Property owners urged to remain vigilant with the return of load-shedding
JOBURG – Home and business owners must sure that their alarm and security systems are tested regularly and in good condition.
Home owners are urged to remain vigilant and ensure that their alarm systems are in full operation as the risk of more load-shedding increases.
According to private security firm Fidelity ADT the return of rotational load-shedding means that home and business owners need to make sure that their alarm and security systems are in good condition and tested regularly.
National marketing and communications manager Charnel Hattingh added that these tests need to particularly focus on the battery backup systems to ensure that it will still offer monitoring and protection during a loss of electricity.
“Many people are under the incorrect assumption that their alarm system is deactivated when the power supply is interrupted. However, if you have a stable and correctly programmed system coupled with a battery that is in a good condition, it will continue to protect the premises during a power outage — regardless if the outage is because of load shedding or any other technical problem,” Hattingh explains.
Owners must also take into account that the increased occurrence of load-shedding means that there will be more alarm activation signals received by armed response companies than usual.
“If the alarm is triggered because of a power surge or because of load shedding, please contact your security company as soon as possible to cancel any false alarms. This helps ensure that armed response officers are allocated to legitimate emergencies,” she added.
Hattingh said that the only time any alarm system might not function correctly, is if there is a technical issue or the battery power is low. “Most modern alarm systems have a back-up battery pack that activates automatically when there is a power failure,” she said.
It is recommended to consider an additional battery backup pack as load-shedding will put strain on the battery.
The following practical steps can also be taken to ensure that one’s security is not compromised:
- Always remain vigilant and report suspicious activity in your suburb to the SAPS
- Ensure that all automated gates and doors are secured
- With the added inconvenience of the lights going out at night due to power cuts, candles and touch-lights are handy alternatives
- Test the battery backup system and consider an additional battery pack for standby. Tests of alarm systems should ideally be conducted every six months
- Power cuts can impact on fire systems and fire control systems, so these also need to be checked regularly
- The more frequent use of gas and candles can increase the risk of fire and home fire extinguishers should be on hand
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/245743/tips-help-follow-survive-load-shedding/
