False alarm vs unwanted alarms: The cost of crying wolf

Why unwanted alarms are security’s silent saboteur, by Gary Williams, Global Applications Director at GJD.

Detecting the web

In the dead of night, an alarm pierces the silence. Security teams scramble only to discover the culprit is a spider building its web across a camera lens. Sound familiar?

While technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, creating sophisticated detection systems that can identify threats with remarkable precision, there’s still one persistent headache for security professionals. Unwanted alarms.

False alarm vs unwanted alarms – the difference:

The terminology matters more than you might think.

Industry veterans often use “false alarm” and “unwanted / nuisance alarm” interchangeably, but understanding the distinction is important for addressing the root cause.

A false alarm occurs when security equipment malfunctions or wasn’t set up correctly, the device incorrectly reports an intrusion that never happened.

These are remarkably rare with quality equipment, regardless of brand.

An unwanted alarm, however, tells a different story. Here, the device is working exactly as designed, detecting movement or other triggers it was programmed to identify.

The problem? What it’s detecting isn’t a threat. A tree branch swaying in the wind or a cat prowling through the detection zone can both trigger these systems.

It is in fact, the science of ‘knowing the difference’, that separates the best security devices from the crowd.

GJD, a leader in external detector equipment, has a range of detectors that has exclusive algorithms that have been developed over 30 years to be able to detect what is a real threat and what isn’t.

Types of unwanted alarms

Walk into any security control room and you’ll hear war stories about the most unusual unwanted alarm triggers and in most cases, the underlying causes are surprisingly consistent across installations.

• Environmental factors top the list -Temperature fluctuations, humidity changes and air currents create a constantly shifting landscape that can confuse even sophisticated sensors
• Then there’s the human error element – The biggest culprit is often found in the initial setup and ongoing maintenance. A sensor positioned at the wrong angle, sensitivity settings that haven’t been fine-tuned for the specific environment or maintenance schedules that don’t account for changing seasonal conditions can all contribute to unwanted alarms
• Wildlife and domestic animals – Motion sensors can’t inherently distinguish between an intruder and a fox investigating the premises, especially if sensitivity levels are set too high for the environment. Even insects can repeatedly trigger the alarm because they are attracted to their infrared illumination (top tip: an external IR can usually mitigate this as the main heat source is now external to the camera)
• Cleanliness also plays a crucial role – Dust accumulation on sensors, spider webs across camera lenses or even the gradual buildup of environmental debris can transform a perfectly functioning system into an unreliable one

When security becomes its own worst enemy

The real danger of unwanted alarms isn’t just the immediate inconvenience; it’s the insidious way they fatigue individuals from checking alerts.

Confidence, is the foundation of any effective security system.

When alarms sound frequently for non-threatening causes, that foundation begins to crack.

Staff become sceptical to alerts, response times slow and in the worst cases, critical security protocols are simply ignored.

Alarm fatigue represents perhaps the most serious threat to security effectiveness.

Gary Williams, Global Applications Director at GJD, has witnessed this firsthand: “Over my career, I have been on countless site visits where the security team on site has turned off a troublesome detection device, whether that is a camera or a detector.

“This creates an obvious weakness in a company’s security. The reason is almost always the same: They were getting too many unwanted alarms.”

The business implications extend far beyond security concerns. Insurance policies often include specific requirements for functional security systems.

If an incident occurs in an area where security equipment has been disabled due to unwanted alarms, companies may find themselves in breach of policy, facing reduced payouts or in extreme cases, complete claim denials.

There’s also the hidden cost of disruption. Every false callout means technicians on-site, operations interrupted and productivity lost.

Even when service calls don’t incur additional charges under warranty agreements, the cumulative impact on business operations can be substantial.

Building systems hat work with, not against you

The good news is that unwanted alarms aren’t an inevitable part of security system ownership.

• Professional installation makes an enormous difference – Accredited installers – those certified by organisations like BSIA, SSAIB or NSI – bring expertise that goes far beyond simply mounting equipment and connecting wires. They conduct comprehensive site surveys, identifying potential sources of unwanted activations before installation begins
• Ongoing maintenance is equally critical – Unfortunately, this is often overlooked until problems arise. Regular system health checks, sensor cleaning and seasonal adjustments can prevent many unwanted alarm scenarios. Many installers offer initial warranty and service contracts that provide this ongoing support, an investment that typically pays for itself through reduced disruption and improved system reliability and something we highly recommend
• Equipment quality plays a fundamental role – Not all security devices are created equal and the cheapest option rarely proves economical in the long run. The best manufacturers invest heavily in intelligent algorithms and rigorously test every product

The path forward

Unwanted alarms don’t have to be an accepted part of security system ownership.

The technology exists to minimize them, the expertise is available to prevent them and the long-term benefits of addressing them properly far outweigh the initial investment required.

This article was originally published in the July edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.