A business’ fire safety and security are critical to its every day running and overall success. Although security and fire safety measures such as alarms and cameras are beneficial, what happens when these are triggered out of hours or when it’s a false alarm? That’s where the work of an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) comes in. Keep reading to discover how an Alarm Receiving Centre works and discover how it could benefit your business and clients.
What is an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC)?
An alarm receiving centre (ARC) is a facility that monitors an array of systems, from fire alarms, CCTV cameras to access control. The ARC is made up of a team of monitoring operatives, who are highly trained and monitor all systems 24/7, 365 days a year. These operatives receive a signal when an alarm is triggered and quickly action the appropriate response, if necessary. For example, the authorities, fire brigade and or the account holder.
The core purpose of an ARC is to act as the first line of defence and verification, bridging the gap between an alarm activation and the deployment of emergency services. This verification process is crucial, particularly for police response, as false alarms can lead to resources being wasted. For commercial properties, where the risk of disruption is high, the quick action from an ARC can minimise loss.
For instance, while overall police recorded burglary offences in England and Wales are currently showing a long-term downward trend, specific crime types like robbery of business property have actually increased by 55% year-on-year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. This highlights the persistent need for robust, professionally monitored security. The ARC’s immediate intervention is what makes the difference between a simple alarm sound and a coordinated, swift response.
What can an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) monitor?
An ARC can monitor more than just alarm triggers. Although this is a crucial part of their operations, ARCs can also monitor systems for faults and false alarms. This extends to a wide range of devices beyond traditional security, including fridge and freezer monitoring for the restaurant and catering sectors, and EV charge point monitoring for commercial sites, showcasing the versatility of modern remote monitoring.
By monitoring for system faults, an ARC can identify issues and areas that could compromise site and staff safety and security. The majority of the time, these will be able to be fixed remotely by the ARC, meaning the client won’t need to pay for an engineer call out or waste valuable staff time waiting for the fix to be made. This proactive approach ensures system uptime and continuous protection, a feature particularly valued in office environments and other major commercial sectors.
False alarms are also something an ARC can monitor, identify and control. This will not only reduce the overall occurrence of false alarms but will prevent unwanted costs, emergency service call-outs, staff waiting time and system downtime. The use of advanced video analytics and AI in video surveillance is becoming increasingly effective in helping ARCs distinguish between genuine threats and environmental triggers, as we’ve discussed in a separate blog post. This is a vital service, as excessive false alarms can result in local police forces withdrawing their response entirely, leaving the business unprotected. An accredited ARC, such as one with NSI Gold approval, adheres to the highest operational standards, which is often a prerequisite for key holder and police response.
What happens when an ARC receive alarms?
When an alarm is triggered it will send a signal to the Alarm Receiving Centre and this will be viewed by the team of monitoring operatives. The process involves a structured protocol to ensure no genuine alarm is missed. Depending on the alarm type—whether it’s an intruder alert, fire signal, or even a technical fault—the operative follows a pre-agreed escalation procedure.
If the signal is received during the client’s working hours, a monitoring operative will immediately contact the key holder of the site to inform them of the activation and confirm it is not a false alarm. If confirmed to be a true trigger, the operative will initiate the most appropriate response for the situation. This initial contact is part of the verification process, aiming to resolve an alarm without engaging emergency services if it’s a known cause, such as a member of staff entering a secure area late.
If the signal is received out of the client’s working hours, it is assumed to not be a false alarm unless quickly disproved via CCTV video verification. Therefore, the operative will action an immediate response most appropriate to the situation trigger. This might involve an audio challenge through loudspeakers on site or immediate contact with an out-of-hours call handling team, ensuring a rapid escalation path when staff are not present.
How do ARCs respond?
Multiple types of response that can be actioned by an ARC, dependent on the situation as well as what has been previously agreed with the client. Types of response can include: The police, fire brigade, an audio challenge, contacting the nominated key holder or the ARCs own response team. For example, in manufacturing and waste recycling sectors, a live audio challenge from an ARC can often deter an intruder before they even gain access, providing a proactive form of intruder monitoring.
Whichever response is chosen by the operative, it is actioned almost instantly to provide the fastest response possible to sort the issue, whether that be catching the intruder or putting out a fire. The speed of response is critical, especially when considering the significant financial damage and business disruption caused by fires. While the number of fire incidents in non-dwelling buildings varies regionally, the cost of fire to UK businesses is measured in billions of pounds annually, making a swift, professional fire brigade call-out invaluable. This rapid response is a core reason why professional alarm monitoring significantly improves site security and operational continuity, as explored in detail in our complete intruder alarm monitoring guide.
The Unseen Value: Beyond Alarms
The function of an ARC extends beyond immediate emergency response. By providing comprehensive security monitoring, they also act as a central hub for business intelligence. Monitoring data on alarm patterns, fault frequencies, and system performance provides facility managers with actionable insights into potential security vulnerabilities or maintenance issues. This proactive maintenance support is vital for large, complex sites such as student accommodation or extensive retail parks, ensuring systems remain compliant and effective year-round.
Furthermore, an ARC plays a crucial role in managing the safety of individuals, not just assets. Services such as lone worker monitoring mean that staff working out-of-hours or in high-risk environments, like construction sites, have a direct and immediate line to professional help. This commitment to both asset security and personnel safety demonstrates the multi-faceted benefits of a modern Alarm Receiving Centre, helping businesses meet their duty of care responsibilities while protecting their bottom line.
How can Remote Monitoring Services (RMS) help?
At RMS, we are a 24/7 ARC facility that provides fire and security alarm system monitoring for installers across the UK with exceptional customer service. We are fully NSI Gold approved, which means our operations meet the highest standards set by the National Security Inspectorate, providing a level of assurance often required by insurers and police forces. We provide reliable and fully bespoke monitoring solutions to give you and your customers full peace of mind.
By responding rapidly to system triggers, identifying and remotely fixing system faults as well as reducing false alarms, we help to improve business productivity and efficiency by reducing overall costs, time and compromised security from system downtime. Our commitment to reliable monitoring is backed by our use of redundant systems and backup protocols, a topic we cover in our guide on how backup protocols are key for remote monitoring.
Find out more about us and how we can help you. Contact us for a free quote today.
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