Monitoring Services

Security guard in monitoring centre using handheld radio and controlling CCTV cameras

Security & Safety Monitoring Services

EDS employ one of the largest and most secure control centres in the UK, approved to BS5979, ISO 9000, LPS, ACPO, NSI/NACOSS standards.

Our control centre is constructed to BS5979 standard with 12” thick concrete walls and an airlock door facility into and out of the control room, making it virtually impregnable. The centre also has back-up power generators, gas detection monitoring and positive air pressure to prevent gassing the control room, as well as intrusion and perimeter protection systems all backed up by CCTV, connected by a dedicated Police link.

• Monitors your Premises 24hrs a Day
• Dedicated Monitoring Facility
• Secure Airlock Doors Access
• Peace of Mind Security
• Highly Trained Operators
• 12” Thick Concrete Walls

Security & Safety Monitoring Services

The control centre can monitor virtually any type or format of alarm condition and react quickly to deal with the incident. Guaranteeing rapid response within moments of an alarm condition, the appropriate emergency response will be implemented by a trained operator.

We provide total system monitoring for intruder alarms, fire alarm systems, Building Management Systems (BMS), CCTV, access control, freezers, boilers, plant and other equipment, all linked to the control centre via a national communications network.

Wall mounted CCTV camera in public space
The Control Centre Intruder & Fire Alarm Remote Site Flood Water Detection Server/Plant Monitoring Monitoring Equipment

The Control Centre

The control centre is able to receive information from various networks, including telephone line, fibre optic cables, microwave, infra-red, wireless and remote satellite links, Global Positioning System (GPS). Whatever the future transmission protocols and technologies, the control centre can be adapted. Full statistical reports are available from EDS to obtain the up to the minute status report of your system from wherever you are on the globe.

We can provid open, closing, alarm reporting, persons using the system down to locating a person within your facility. All operational 24 hours a day, every day.

The control centre handles all out of hours calls, dealing with all types of response calls from break-ins, fires, floods and other emergency situations.

Two security guards watching CCTV footage in a control room

Intruder & Fire Alarm Monitoring

EDS intruder alarm and fire alarm system monitoring provides peace of mind knowing that your property is being protected 24 hours a day, our monitoring centre is fully endorsed by UK’s leading insurers, all UK police, fire, ambulance and medical services and associated agencies.

Upon activation of the alarm system or device our highly skilled, trained and dedicated operators respond to activations and will alert the emergency services to attend and act according to the pre-planned action plan. We have the ability to interact, respond and control all levels of access to your premises such as deliveries and staff or customer enquiries.

Nominated keyholders will be contacted as the next point of contact to ensure that the relevant persons are informed of the incident and respond accordingly. A security guarding company can be nominated to attend your premises, providing peace of mind knowing that someone will always be available 24 hours a day, ensuring your property is secured.

Man using walkie talkie to respond to an alert on his CCTV monitoring station

CCTV Camera Remote Site Monitoring

Remote Site Monitoring (RSM) is unlike any other form of security system available today and is your first line of defence to securing your property, reducing the effects of any potential threats through immediate action and providing an effective crime deterrent tool.

One of the unique ways this service works is that it detects pre-intrusion alarms to the perimeter of the grounds before the intruder has penetrated the building, therefore preventing any physical damage and without the upset it brings. By providing a visual “window of your world” we are able to sustain your police calling capabilities by visually verifying the site conditions. Without these, the police response would be withdrawn.

Utilising the latest in communication technology, RSM is both more advanced and more cost effective than manned security guarding for single or multiple sites. The service does not rely on guards to alert the security services or police authorities. It uses totally reliable detection methods, utilising a combination of CCTV, intruder alarms and perimeter detection. RSM is able to identify quickly and respond to alerts and activations 24 hours a day, using the latest technology to secure your premises, wherever it is on the globe. By being a remote service it also reduces the possibility of collusion and attacks to local on-site security guards.

CCTV images are generally recorded locally, with live real-time information being transmitted to our monitoring centre, where our highly skilled and trained operators are able to differentiate between false alarms and real activations. We can reduce the number of potential false call outs and can act accordingly to the information received. Our approved hotline links to all UK police command centres mean that if your site is attacked, our trained operators can liaise quickly and efficiently with the police.

By employing highly reliable detection methods, within moments of an incident the control centre operators are informed of the event and can see exactly what is occurring on site. EDS technology allows your CCTV system to be linked to audio speakers, microphones and intercom systems around your premises. This enables our operators to communicate with your site to give warning that police or security personnel are in attendance and ward off a possible attempted entry by intruders.

