Standards of Wiring Burglar Alarms

Identification

• The wiring standards for residential burglar alarms in all states must meet the requirements listed in the Standard for Installation and Classification of Residential Burglar Alarm Systems, UL 1641. If a combination fire and burglar alarm system is installed, the wiring must also comply with the Standard for Household Fire Warning System Units, UL 985.

Burglar Alarm Wiring

• Article 725 of the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70 states that residential burglar alarms typically operate within the limits of Class 2 remote control and signal circuits. This code requires burglar alarms to include one or more components that will detect an intruder by sound or movement. Motion detectors must comply with the requirements set forth by the Standard for Intrusion Detection Units, UL 639.

Fire Alarm/Burglar Alarm Combination Wiring

• Combination fire and burglar alarm systems must be connected in a way that fault conditions in the burglar alarm system portion of the wiring will not interfere with the fire alarm system. This ensures that shorts and grounds in the burglar alarm, do not disable the fire alarm.

Circuits

• A residential burglar alarm must be wired in a manner that will alert the homeowner when there is an open in the circuit that may cause the failure of the system to communicate with its receiver. This also refers to the wiring of accessories to the system, such as end-of-line devices and remote switches, anything that is dependent on the control unit.