Areas | Configuration

Timings

  • Entry Time (seconds): The duration of the area's entry delay, in seconds. If an entry delay input is triggered while the area is armed the area will go into entry delay. If the area is not disarmed before this period elapses the alarm will be activated.

    If this time is set to 0 the area will immediately go into alarm, regardless of the input that is activated.

    For an input to begin the entry delay it must have Entry Delay Input enabled in the input type (Programming | Input Types | Options 1).

    The remote notify delay feature allows you to delay offsite reporting of alarms which occur during the entry delay. For more information, see Application Note 312: Minimizing Offsite Reporting of False Alarms in Protege GX and Protege WX.

  • Alternate Entry Time (seconds): An alternative duration for the area's entry delay, in seconds. This will be used if the entry delay is triggered by an input with the Use Alternate Entry Time option enabled in the input type (Programming | Input Types | Options 4).

    This can be used to grant users a longer time to disarm the system when they enter through an alternative entrance, such as a garage or back door.

  • Exit Time (seconds): The duration of the area's exit delay, in seconds. Whenever the area is armed the exit delay will begin, giving users time to exit the area before it is armed. When the exit delay time elapses the area will be armed. If this time is set to 0 the area will arm immediately.

    During the exit delay, inputs with the Exit Delay Input option enabled (Programming | Input Types | Options 1) will not generate alarms. This should be used for any inputs that users may trigger as they exit the area (e.g. PIRs, door contacts).

  • Alarm Time (minutes): The duration (in minutes) that the bell output will stay on when the area alarm is activated. The minimum alarm time is 1 minute.

    Some areas may have limitations on how long a bell or siren can be activated. Ensure you check your local regulations before setting this field.

  • Smart Input Timer (seconds) * : The smart input feature prevents false alarms in areas by counting multiple unique input activations before activating the alarm. When an input is opened the alarm will not activate unless one or more additional inputs open within the period defined here (in seconds).

    To use this feature check the Enable Smart Inputs option in the Options 2 tab. The number of inputs is defined by the Smart Input Count below.

  • Rearm Area Time (minutes): If the Re-Arm Enabled option is checked in the Options 1 tab, whenever this area is disarmed it will automatically rearm after the time defined here (in minutes). If this time is set to 0 the area will rearm after 1 minute.

  • Vault Disarm Delay (minutes) * : If the Vault Control Area option is enabled in the Options 2 tab, whenever a user attempts to disarm the area from a keypad there will be an additional delay before the area is disarmed. This field defines the delay time (in minutes). If this time is set to 0 the area will be disarmed immediately.

  • Vault Dual Code Delay (seconds) * : If the Dual Code Vault Control option is enabled in the Options 2 tab the area will require two user codes to disarm. This field defines the time limit (in seconds) in which a second user must log in to the keypad and disarm the area, after the vault disarm delay period has elapsed. If the second user does not enter a PIN within this time, the disarming process will expire.

  • Recent Closing Time (seconds): This time (in seconds) defines how long after arming an area is considered to be 'recently closed'. If an alarm is generated in the area within this period (in seconds) a Recent Close message will be sent to the monitoring station along with the alarm message. This option will only function when the Report Alarms option is enabled for the relevant input in Programming | Input Types | Options 1.

    The alarm will be activated regardless of whether the area has been recently armed or not.

Schedule

  • Arm/Disarm Schedule: This schedule can be used to arm and disarm an area automatically. The function depends on the options selected below. See also Always Verify Area Schedule in the Options 2 tab.

  • Disarm Area When Schedule Starts: When this option is enabled the area will automatically disarm when the Arm/Disarm Schedule above becomes valid.

    Use this option with caution, as the area will be disarmed regardless of whether there are any authorized users present.

  • Arm Area When Schedule Ends: When this option is enabled the area will automatically arm when the Arm/Disarm Schedule above becomes invalid. This can be used to ensure that the area is secured each day even if the users forget to arm it.

