ** ***** * **** large ****. ****** ******* (**) ******* commonly *** *****, ** ** ********** systems. ********** ******** *** ***** ** cover *****, **** *****, **** ** warehouses. **** ***** ***** *** ******* proof. 

**** ********** ****** ** ***** **** unfinished ******, ********** ********* ***** *** **** inside *** *****, **** *** ****, facing ********, ** **** *** **** can ** ***** *******. ** *** be *********** ** ***** * ***** to vinyl ** **** ******* ******, ** this ****** *** ******** ************. **** jurisdictions **** ***** ********** ***** ****** sirens ** *** ******* ** *****, and ******** * ***** ** ** attic **** *** **** *** ** the **** *** ** ********* * siren ***** ******* *** ****. 

**** ********* ****** *** **** ****** that **** *** ******* ** * stainless ***** ***. ********** ******** ****** these **** *** ***** **** ** installed close ** *** ******, ****** ********* a *******. **** *** ********** *********** and ******* * *******, ****** **** simple ** *******. 

**** **** ********* ****** ******* * tamper ******, ***** **** ***** *** alarm ** **** ** ** ********* tries ** **** *** *** ** order ** ******* *** *****. **** **** contained ****** ******* *** ****** ********, one *** *** ***** *** ******* for *** ****, ***** **** **** if ** ********* ***** ** *** the ***** *** *** ****. **** using * ***** **** * ******, installers **** *** *** ****-**** *** the ***** *** ******* *** *** tamper ****** ****. 

**** ********** ****** ** ******* ****** ******** to ** **-**** *****. ** **** zones *** ***** **** **** ** alarm ****** *** ******* *** ***** even **** *** ***** ** ********. If *** ****** ** ** * 24-hour ****, ********** ****** ******** ****, ****** on * **** ****** *** *****, on *** **** ***, ** ******* on *** ****** **** ** *** *****. Otherwise, * ********** ********* *** ****** will *** **** ** ******* *** zone *** *** *** ***** ** test. ** * ********** ***** ** service *** ***** ******* ********* *** 24 **** ****, *** ***** **** blast **** ** *** **** ** soon ** **** **** ** **, which *** ******* **** **** ******* off *** ******.  

*** ********* ********* ***** ***** *** installation ** * **** ********* *****, and *** **** ** ****** ** to *********: 

** ******* **** ** * ***** that ** ****** *** ****** ********* without ******* * ***. ** ** even ****** ** ****** **** * self ********* *****. ** ** **** much **** ****** ** ******* ******* as ***** ** ** ***** *** them ** **** * ****. ***** sirens *** ************* ******* **** **** contained ******, *** *** ********* **** more ********* ** *******. ******* ****** typically ******* * **** ******, ** detect ******, *** *** * ***** tamper. ********** ******** ****** ******* ****** for ********* ***** ********* *** ********** attacks *** ** ** ********. ******* sirens ****** ******* ** ******* ** *****, cement, ** *********** *****, ** ***** walls *** ******* *** ****** ** an ******* ***** **** ******. 

*********

****** ****** ** ******* ********** *** entire ******** ***** *********, ** ***** to ***** *** ********* ** ** alarm *****. *** ******** *********** **** affect *** *** *** *** *** sound **** **** *** ***** *******, which **** ****** *** *** **** the ***** *** ** *****. *** amount, ****, *** **** ***** ** the ***** **** ****** ***** *************. 

Sound ********* *********

**** ********* **** ****** *****, ********** the ******** ** ***** *** ***** is *********. ****** ********* **** ****** sound *******:

  • ******
  • ****** *******
  • ******* *****
  • ****
  • **********
  • ******* ********
  • ********** **** **********
  • *** ********

Sound ********** *********

***** ********* **** ******* *****, *********** the ******** ** ***** *** ***** is effective. ****** ********* **** ******* ***** *******:

  • ******
  • *********
  • *****
  • ******
  • ********* 
  • *******

Siren *********

****** **** *** ****** ** ** sure **** **** *** ** ******* heard ********** *** *****. ****** **** be ******* ** ******** **** **** the ***** ******. 

****** ***** **** **** ******** ****** are ********* ******. * ****** ***** mounted ***** ***** ********* ** ***** ********** the ***** *** ****** *****, ****** the **** ** ********** ******** ****** for **** ******. 

