A. Audible Alarms.
1. Every audible alarm installed shall be equipped with a timer which, after alarm activation, automatically silences any external sounding devices within the following time period.
a. Residential areas: fifteen minutes;
b. Commercial or industrial areas within 500 feet of residences: fifteen minutes;
c. Other commercial and industrial areas: thirty minutes.
2. Audible alarms used in conjunction with fire and mechanical equipment failure detection systems shall be conspicuously marked to indicate the nature of the emergency being reported.
3. No audible alarm may, when activated, emit a sound similar to the siren of authorized emergency vehicles as defined in Section 165 of the California Vehicle Code, as may be amended.
B. Uninterruptable Power Supply. Every alarm system shall be equipped with a "back-up" power supply capable of maintaining alarm operation for a period of not less than four hours following the interruption of normal electrical utility service.
C. Telephone Required. Any premises which is protected by a silent alarm system shall have an operational telephone immediately available for the use of the alarm user.
D. Required Responses. In the event of an alarm activation, the responding officer may require that the alarm user or their representative respond to the alarm location. Upon such request, the alarm user or their representative shall respond with keys to the protected premises within forty-five minutes of notification. In the event that the alarm user or their representative cannot be located or refuses to respond, the alarm will be considered a false alarm even if it is determined later that an actual crime did occur.
E. Minimum Installation Standards. All alarm systems shall be installed in such a manner as to ensure that they cannot be activated by normal or foreseeable noncriminal activities in or around the protected premises. Such activities include but are not limited to: rattling of doors, walls and windows; passing vehicular traffic; vibration and other normal operating effects of heating and air-conditioning systems; power system fluctuations; stray radio signals; stray animals; and reasonable foreseeable weather conditions.
F. Operating Instructions. The alarm user shall ensure that all persons in the possession or control of an alarmed premises are instructed in the proper use of the alarm system and are aware of the provision of this chapter.
G. Control Panel Standard. Ninety (90) days after enactment of this section, on all new and upgraded installations, only alarm control panel(s) that meet SIA Control Panel Standard CP-01 shall be used for alarm systems.
H. Alarm Monitoring. An alarm business that monitors alarm systems shall do all of the following when requesting an alarm dispatch:
1. Verify. Before requesting an alarm dispatch, the alarm business shall verify, as defined in Section 8.48.020, that the alarm signal is valid and not a false alarm. The above notwithstanding, an alarm business is not required to verify a panic or robbery-in-progress alarm signal, or in cases where a crime-in-progress has been verified by video and/or audible means.
2. Permit Number. When an alarm business requests alarm dispatch, it shall provide the alarm user permit number, when available, to the communications center to facilitate dispatch and cancellations.
3. Location. When an alarm business requests alarm dispatch, it shall provide all available and relevant information about the location of the alarm site, including without limitation, the nearest cross streets, and any information the alarm business has regarding unique circumstances that would make locating the alarm site difficult to the responding officer(s).
4. Cancellation. After requesting an alarm dispatch, an alarm business shall communicate a cancellation as soon as possible upon determining that there is not an emergency situation requiring a response by a law enforcement agency or other emergency response provider. (Ord. 2014-01-1465 § 2; Ord. 2013-07-1456 § 1 (part))