Detection
Wired and wireless options selected for the property.
Burglar Alarms & Fire Alarm Installation Northern Ireland
Advanced Overwatch designs, installs and maintains combined intruder alarm and fire detection systems for homes and businesses across Northern Ireland. Advanced Overwatch is SSAIB certificated (NIRE127) specifically for Intruder Alarm Systems, Visual Surveillance Systems (VSS) and Access Control Systems. Our Engineers, subcontractors and Fire Risk Assessors are highly experienced, thoroughly understanding commercial and residential fire detection and alarm requirements. Fire detection is designed to BS 5839-1 for commercial premises and BS 5839-6 for homes, by qualified engineers, with full commissioning documentation for both systems.
Thousands of premises secured since 2017
Two alarm disciplines.
One coordinated project.
Each system has its own purpose, design and commissioning requirements. Any connection between them is considered as part of the project.
Intruder alarms
Protect the points of entry.
Make daily control clear.
For intruder alarm systems, Advanced Overwatch is a certified partner and installer for Ajax and Orisec, our preferred intruder alarm partners.
Advanced Overwatch installs intruder alarm systems for homes and businesses. The survey establishes the equipment, users and response arrangements for your premises.
Control
User access, setting and unsetting arrangements.
Connections
Supported app, CCTV or other interfaces agreed in the specification.
Aftercare
Servicing, monitoring and support set out for the chosen system.
Insurance and standards
Intruder alarm systems matter to business and home owners alike, and insurers often insist on one. Insurance companies state that premises must be protected by an operational intruder alarm system.The design, installation, remote monitoring and planned maintenance of intruder alarm systems are strictly governed by regularly updated British and European standards. These are drawn up in consultation with police forces and insurers. We keep our staff up to date as these standards change, so the system you choose for your business or home complies with the British and European standards.
The system design can range from a basic audible system to a fully monitored system with PSNI Response installed to current standards.
Fire alarm systems
Design the system
as a whole
Detection, warning, controls and supporting equipment need to work together as part of the agreed fire-system design.
Detection and warning
Conventional and addressable approaches are considered around the required system and premises.
Specialist requirements
Discuss any hazardous-area, refuge or assistance-alarm requirement as a specific part of the brief.
Interfaces
Links with access control, intruder alarms or building systems depend on the agreed design and compatible equipment.
Testing and handover
Commissioning, operating information and maintenance arrangements form part of the project handover.
Certified engineers.
Clear responsibilities.
Installation, commissioning and ongoing care need an agreed scope for each system.
Certification scope
Advanced Overwatch is SSAIB certificated (NIRE127) specifically for Intruder Alarm Systems, Visual Surveillance Systems (VSS) and Access Control Systems.
Our Engineers, subcontractors and Fire Risk Assessors are highly experienced, thoroughly understanding commercial and residential fire detection and alarm requirements.
Monitoring arrangements
Intruder and fire monitoring use our monitoring partner’s NSI Gold certified Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC).
Signalling, escalation and response arrangements are agreed separately for the system. Monitoring does not guarantee attendance.
Project handover
Agree the installation scope, relevant interfaces, commissioning information and user guidance. Servicing, callouts and any warranty terms are set out in the proposal or service agreement.
Intruder and fire alarm questions
How much does it cost to have a house alarm fitted?
A domestic intruder alarm is priced by the number of detection points, whether it is wired or wireless, and whether you want app control or professional monitoring. Advanced Overwatch quotes after a free home survey, so you get a written price for your own property rather than a guess: call 028 7087 8077.
What is the difference between a burglar alarm and an intruder alarm?
There is no real difference, “burglar alarm” and “intruder alarm” are two names for the same thing, a system that detects unauthorised entry and raises an alarm. Advanced Overwatch installs SSAIB certificated (NIRE127) intruder alarms for homes and businesses across Northern Ireland.
Which burglar alarm is best?