** *** ***** ***** ******* **** ceilings, *** **** ****** *** ** achieved ** ******** *** ******* ** the ********* **** *** *******.

********** ********* ***** ****** ****** ******** garages, ******* **** *** ****** **********, customers ** *** ******* *********** **** the ***** ****** ***** **** ******* in *******, *** ******* ********* ****** to *** **** ** ****** ******** in ***** *****. *******, ** ******** ****** is ********* *** **** ********* **** ** the *****, ********** ******** ** ******* the ***** *** ****** ******** ** vehicles **** ******** *** **** ** the ****. *********, *** ****** ** sirens ** *** ****** ***** **** a ********* **** *********** *** **** of *** ****. 

 

Siren *****

**** ************* ******* ** ***** *** different ***** ** ***** *****. **** allows users ** *********** ******* ** ********* *****, during ***** **** ****** ****** **** or ****, *** * **** *****, ****** which **** ****** ******** *** ********. 

**** ** ****** ***** ************ * common **** ** ***-**** *****. *** first **** ** ************, *** ** ******** **** *** intrusion. *** ****** **** ** ************, *** ** ******** **** *** evacuation, **** ** ***** *** ****** dioxide. ****** ***** *** ****** ** your ******** ** ********** ****** ******** play. 

 

*** ********** ** ** ****** **** alarms, **** ************* ******* ********** ************ be * ******** **** ***** ** T-3, ******** *, ** **** *. Depending ** *** ************* ** *** job, **** ***** *** *** ****** on ****** ******** ****** ******* ** generating *-* *****.

**** ***** ***** ************ * ********** fire ***** ****** ***** ********** *** T-3 ****. **** ***** *** ** integrated ******, ** *** ******* ** you *** ********* ** ****** ***** changes. ****** ***** *** ****** ** your ******** ** ********** ****** ******** play.

***** 

*** *** **** ******* **** ** rate ***** *********** *** ******** *** watts. *** ***** **** ******* **** to ****** ***** ******* ****** ****** is *******, *******, *** **********. 

********, ** **, ** * ******* of ********. ****** ************ ** ******* ***** 60dB. ******* ******** ** **** *** is ***** *****, ***** ** **** most ****** ***** ****** *** ***** at. * **** ******** **** ****** *** sound ******. 

******* ***** *********** ** ******** ** watts, ** *. **** ** *** much ***** *** ******* ******** ** run ** ***** ** ****** **** volume. ** ***** *****, * ***** siren ******* **** **** ****** ***** if ***** ***. *** **** *****, the ***** *** ****** ** *** speaker. *** **** *****, *** ****** the *******.  

******** **** **** *** ******* *******: nominal, ***** ** *** ******* *** speaker *** *** ** **** **** without ********** ******, *** ****, ***** is *** ******* ******* *** ******* can ****** ******* ******* ***. ***** exceed *** **** ******* ** ************ the *******. ** * ****** **** is ********, ******* *** *******. ********, the ******* ****** ** *** **** power *** ******* *** ******, *** how **** ***** ** **** ******!  

Siren *******

**** ***********, ** ** **** ********* *** the ***** ***** ** ****** *** proper ******* ** *** ***** ****** of ***** *******. **** ** ******* a ***** *** ********* ****** **** creates *** ******** ****.

**** ***** ********, ** ** ********* to *** * *****, ****** * siren ******, **** ** ***** *** speaker *** ** ****** *** **** of ***** ********. ***** ****** *** powered ** *** ***** ****** ******** by *** ***** *****. **** ***** panels **** *****-** ***** *******, ******** installers ** *** ****** ****** ** speakers *** * ********** ***, ********* on ************. 

****** *** ******** **** **** *** voltage ***********, ***** ** *** ******** at ***** *** *********** *****. ** is ***** *******, ***** **** *** ****** *. Most ****** *** ******** *** ***** between ** ** ***.

****** *** ******** **** **** ******* requirement, ***** ** *** **** ** ***** the *********** *****. ******* ** ***** in******* ** ****, ***** **** *** ****** *. Amps *** ***** **** ***********, ***** uses *** ****** **, ** *********. Many ******** ******* **** ** ***** ******** ** an *** ** ***- **** **, 500mA ** *****. ****** ******* **** more *******, ***** **** **** **.  

