Selecting a Perimeter Intrusion Detection System That's ...

Typically, a perimeter security system is the first line of defense for keeping intruders out of private properties and restricted sites. It is important to know the right security measures to put in place before purchasing and installing security systems for your perimeter boundary.

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Whether you want a flexible and temporary security solution or a maximum and permanent one for a high-security site, this quick guide will help you understand the factors to consider when deciding on an ideal security solution for your facility or business.

What is a Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS)?

Perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS) refers to the various technologies (including sensors and devices) designed to discover and warn about any unauthorized entry or attempted physical breach of a perimeter boundary or fence.

Perimeter security systems are available in four different technologies:

• Ground-based systems
• Barrier-mounted systems
• Free-standing systems
• Rapidly deployable systems

Although perimeter security systems a becoming more common on private properties and high-profile residences, they are a must-have in highly secure facilities. Perimeter intrusion detectors like the RBtec WallAlert Dual Zone Kit can alert property owners or managers about potential perimeter breaches in real-time.

It is easy to see why installing perimeter security for your facility is important, however, with various options to choose from, the hard part is deciding on the right access control and security system that adequately meets your needs. Thankfully, the next section makes the task a tad easier by highlighting the important factors to consider when shopping for the most effective PIDS for your facility.

What to Consider When Choosing a Perimeter Intrusion Detection System

There is no one-size-fits-all perimeter detection technique for all premises or businesses. Combining a few different PDIS technologies and tracking systems can result in a more holistic approach to security.

Consider the following factors before deciding which perimeter intrusion detection system is right for your location:

1. Potential Threat

What potential threat or type of intrusion attempt are you trying to detect? Is your facility or premises at risk of intruders who may try to ram through your walls at high speeds, climb your perimeter walls, tamper with your video surveillance cameras, or attempt to cut through your wired fence?

You&#;ll need to perform a security risk assessment of your facility to determine potential threats and the most suitable security systems to meet your needs.

2. Security Level Required

Security levels differ for individual businesses as well as the type of industry. For example, a military base or government facility requires a different security level than a residential property. Highly sensitive and restricted premises with critical infrastructure need to install more robust security systems.

3. Existing Physical Structures

What physical deterrents do you currently have &#; an existing fence or a wall? Consider the physical structure you have on the ground when choosing perimeter protection. For example, barrier-mounted security solutions, such as electrified fences, work well for fences, walls, and other physical barriers.

If you do not have physical barriers around your perimeter, a ground-based security system, such as optical fiber cable, radio frequency radiating field, or microphonic cable, can be deployed underground.

A free-standing security system is another PIDS option for facilities without physical barriers along their boundaries. The system includes devices such as active infrared or passive infrared detectors, Doppler microwave sensors, laser scanners, and video analytic components to detect an attempted intrusion. Ideally, the system works well for sterile areas (such as in airports) where people are inspected before access is granted.

4. Current IT Infrastructure

No doubt, purchasing, installing, and setting up a comprehensive security network is anything but cheap. Choosing perimeter security that easily integrates into your current IT infrastructure and any artificial intelligence system will likely reduce overall costs.

When selecting a perimeter intrusion detection system, it is important to consider the communication between your IT department and the security personnel assigned to physically man security posts or those responsible for physical security.

5. Environment, Landscape, and Climate

Consider the terrain of your site when choosing a perimeter security system. Are there public walkways near your premises that may consistently trigger a false alarm? What&#;s the prevailing weather condition in your area? Is there local wildlife around your facility that may be picked up by a sensor? Is your property close to a body of water? Is the ground prone to water saturation?

Answering these questions can help you determine the most suitable PIDS for your facility.

6. Deployment

Do you want a permanent or temporary perimeter security system? A permanent (often more expensive) security solution that requires complex installation may not be the best choice for protecting a temporary site.

For example, running an optical-fiber cable system under the ground or installing any ground-based PIDS might be overkill for a flexible, temporary facility. A modular perimeter fence would be a better security system in this case.

On the other hand, you want to choose a fully integrated PIDS solution if you want maximum security service for your facility.

7. Maintenance Requirement

The initial equipment and installation cost is not the only thing to consider in terms of price. While some solutions can have a comparatively cheaper initial cost, they can eat into your budget over time due to ongoing upkeep and maintenance expenses.

Be sure about the overall maintenance costs of whatever PIDS you are eyeing for your facility. If there are any subscriptions involved, be sure to find out the details and see whether or not they are worth the expense.

8. Certification

Not all perimeter security systems are created equal. You want to look out for third-party accreditations and ratings to help you choose high-quality, reliable security systems for your gates, fences, barriers, and other perimeter structures.

