Categories refer to the signalling and monitoring grade required for the system, set out under EN 50136 and the EN 50131 series for intrusion alarms. Higher categories require more resilient signalling paths and stricter centre standards, with the receiving centre itself governed by EN 50518:2019. Manguard Plus operates the first EN 50518:2019 Category I certified Alarm Receiving Centre in Ireland, so detection systems signalling to us are handled in a centre engineered to the highest European tier for resilience and continuity.

Often yes. We carry out a site survey of the existing panel, zoning, sensors and signalling, then design an upgrade path that keeps usable assets in service and replaces only what is end-of-life or non-compliant. Where the panel itself is still supported by the manufacturer we can typically add sensors, expand zones, upgrade signalling and connect monitoring to our ARC without a full rip-and-replace.

An Garda Siochana operates a confirmed-alarm policy on monitored intruder systems. Manguard specifies systems and verification procedures so alarms are confirmed before escalation – typically through dual-technology sensors, sequential zone confirmation, audio listen-in or CCTV verification at the Alarm Receiving Centre. This reduces nuisance call-outs, protects the Garda response status of the site, and is documented in the service agreement.

Dual-path signalling is the enterprise standard – primary IP path over the site network and a secondary GSM or cellular path that takes over automatically if the primary fails. Both paths are polled continuously and any loss of communication is flagged at the Alarm Receiving Centre. The specific grade is matched to the EN 50136 category required for the site’s insurance and risk profile.

Yes, and on enterprise sites this is the recommended specification. Intruder events trigger the associated cameras at the Command and Control Centre, the operator visually verifies the alarm in real time and applies the agreed response protocol – audio challenge, keyholder dispatch, mobile patrol or Garda escalation. Integration is set up during commissioning between the intruder panel, the VMS and the ARC.

Zoning is designed during the site survey – we map buildings, areas and access flows, then split the system into zones that match how the site actually operates (production vs office, clean vs technical areas, perimeter vs internal). Each zone arms and disarms independently, reports independently to the ARC, and is engineered to support partial occupancy patterns common on industrial and multi-tenant sites.

Timelines depend on site size, zone count, cabling routes and whether the install runs alongside an active operation. As a guide, a small commercial property is typically completed in days while a large multi-building industrial or pharma site can run across several weeks of phased install, commissioning and ARC connection. We agree the programme during system design and align it with the site’s operational windows.

Yes. Every install ships with the documentation pack required for insurance and audit – design specification, zoning schedule, commissioning certificate, EN 50131 grade and EN 50136 signalling category, PSA installer details, user manual and maintenance schedule. This is held in the Manguard Plus Quality Management System and shared with your security and facilities team.