    This feature force arms the area, so the Enable force arming option must be enabled (Options 2 tab).

Setup

  • Child Area: A child area may be armed and disarmed automatically based on the state of one or more parent areas. The relationship between the child and parent area status is based on the options selected in the Options 1 tab.

    Since multiple parent areas can be applied to a single child area, this feature can be used to create a 'common area' that is dependent on a number of other areas.

  • Maximum Bypass Input Count: The maximum number of inputs that can be bypassed within the programmed area. If more than this number of inputs have been bypassed the area cannot be armed. When this field is set to 0 there is no limit on the number of bypassed inputs.

  • Max User Count * : If the Enable User Counting option is selected (Options 1 tab) this field allows you to set the maximum number of users who can be in the area at the same time. For example, if the user limit is set to 10 the 11th user who attempts to enter the area will be denied access.

    This feature is useful when there is a fire, security or health and safety code limiting the number of people allowed in a certain area, or to limit the number of users entering a carpark. You can set a User Count Reached Output (Outputs tab) that will be activated when the area is at its maximum user count.

    This field must be set to a value above zero to enable area counting. If there is no limit on the number of users allowed in the area you can set this field to the maximum value (65535).

  • Client Code: This code represents the area in reports to the central monitoring station. This is typically a hexadecimal number but the format may depend on the receiver compatibility. If the client code for the area is left at the default value (FFFF) the area will use the Client code set in the reporting service (Programming | Services | General).

  • It can be useful to set different client codes for each area in situations where a single Protege WX system contains multiple different tenancies, such as offices or apartments.

  • Interlock Area Group * : When an area has an interlock area group assigned it cannot be disarmed unless all other areas in the area group are armed. This can ensure that a high security area will not disarm until the areas surrounding it are secure.

  • Smart Input Count * : The smart input feature prevents false alarms in areas by counting multiple unique input activations before activating the alarm. The alarm will not be activated until this number of unique inputs have opened within a certain time.

    To use this feature check the Enable Smart Input option in the Options 2 tab. The time period is set in the Smart Input Timer field above.

  • Reporting ID: The area's Reporting ID is the group number which will represent that specific area to the monitoring station. The next available ID will be automatically assigned when each area is created, or you can manually assign the required IDs. If an area has been assigned a number higher than the maximum that can be reported to a particular service the highest possible number will be reported.

    You can export Reporting IDs from Monitoring | Reporting | Central Station Report.

  • Lock Door Group On Arming * : When this area is armed the doors in this door group will be automatically locked. This can be used to ensure that all entry doors for an area are locked when the area is armed, preventing users from accidentally entering an armed area.

Loiter

  • Loiter Time (minutes): This option is not used.
  • Loiter Reset Area: This option is not used.

Defer Warning

  • Defer Warning Keypad Group * : When the area has the Defer Automatic Arming option enabled (Options 2 tab) the keypads in this group will beep once and display a warning message when the area is about to arm automatically. While the message is displayed users can log in to the keypad and use the [DISARM] key to prevent the area from arming automatically.

    The Display Defer Area Warning Messages option must also be enabled for each keypad in Expanders | Keypads | Options 1. Higher priority messages (e.g. alarms) may override the defer arming warning.

  • Defer Warning Time (minutes) * : When the area has the Defer Automatic Arming option enabled (Options 2 tab), automatic arming will be delayed by the time defined here (in minutes). Use this setting to give users sufficient time to leave the area or log in to the keypad and cancel the arming.

    User Selectable Defer Time

    Alternatively, a user selectable defer time can be enabled. When this feature is enabled and a user disarms the area, the keypad will prompt the user to enter the number of hours to defer arming for.

    Enable this feature by entering the command: AskForDeferTime = true

    The minimum time that arming can be deferred from the keypad is 1 hour and the maximum is 9 hours. Arming can only be deferred in whole hours.

Commands

  • Commands * : Used to send manual commands to a device.