Video Verification for Burglar Alarms

Sponsor: CSAA

Contents

Foreword

This standards document is published by the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) and was developed and adopted by a consensus of industry volunteers in accordance with CSAA’s standards development policies and procedures.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CSAA Standards Chairman:       Louis T. Fiore, L.T.Fiore, Inc.

CSAA Committee Chairman:      Peter P. Giacalone, Giacalone Associates, LLC

CSAA Staff Administrator:         Stephen P. Doyle, Executive Vice President, CSAA

Celia T. Besore, Director of Marketing and Communications, CSAA

*Indicates active members.

CS-V-02 Video Verification Procedures for Burglar Alarms

Introduction

This standard defines methods using video by which false dispatches can be greatly reduced and notification that an intrusion has occurred can be enhanced.  It has been proven that verifying an alarm signal by a monitoring central station will considerably reduce false dispatches. 

This standard focuses on how to use video to verify alarm signals and to help visually identify the source of the alarm event. While it is a goal of this standard to help in reducing the number of false dispatches; it also is a goal to provide enhanced information when an alarm needs to be reported to authorities.

Alarm Verification and Notification Procedures

1 Video Verification Scope

This standard has been prepared under the direction of the Security Industry Standards Council (SISC) members with the participation of the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) members, and the Security Industry Association (SIA) members. 

The standard is recommended for use by alarm monitoring facilities and by State and Local governments as a minimum industry standard for good practice in the use of video for alarm monitoring applications to aid in alarm verification. 

New technologies and successful efforts to reduce false alarms have led to this standard.  The intent of this standard is to reduce wasteful efforts associated with potential false alarms.  In addition, the intent is to achieve increased efficiencies while enhancing the quality of the information presented to the authorities when reporting an alarm.

2 General

If differences exist between this standard and other written Special Instructions with the monitored premises; the Special Instructions shall take precedence.

3 Definitions

3.1 Alarm Verification

Alarm verification is a generic name given to many techniques used (i) to permit authorized personnel to appropriately identify themselves, thereby preventing emergency response agencies from being requested to respond to situations that do not represent an emergency; and (ii) to determine the validity of alarm signals received at a Central Station or monitoring facility. [1]

3.2 Video Verification

Video Verification is the use of Captured Video or real time video in which the video information or recording is aligned with the action that initiated an alarm event to assist in determining the protocol to be followed for the alarm event.

3.3 Standard Verification

Standard verification is the attempt by monitoring facility personnel to verify that an emergency does not appear to exist at the monitored premises, by means of a telephone call, voice contact, or other electronic means. 1

3.4 Enhanced Verification

Enhanced Verification is the attempt by the monitoring facility personnel to verify that no emergency appears to exist, at the monitored premises, by means of more thorough procedures such as 2 (two) or more verification calls, live audio, video, cross zoning, or a combination of these procedures.1

3.5 Remote Video Investigation

Remote Video Investigation is the procedure where monitoring facility personnel uses a live video connection or recorded video clips, pictures, and other data to remotely view the premises as a follow up method after an alarm event has been transmitted.  The viewing of video and associated information of the premises occurs after the initial alarm.  In effect the facility personnel may or may not be viewing the actual activity that initiated the alarm but are reviewing the video information provided after receiving the alarm event in an attempt to observe activity that may provide information about the alarm event. This method can add information to the Alarm Verification but is not considered verifying an alarm as the video may not contain information that is captured at the time of the alarm or directly associated with the alarm event.

3.6 Captured Video Information

Captured Video is associated video information aligned with the alarm event and/or identified by the monitoring facility personnel while viewing video. Examples include the following: the presence of video aligned with the alarm, the identification of a human or humans, or any other information germane to the alarm scene (broken window, smashed door, or other physical characteristics) at the time of the alarm event.

3.7 Special Instructions

A written, separate document from the monitoring contract document, that specifies a specific set of instructions to be followed in the event of an alarm, between the monitored premises and the alarm/monitoring company.1

3.8 Notification Call

The call to the law enforcement authority, such as 911 or the telephone number used to reach the responding law enforcement agency.1

3.9 Cross Zoning

The application of redundant detection devices such that one motion detector or one photo-electric beam paired with some other device such as another motion detector, photo-electric beam, door contact or door contacts, to cover generally the same area. An alarm is recognized when both detectors in the pair are triggered.1

3.10 Captured Frame Video

The minimum number of frames transmitted shall be 5 (five).

In applications in which video capture, recording and transmission cannot be assured to begin within 100 milliseconds (100msec) of the actual time of the alarm event, then at least 2 (two) frames shall be captured before the event, 1 (one) at the time of the event and 2 (two) after the event.

The minimum amount of time of captured video shall be 5 (five) seconds.

As an example if the minimums are implemented, at least 5 frames of captured video spanning five seconds starting no more than 100 milliseconds after the actual alarm event will be captured and transmitted. Alternately, in applications where the time between alarm initiation and recording of the first of the required five frames cannot be assured to be within 100 milliseconds, then 5 (five) frames would be distributed over 5 (five) seconds – (1 (one) second between full frames) with two frames containing pre alarm video, the event frame being the third, and two frames of post event video

4 Standard Video Verification Procedures

4.1 Identification of a Video Verification System

Each alarm signal with Video Verification shall be identified by the monitoring facility personnel that additional video information is associated with the standard alarm signal received. 

4.2 Procedure for Alarm Signals Received from Systems

In accordance with ANSI/CSAA CS-V-01 standard, unless Special Instructions exist, the monitoring facility personnel shall make contact with the protected premises for authorized identification and verification upon receiving an alarm. 

4.3 When to Use Video Verification

Video information shall be combined with cross-zoning, audio methods, or verification calls to the premise to identify personnel or zone patterns that may verify that no emergency exists. 

Video information  does not need to be considered in the case when an alternative method of verifying that no emergency is present supersedes the viewing of the video, such as if the initial contact with the protected premise finds authorized personnel at the premises and/or the person states that no emergency exists.

4.4 Reviewing Video

Video information will be reviewed by the monitoring facility prior to initiating a Notification Call if no other approved alternative method can verify that an emergency does not exist

4.5 Notification Call

The Notification Call detail will include information that has been reviewed by the monitoring facility personnel to indicate whether or not there is Captured Video Information

associated with the alarm event; to indicate information has been gathered to indicate if an emergency exists.  The details shall include a statement to the effect that the protected premises does support Video Verification but either no video was associated with the alarm or the Captured Video Information did not reveal conclusive information about the alarm.

5 Recommended Video Implementation Techniques

The quality of the video received shall be of a nature that a reasonable person should be able to decipher between a human and non-human based on the attributes of human form or any other information germane to the alarm scene (broken window, smashed door, or other physical characteristics) at the time of the alarm event.

5.1 Monitoring Facilities Recommendations

It is recommended that the Captured Video be transmitted to the monitoring facility when the alarm event is transmitted.  The alarm event and captured video do not need to be transmitted over the same medium.

The monitoring facility personnel shall have the Captured Video presented in a manner that is easily accessible.

5.2 Premise Camera Position

The recommendation for the camera placement is to provide as much coverage of the protected premises as possible. 

5.3 Field of View

It is recommended that the Captured Video field of view include the area covered by the sensor that triggered the alarm event.  If the sensor is a motion sensor then the captured video shall be aligned with the motion sensors coverage area. The field of view may also be more than one camera with more than one alarm event.