While the market is packed with various security systems, it is usually a good idea to keep an eye out for accreditations from globally recognized third-party certification bodies, such as The Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB).

9. Regulations

Lastly, it is important to factor in local laws and regulations that your perimeter intrusion detection system must adhere to. For example, the security system needs to comply with all local safety regulations and must not emit levels of electromagnetic energy that interfere with the environment. This requirement is known as the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Regulations.

Find Premium Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems and Accessories for Your Facility

If you are shopping for PIDS and related accessories, you will find premium products here at All Security Equipment. Look through our selection of products and choose what best suits your perimeter security needs.

If you have any questions about the systems we&#;ve discussed or would like more information, please don&#;t hesitate to contact us. We value our customers and want to ensure they have the best possible experience with our products. Thanks for reading!

- Up to 100 kilometers/62 miles per processing unit. - Whole perimeter resolution within 3-20 meters/10-60 feet - Terrain-following installation - Flexible software-based zoning configuration - Concealed deployment of buried high-sensitivity fiber optic sensors - Detects and locates multiple simultaneous intrusions throughout the fiber - Sensing standard single-mode fiber - Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology - Can be used in both fenced and underground locations using the same cables and controllers - No electronics or power required in the field - IP-based remote control and monitoring - Software-based zones - Intrinsically safe in explosive environments, immune to electromagnetic interference and lightning strikes

The system utilizes fiber optic cable, the most economically competitive technology available for long distances. With only one Alarm Processing Unit (APU) covering 100 km/62 miles, and a rugged fiber optic sensing cable, only a few components are needed to provide the most cost-effective solution for large perimeters.

The Perimeter Intrusion Detection System is a powerful vibro-acoustic sensor using a typical single mode fiber optic cable. Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology and Distributed Vibration Sensing (DVS) technology are used to monitor fiber optics for different applications. The fiber optic cable is highly sensitive to pressure, acoustics and motion, which makes it capable of detecting vibrations transmitted through fences, soil or surfaces.

Perimeter intrusion detection systems are used in external environments to detect if an intruder is attempting to breach the perimeter and can protect critical operations in sensitive government or commercial areas, nuclear power plants, prisons, manufacturing, border protection and other facilities.

Raycom contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

Optical fiber is rising in both telecommunication and data communication due to its unsurpassed advantages: faster speed with less attenuation, less impervious to electromagnetic interference (EMI), smaller size and greater information carrying capacity. The unceasing bandwidth needs, on the other hand, are also yielding significant growth in optical fiber demands. Lets take a review of common fiber optic cable types, explore the advantages and disadvantage of optical fiber, and learn tips on selecting fiber optic cable.

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What Is Optical Fiber?

Optical fiber uses light pulses instead of electrical pulses to transmit information, thus delivers hundreds of times higher bandwidth than traditional electrical systems. Fiber optic cable can be protected by sheathing and armor to make it resistant to harsh environmental conditions. Hence it is widely adopted in commercial business, governments, military and many other industries for voice, video and data transmission.

Figure 1: Optical fiber structure

Common Fiber Optic Cable Types

Generally, there are three types of fiber optic cables: the two glass optical fibersingle mode fiber optic cable and multimode optical fiber, as well as plastic optical fiber (POF).

Single Mode Fiber Optic Cable

The "mode" in fiber optic cable refers to the path in which light travels. Single mode fiber has a smaller core diameter of 9 microns (8.3 microns to be exact) and only allows a single wavelength and pathway for light to travel, which greatly decreases light reflections and lowers attenuation. Slightly more expensive than its multimode counterparts, single mode fiber optic cable is often used in network connections over long lengths.

Figure 2: Single mode fiber

Multimode Fiber Optic Cable

Multimode optical fiber has a larger core diameter than that of single mode fiber optic cable, which allows multiple pathways and several wavelengths of light to be transmitted. Multimode optical fiber is available in two sizes, 50 microns and 62.5 microns. It is commonly used for short distances, including patch cable applications such as fiber to the desktop or patch panel to equipment, data and audio/video applications in LANs. According to the fiber refractive index distribution, multimode fiber can be divided into two types: Step-Index Multimode Fiber vs Graded-Index Multimode Fiber.

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Figure 3: Multimode fiber

Plastic Optical Fiber (POF)

POF is a large core step-index optical fiber with a typical diameter of 1 mm. The large size enables it to easily couple lots of light from sources and connectors that do not need to be high precision. So typical connector costs are 10-20% as much as for glass fibers and termination is simple. Being plastic, it is more durable and can be installed in minutes with minimal tools and training. For applications do not require high bandwidth over great distances, POF is more competitive, making it a viable option for desktop LAN connections and low speed short links.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Optical Fiber

Though optical fiber has speed and bandwidth advantages over copper cable, it also contains some drawbacks. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of optical fiber cable.

