Choosing the right intruder alarm system starts with understanding the installation rather than choosing a manufacturer first.
Property layout, existing cabling, the required level of protection, detector locations, communication requirements and future expansion can all influence whether a wired, wireless or hybrid intruder alarm system is the most suitable option.
For professional installers, G-TEC supplies intruder alarm and security equipment from manufacturers including Texecom, Pyronix, Eaton and Ajax, covering a range of wired, wireless and hybrid system options.
This guide looks at the main types of intruder alarm systems, the equipment commonly used within an installation, key considerations when choosing detectors and control equipment, and some of the options available through G-TEC.
Understanding Wired, Wireless and Hybrid Intruder Alarm Systems
The system architecture is one of the first considerations when planning an intruder alarm installation.
Wired, wireless and hybrid systems can all provide professional security solutions, but they differ in how devices communicate, how they are installed and how easily the system can be adapted to a particular site.
Wired Intruder Alarm Systems
A wired intruder alarm system connects compatible detectors, keypads, sounders and other devices to the control equipment using physical cabling.
This approach can be particularly practical where suitable alarm cabling is already installed or where new cables can be incorporated as part of a new build or refurbishment.
Wired systems also avoid the routine battery replacement associated with battery-powered wireless field devices. However, installing new cabling into a finished property may involve additional labour, containment and disruption.
The existing infrastructure should therefore be assessed before equipment is selected.
G-TEC's current intruder range includes wired Eaton Scantronic equipment, including Grade 2 wired control panels and kits containing control equipment, PIR detectors and door contacts.
Wireless Intruder Alarm Systems
Wireless intruder alarm systems use radio communication between compatible field devices and the control panel or hub.
They can be particularly useful for retrofit installations where installing new cables would be difficult or unnecessarily disruptive.
Professional wireless systems can include motion detectors, door contacts, keypads, keyfobs, internal and external sounders and other compatible devices.
Wireless installation does not remove the need for careful system design. Device positioning, radio signal strength, battery condition and the physical characteristics of the building still need to be considered during installation and maintenance.
For example, G-TEC lists wireless solutions including the Texecom Premier Elite Ricochet range, Pyronix Enforcer equipment, Eaton Scantronic wireless systems and Ajax wireless security products.
Hybrid Intruder Alarm Systems
A hybrid intruder alarm system combines wired and wireless devices within the same system architecture.
This can be useful when an installer wants to retain suitable existing wired devices while adding wireless equipment in areas where installing additional cable would be difficult.
Hybrid systems may also be useful for extensions and upgrade projects because they allow the installer to select the most practical connection method for different areas of the property.
G-TEC currently lists hybrid-capable equipment across its intruder offering. Pyronix describes the Enforcer V11 listed by G-TEC as a 66-zone hybrid control panel, while Eaton Scantronic and Ajax also provide hybrid system options.
What Equipment Makes Up an Intruder Alarm System?
Although individual systems differ, most professional intruder alarm installations are built around the same basic principles.
The control panel or hub acts as the central part of the system. It receives information from connected devices, processes alarm and fault conditions, and manages functions such as setting, unsetting and system communications.
Detection equipment can then be selected according to the areas being protected. This may include PIR motion detectors, dual-technology detectors, door and window contacts and other specialist detection devices.
A complete installation may also use keypads or other user-control devices, internal and external sounders, communication equipment and expansion modules where additional system capacity is required.
The important point for installers is that these components should be selected as parts of a compatible system rather than as isolated products.
Choosing Intruder Alarm Detectors
Selecting the control equipment is only one part of an intruder alarm installation. The correct detector also needs to be chosen for each protected area.
PIR Motion Detectors
Passive infrared detectors, commonly known as PIR detectors, are widely used for internal movement detection.
A PIR responds to changes in infrared energy within its detection pattern. Correct positioning matters because mounting height, detector orientation, room layout and environmental conditions can all influence performance.