********** ** ******** **** ******* *******, which ** ** ***, ***** *** pressure ** ***** *********** *****. ********** is ******** ******, ***** **** *** ****** Ω. Speakers *** ****** *** * ******* amount ** ********** ** *** *******, which ******* *** ****** ** ******* available ** **. *Ω *** *Ω ratings *** *** **** ******. 

******* ******** *** ********* *******, *** because **** **** ************* **** ******* than ******, ** ** ***** ******* to *** ******** **** * *** calls *** ******** *****, ****** *** to *** **** ** *** ********* area ** ******* ** ********** ***** from *********. ***** ******* *** ********* very *** ****, ***** ********* *** ~$10 *** ** ****. *******, ****** are ********* **** ******** *** ********* louder.  

Siren ******

**** ********** ******** ****** ** ******** to ** *****, ********** **** ********* the ******** ******* (*** ******) ** required. ****** **** ****** * ******** amount of ***** *** ******, ***** **** be ****** ***** *** *** ******. Siren ******* **** ****** * ******** amount ** *******, *** ***** ******* on *** ******* **** **** **********. 

** *** ***** ****** ** ********** being ********* ** *** ******** ******* the ******* ****** ********* ** *** ******, the ******* **** ** ******** ** such * *** ** ** ****** that **********. **** ****** ******* ** ******, with ***** ****** ***** ************ ********* ** the *** ****, ***** ****** **** its ********** ** *** ****. **** wiring ** ********, *******, ***** ****** lowers *** ****** ** ***** **********. That ** ******* ******** **** **** pathways *** *** ******* ** **** while ****** ***** ******** *******, ***** series ******* *** ******** ********* ***** making **** ******.  

Bell ***********

******* ****** *** ***** ******* ******* *** building, ********* ***** ******* ** ********** them ****** ********** ** **** ***** to *** ********* ****. ***** **** sirens *** ****** ******** ** ****** or ****** **** *** ** ***** tamper ********, ** ** *********** ** protect *** **** ** ****. ***** ****** are ******* ** ********* *** ****** of ********** ** * ********** *******. By ******** **** ***** ** * specific ****** ** ********** ** * circuit, *** ***** *** ** ********** to **** * "*******" ****** ** the **** ** ******* ** ***. ***** many ****** ***** *** ********** ** disable *** **** *********** *******, ** is **** ******** ** *** **. 

**** ***** *********** ******* **** *********** because ******** *********** ******** *********** ********* and **** ***** ************. ** ********, supervision ******** *** ********** ** ****** resistance ** *** *******. ** ** that, ** *** (***-**-****) ******** **** be *************** *** ****** *** **** *******. ******** *** which *******, *******, ** ** *** end ** *** **** ** *** real *********. *********** ****** ** **** to ******** ***** ******* ** *** end ** *** ****. ** **** was *** **********, ***** * ********** to ******* *** ********** ** *** siren ***** *** ******* **** *********** recreate * ****** ***.

**** ****** ****** ** ********, **** supervision ****** ** **** ** *** splices *** ***** ** ** **** in *** ***** *****, ** ***** is ** "*** ** *** ****". Therefore, ****** ****** ****** ** ***** in * ***** ***** *******, **** if *** ****** **** ********** ** wired ** ** ********.  

Comments (4)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Mar 27, 2017

One thing to add (I may have missed it) is that if you want to sync all of your sounders you would need to use speakers with a siren driver.  I haven't read anything that required the intrusion to sync but have had customers request it after they heard two sirens going off in a home.

(1)
(2)
Avatar
Ari Erenthal
Mar 27, 2017

Good point, UD1! Syncing usually isn't required for intrusion (unlike for fire, where it is), but if you do need/want to sync, you have to do with with a siren driver. 

Avatar
Paul Curran
Mar 28, 2017

Of course there are digital "bus / network" sirens. These use RS485 to communicate. Risco and Orisec use this to effect as do some others :)

(1)
Avatar
Ari Erenthal
Mar 31, 2017

Thanks, Paul. I just checked it out. Seems like a real unique product concept. I'll have to learn more. 

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