The best alarm is the one correctly specified for your property and risk, whether that is a wireless system for a home or a graded, monitored system for a business. Advanced Overwatch works with leading manufacturers such as AJAX and specifies each system during a free survey rather than fitting the same kit everywhere.
What grade of intruder alarm do I need for my property?
The grade of intruder alarm you need depends on your risk level and any conditions set by your insurer. Most homes and small commercial premises require a Grade 2 system under EN 50131 / PD 6662:2017, which is accepted by all major UK insurers that specify an intruder alarm condition. Larger commercial sites, warehouses, and premises with high-value stock typically require Grade 3. Some insurers specify particular grades or monitoring categories in their policy conditions, so it is worth checking your policy wording before specification. During your free site survey, our engineers will assess your risk level, discuss your insurance requirements, and recommend the correct grade for your specific situation.
Does my insurer require a specific type of alarm certification?
Many commercial and residential insurers require that intruder alarm systems are installed by a company certified by a recognised scheme such as the SSAIB or NSI. Advanced Overwatch is SSAIB certificated (NIRE127) specifically for Intruder Alarm Systems, Visual Surveillance Systems (VSS) and Access Control Systems. Our Engineers, subcontractors and Fire Risk Assessors are highly experienced, thoroughly understanding commercial and residential fire detection and alarm requirements, and we design fire alarm systems to BS 5839-1 or BS 5839-6 with commissioning documentation. Our intruder alarm installations comply with PD 6662:2017 and EN 50131. When you ask us for a completion certificate, we provide documentation confirming the grade and standard of the installation, which you can send to your insurer to confirm the alarm condition of your policy is met. If you are unsure what your policy requires, call us and we can help you interpret the wording and confirm whether our installation will satisfy your insurer’s condition.
What type of fire alarm system does my business premises need?
The type of fire alarm system your business needs depends on a fire risk assessment under the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. Most commercial premises require at minimum a Category L2 or L3 system under BS 5839-1 to provide adequate detection and warning for occupants to evacuate safely. Premises with high occupancy, sleeping risks, or complex layouts may require a Category L1 system with detection throughout the building. The assessment must be carried out by a competent person and reviewed whenever there is a change in the use or layout of the building. Our fire alarm engineers can advise on the appropriate system category for your premises following a site visit and review of your existing or required fire risk assessment.
How long does an intruder or fire alarm installation take?
A standard residential intruder alarm installation is typically completed in one day. A wireless system for a home is often faster, sometimes completed in half a day, as there is minimal cable routing involved. Commercial intruder alarm installations depend on the size of the premises, the number of detection zones, and whether the system requires connection to a monitoring centre. Smaller commercial systems may take one to two days; larger Grade 3 systems with multiple zones and remote monitoring integration may take three to five days. Fire alarm installations are similarly variable. A straightforward office fire alarm for a small premises may be completed in one to two days, while a multi-storey or multi-zone addressable system for a larger commercial building will take longer. We give you a realistic installation timeline as part of your written quote before any work begins.
Are wireless intruder alarms any good?
Modern wireless systems are a genuine option rather than a compromise. Devices use encrypted, supervised radio links, report a low battery or a lost signal back to the panel, and include anti tamper detection. They suit retrofits, listed buildings and premises where cabling would cause real disruption. Wired systems are still specified where a site needs the highest grade or long term commercial resilience.
What is the best alarm system for a small business?
For most small commercial premises that is a Grade 2 system to EN 50131 and PD 6662:2017, covering the entry points and the main internal areas, with monitoring where your insurer asks for it or the site is unattended overnight. The right answer depends on your risk and your policy wording, so we specify it during a free survey.
Do electricians fit burglar alarms?
Some electricians do fit alarms, but design, grading, signalling and monitoring are a security discipline rather than general electrical work, and insurers usually want evidence the system was installed and commissioned to EN 50131 and PD 6662:2017. We carry out the security work and our own electrical work, so cabling, power and the alarm itself are all handled by us, with the commissioning paperwork to match.
Bring both requirements
to your site survey
Tell us about your premises, current systems and the work you are planning.