Installers should therefore follow the manufacturer's positioning and configuration requirements rather than treating every PIR installation in the same way.
Dual-Technology Detectors
Dual-technology detectors use more than one sensing technology within the same device.
A common example combines passive infrared and microwave detection. This type of detector can be useful where the installation requires an additional method of confirming movement before an alarm condition is generated.
G-TEC's Pyronix range currently includes two-way wireless dual-technology detectors designed for use with the Enforcer ecosystem.
Detector technology should still be selected according to the environment and system design rather than assuming a dual-technology detector is automatically the better option for every location.
Door and Window Contacts
Magnetic contacts are commonly used to protect doors and windows.
Rather than detecting movement within a room, the contact can identify when a protected opening changes state. This makes contacts useful for perimeter protection and for areas where detecting entry at the door or window is preferable to relying only on internal movement detection.
Other Detection Requirements
Some projects may require additional forms of intrusion detection depending on the property and identified risk.
The choice of detector should take account of the environment, expected activity within the protected area, system grade, manufacturer requirements and the overall security design.
This is particularly important where environmental conditions could contribute to unwanted activations.
Control Panels, Keypads and User Access
The alarm control panel needs enough capacity for both the immediate installation and any realistic future requirements.
Installers should consider the number of devices or zones, number of users, protected areas, wired and wireless expansion, communication options and system-management requirements before deciding on the panel.
User operation is another important part of the design.
Depending on the chosen system, users may be able to set or unset the alarm using a keypad, PIN, proximity device, keyfob or compatible application.
For example, the Pyronix Enforcer V11 listed by G-TEC supports PIN, remote keyfob and app-based arming and disarming, while Eaton's i-on Compact supports multiple users with PIN, proximity tag and keyfob operation.
For commercial properties in particular, installers should consider how different users and protected areas need to operate before programming the system.
Sounders and Alarm Signalling
An intruder alarm system also needs an appropriate method of indicating that an alarm condition has occurred.
External sounders can provide an audible warning outside the protected premises, while internal sounders can alert occupants and provide warning within the building.
The required arrangement depends on the system design and the intended alarm response.
A locally audible alarm is not the same as a remotely monitored system, so signalling requirements should be established during the design stage rather than added as an afterthought.
If alarm receiving centre monitoring or police response is required, additional standards and signalling requirements will apply.
Communications and Remote Management
Modern intruder alarm systems can offer a range of communication and remote-management options.
Depending on the manufacturer and system configuration, these may use Ethernet, Wi-Fi, mobile-network communication or a combination of communication paths.
This can enable functionality such as user notifications, remote system operation, installer diagnostics, configuration and communication with an alarm receiving centre where supported and correctly configured.
G-TEC, for example, lists the Texecom SmartCom communicator for Premier Elite systems, which supports Ethernet and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Texecom Cloud connectivity and remote configuration through Wintex.
Eaton Scantronic equipment listed by G-TEC also includes systems designed to work with SecureConnect for remote management, while some current Eaton panels offer Ethernet with optional Wi-Fi or mobile communication equipment.
Communication requirements should therefore be considered alongside the control panel rather than only after the physical alarm installation has been completed.
Intruder Alarm Standards and Security Grades
Professional intruder alarm installations need to be designed with the applicable standards, system requirements and risk assessment in mind.
In the UK, PD 6662:2017 provides the scheme for applying European standards to intruder and hold-up alarm systems. It incorporates relevant standards from the BS EN 50131 series and requirements covering the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of these systems.
The required security grade should be determined by the risk and applicable project requirements rather than simply by property size or by choosing the highest available grade.
Insurance requirements, monitoring arrangements and the intended alarm response may also influence the specification.
Where a newly installed remotely monitored system is intended to receive police response in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, NSI states that the system must conform to PD 6662:2017 and BS 8243:2021. Police response in Scotland operates under a separate Police Scotland policy.
