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Alarm Monitoring Terminology

Account Number or System Number
This is the number used to identify your system or building at the central station. Your system or account number is typically posted on the inside door of your main control panel. This number helps the operators identify your system. Note this is not the same number as your billing account number shown on invoices.

1 (800) 774-9099

24 Hour Central Station ______________________

System Account ____________________________

On-Test
Ask the operators to put your system on-test This means that no dispatches will be made for the period of time you specify. Putting your system on test is a clearer direction for our operators than asking them to disregard or ignore the alarm signals. Often an alarm signal will be sent more than once and although the first signal is disregarded subsequent signals may be dispatched on if verbal instructions are vague or unclear.

Central Station
The business office where your alarm signals are transmitted to and dispatching police and fire departments is made from.

Operator
The person who responds to your systems signals and calls you and the authorities during an alarm or trouble condition.

Subscriber’s Contact List
Those you would like called in the event of an alarm if there is no answer on site (i.e. yourself at work, close relative, neighbor, owner, manager, maintenance supervisor).

Passcard/Password
Your secret number or word used to identify you at the central station.

Passcard List
This is a listing of people with a secret number or word used to identify them at the central station. People who use the system regularly and/or people you would like able to abort alarms on the system. You may have one password for everyone or each person may have his or her own.

Trouble Condition or Signal
Your system is reporting a non-alarm abnormality that needs your attention or a service call request to investigate. Some panels and keypads also buzz or beep locally when a trouble condition exists. This is best described as a trouble condition, not my alarm is going off.

Alarm Condition or Signal
The system is in alarm; bells, sirens or horns are ringing loudly. Not to be confused with a trouble condition, which is simply a buzzing or beeping at the panel or keypad.

Low Battery
Your system is reporting a non-alarm abnormality that needs your attention or a service call request to investigate.