Advantages of Optical Fiber

Greater bandwidth & faster speedOptical fiber cable supports extremely high bandwidth and speed. The large amount of information that can be transmitted per unit of optical fiber cable is its most significant advantage.

CheapLong, continuous miles of optical fiber cable can be made cheaper than equivalent lengths of copper wire. With numerous vendors swarm to compete for the market share, optical cable price would sure to drop.

Thinner and light-weightedOptical fiber is thinner, and can be drawn to smaller diameters than copper wire. They are of smaller size and light weight than a comparable copper wire cable, offering a better fit for places where space is a concern.

Higher carrying capacityBecause optical fibers are much thinner than copper wires, more fibers can be bundled into a given-diameter cable. This allows more lines to go over the same cable or more channels to come through the cable into your cable TV box.

Less signal degradationThe loss of signal in optical fiber is less than that in copper wire.

Light signalsUnlike electrical signals transmitted in copper wires, light signals from one fiber do not interfere with those of other fibers in the same fiber cable. This means clearer conversations or TV reception.

Long lifespanOptical fibers usually have a longer life cycle for over 100 years.

Disadvantages of Optical Fiber

Low powerLight emitting sources are limited to low power. Although high power emitters are available to improve power supply, it would add extra cost.

FragilityOptical fiber is rather fragile and more vulnerable to damage compared to copper wires. Youd better not to twist or bend fiber optic cables too tightly.

DistanceThe distance between the transmitter and receiver should keep short or repeaters are needed to boost the signal.

How to Select the Right Optical Fiber Cable?

Optical fiber cable has gained much momentum in communication networks, and there emerges a dazzling array of vendors competing to manufacture and supply fiber optic cables. When selecting optical fiber, youd better start with a reliable vendor and then consider the selection criteria. Heres a guide to clarify some of the confusions about choosing fiber optic cable.

Check Manufacturer Qualification

The major optical cable manufacturers should be granted ISO quality system certification, ISO international environment system certification, the ROHS, the relevant national and international institutions certification such as the Ministry of Information Industry, UL certification and etc.

Fiber Mode: Single Mode or Multimode

As illustrated above, single mode fiber is often used for long distances while multimode optical fiber is commonly used for short range. Moreover, the system cost and installation cost change with different fiber modes. You can refer to Single Mode vs Multimode Fiber: Whats the Difference? and then decide which fiber mode you need.

Optical Cable Jackets: OFNR, OFNP, or LSZH

The standard jacket type of optical cable is OFNR, which stands for Optical Fiber Non-conductive Riser. Besides, optical fibers are also available with OFNP, or plenum jackets, which are suitable for use in plenum environments such as drop-ceilings or raised floors. Another jacket option is LSZH. Short for Low Smoke Zero Halogen, it is made from special compounds which give off very little smoke and no toxic when put on fire. So always refer to the local fire code authority to clarify the installation requirement before choosing the jacket type.

Optical Fiber Internal Construction: Tight Pack or Breakout or Assembly or Loose Tube

Tight pack cables are also known as distribution style cables, features that all buffered fibers under a single jacket with strength members for Enclosure to Enclosure and Conduit under Grade installations. Breakout fiber cable or fan out cable is applicable for Device to Device applications with tough and durable advantages. Assembly or zip cord construction is often used for making optic patch cables and short breakout runs. While loose tube construction is a Telco standard used in the telecommunications industry.

Indoor vs. Outdoor

The choice greatly depends on your application. The major difference between indoor and outdoor fiber cable is water blocking feature. Outdoor cables are designed to protect the fibers from years of exposure to moisture. However, nowadays there have been cables with both dry water-blocked outdoor feature and indoor designs. For example, in a campus environment, you can get cables with two jackets: an outer PE jacket that withstands moisture and an inner PVC jacket that is UL-rated for fire retardancy.

Fiber Count

Both indoor and outdoor fiber cable have a vast option of fiber count ranging from 4-144 fibers. If your fiber demand exceeds this range, you can custom the fiber count for indoor or outdoor optical cable. Unless you are making fiber patch cords or hooking up a simple link with two fibers, it is highly recommended to get some spare fibers.

Conclusion

Optical fiber provides a fast, constant and stable Internet connection that allows a lot of data to be transmitted over incredible distances. As data demands become enormous, fiber optic cabling is the sure way to go for network flexibility and stability.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of RF970 fiber fence security system. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.