Installers should therefore establish the required level of protection and response before finalising equipment selection and should check the current applicable standards and approval requirements for the project.
Intruder Alarm Equipment Available from G-TEC
G-TEC's current security portfolio includes several established intruder alarm manufacturers, giving installers options across wired, wireless and hybrid architectures.
Texecom Intruder Alarm Systems
The Texecom Premier Elite platform gives installers access to wired and wireless intruder alarm equipment.
G-TEC currently lists Premier Elite control equipment alongside Ricochet wireless products, including complete wireless kits containing a Premier Elite panel, keypad, PIR detectors, proximity tags and an external siren.
Compatible communication equipment such as SmartCom can also provide network connectivity and remote system-management capabilities.
This allows a Premier Elite installation to be configured around the requirements of the particular project rather than being limited to a single fixed kit.
Pyronix Intruder Alarm Systems
The Pyronix Enforcer range provides wireless and hybrid intruder alarm options.
The Enforcer V11 control panel listed by G-TEC is a two-way wireless panel with built-in Wi-Fi and is described as a 66-zone, four-area hybrid system. It supports several methods of user operation, including PIN, keyfob and app-based arming and disarming.
Compatible equipment available through the range includes wireless keypads, detectors, sounder equipment and other system devices.
For installers, the Enforcer ecosystem therefore provides an option where wireless deployment or a combination of wired and wireless devices is appropriate.
Eaton Scantronic Intruder Alarm Systems
G-TEC also supplies Eaton Scantronic intruder alarm equipment across wired, wireless and hybrid configurations.
Current G-TEC listings include entry-level wired alarm kits, wireless i-on systems and expandable hybrid control panels.
This gives installers a choice between conventional wired installation and systems that can accommodate radio devices where the project requires greater flexibility.
Ajax Intruder Alarm Systems
Ajax provides another approach to professional intrusion protection, with both wireless products and wired Fibra equipment.
G-TEC lists wireless Ajax alarm kits containing components such as hubs, MotionProtect detectors, DoorProtect devices, keypads and sounders.
For wired applications, the Ajax Fibra MotionProtect listed by G-TEC is a wired indoor motion detector designed for compatible Hub Hybrid systems. G-TEC also lists Ajax Hub Hybrid control equipment supporting Fibra wired communication.
This allows installers to consider wireless, wired or combined Ajax system designs according to the requirements of the property.
Choosing the Right Intruder Alarm System
There is no single intruder alarm system or manufacturer that will be the correct choice for every project.
The starting point should be the installation itself.
The installer needs to consider the property layout and risk, whether suitable cabling already exists, how much installation disruption is practical, what type of detection is required, the number of users and protected areas, communication and monitoring requirements, applicable security grades and whether the system may need to expand later.
Maintenance should also be considered from the beginning.
A system that meets the immediate installation requirements should also remain practical to test, service, manage and expand over its working life.
Most importantly, control panels, detectors, communication equipment, sounders and other devices should be specified as compatible parts of the chosen system. Manufacturer documentation and the requirements of the applicable standards should always be checked before equipment is installed or substituted.
Final Considerations for Installers
A professional intruder alarm system is more than a control panel connected to a collection of detectors.
The complete installation needs to reflect the risk, property, users, infrastructure and required alarm response.
Wired intruder alarm systems can be particularly suitable where appropriate cabling is already available or can be incorporated into the project. Wireless systems can reduce the requirement for new field cabling, particularly during retrofit installations, while hybrid systems allow installers to combine both approaches where required.
G-TEC supplies professional intruder alarm and security equipment from Texecom, Pyronix, Eaton and Ajax, giving installers options across wired, wireless and hybrid system architectures.
Rather than selecting equipment by brand alone, installers can start with the requirements of the project and then identify a compatible system with the appropriate control equipment, detection, signalling and communication options.
Explore G-TEC's intruder alarm range or contact the team for assistance selecting security equipment for your next installation.