Or on the other hand RSM can provide assistance to visitors, customers or simple logistics for deliveries and stock control, acting as if we were on site, without the need for your site to be manned. Virtually any technology can be controlled from our monitoring centre. This includes operation of CCTV, intruder alarm and fire alarm systems, gates, barriers, roller shutters, doors, lighting and sounders. Where the need arises we can check in people at a gatehouse, which can be carried out remotely via an access control system linked to your remote networks, providing total automation and an excellent return on your investment.

Remote monitoring can be linked to new or existing systems. With the installation of our site communicator and additional detection equipment, your site can be protected within a matter of hours.

Security guard in CCTV monitoring centre using phone

Flood Water Detection & Monitoring

Water damage costs insurance companies and businesses millions of pounds every year.

Flood manager provides an early warning to the threat of flood, and helps you protect your business against damage from river water, burst pipes and leaking equipment. Every extra second of notice allows you to minimise damage by shutting off water supplies or putting flood defence systems in place.

Water sensors are situated in and around your premises and are triggered when submerged, but not by rainfall or splashing. You can cover multiple properties and position the inexpensive sensors wherever they are required.

If water is detected, you and your key staff are alerted instantly by text message, a phone call to their home or work, and an email.

Flooded building with flood water covering the ground

Server Room & Plant Monitoring

By linking on site environmental monitoring sensors and control equipment to our monitoring centre, we can protect your server room or plant room against overheating, power failure, air conditioning failure and more. Monitoring for these environmental factors could save you thousands of pounds if anything were to happen.

The sensors link directly to on-site control equipment and would raise a local alarm in the first instance in cases where the premises are occupied. Out of hours or at any other time as specified by you, the system would connect to our monitoring centre and inform the relevant people or emergency services if it detects any abnormal status.

The alert process ensures your key personnel are notified, and that the alarm is acted on. This is monitored by an acknowledgement process requiring your staff to respond to any alert messages they receive, providing you with peace of mind for all eventualities.

Man walking in large plant room

Monitoring Equipment

Digital Communicator, DualCom, RedCare
BT Redcare continuously monitors the telephone line integrity, detecting line cuts and faults within seconds. It therefore represents a major security enhancement, which is fully endorsed by leading UK insurers. BT Redcare also reduces your signalling costs because it does not generate call charges, nor does it require a dedicated telephone line.

BT Redcare uses non-dialling technology, which is not interrupted by normal telephone usage, nor is it dependent on the line number, and is completely unaffected by any future telephone code changes.

The Redcare network is continuously in contact with your premises to ensure telephone line integrity is maintained. Redcare equipment, located in the BT exchange, immediately detects any loss of signal. If there is a line fault or the line is cut, Redcare checks to confirm that communication has genuinely failed, thereby reducing the risk of false alarms. If a response is not received, then the EDS alarm receiving centre is immediately alerted.

In the event of a genuine alarm signal, Redcare identifies which alarm signal is affected. The alarm signals are then transmitted to the EDS alarm receiving centre, where operators follow an agreed action plan by contacting the relevant emergency services and the specified keyholders. Redcare GSM is a Redcare connection with a GSM radio back-up path similar to that of a mobile phone, enabling your alarm system to be monitored by radio as well as via an existing BT line. By adding the GSM network your premises are monitored through two completely separate signalling paths. If one path fails, or is interrupted, then the other informs the EDS alarm receiving centre immediately, and continues to monitor any subsequent alarms.

If the GSM interface device loses contact with the GSM network, an alarm is transmitted to the EDS alarm receiving centre using the BT line. This means that with Redcare GSM, alarms can be signalled via both BT line and radio paths. Some burglars, vandals or arsonists first cut your telephone lines to try and prevent the intruder or fire alarm signal reaching the EDS alarm receiving centre. Redcare has a wide range of applications including commercial, industrial, government and residential. Redcare provides maximum protection against intruders, fire and monitoring of critical plant and machinery systems.

Digital Communicator
The digital communicator is securely located within the protected premises and connected to a standard telephone that links the alarm system with the control centre. The connection is made by dialling a dedicated number and transmitting a high speed coded message. This data provides specific details of the alarm type, location and identity of the premises. A communicator has up to eight independent signalling channels with an additional channel for reporting a test message or a low battery condition. The transmitted message enables the alarm receiving centre to identify the type of alarm condition, whether it’s a personal attack, intruder, fire or medical alert.

Once the message has been clearly displayed at the control centre, an acknowledgement signal is generated to inform the digital communicator of successful transmission. If the signal is not received at the alarm receiving centre the communicator will re-dial the number.

The presence of the telephone line is monitored continuously, providing an early indication of line faults on the control unit at the customer’s premises. EDS provides a monitoring service covering a wide variety of applications including fire alarms, personal attack alarms, intruder alarms, opening and closing of premises, and the malfunctions of equipment such as refrigeration plants and air conditioning systems.

Man holding BT Redcare signalling device