Alarms Site Settings
When you create a new Alarms site in Command, you will need to go through a few steps to configure settings for the site. You can always make changes to these settings by following these steps:
From the All Products menu select the Alarms Home page
Hover over the desired site and select the Settings gear
Below is a summary of the workflow steps and settings options.
General
Here you will specify the physical location of your Alarms site. Ensure this address is accurate and specific, as Verkada will use this address in the event emergency services need to be dispatched. Each unique address will require one Alarms license.
Alarm Triggers
Here you can choose which events should trigger an alarm. Cameras, sensor inputs, and doors, that exist in this Alarms site can all be selected as alarm triggers. This means that when the site is armed, any of the following events will trip the alarm.
By default, if any Alarm devices go offline for more than 5 minutes while the system is in an armed state it will automatically raise an alarm.
If any alarm devices go offline while the system is in an unarmed state, it will record the offline event but not raise an alarm. It will also not raise an alarm when the system is armed later on unless the Alarm device comes online and goes offline for more than 5 minutes.
Cameras
You can enable a camera as an alarm trigger by selecting the camera for person detection. Once selected, anytime that the system is armed and a person is detected, an video verification event will be logged and sent to our monitoring agents for review.
You can also specify a region of interest on cameras, the region selected in blue will be the only area where person detection will be running, everything outside of the blue box will be ignored.
Wired Sensors
An alarm panel detects a relevant state change (door open, glass break, water detected, motion detected, etc).
Wireless Sensors
Here you can configure wireless sensor specific settings:
Door Sensor:
Sensitivity Level (Low, Medium, High)
The higher the sensitivity the greater distance allowed between the sensor and the magnet to register a closed event.
Universal Transmitter Mode (Normally Open, Normally Closed)
This allows the door contact sensor to be utilized as a wireless transmitter turning any standard 2-wire sensor into a wireless signal
Panic Button:
Button Press Pattern (Single, Long, Double, Triple)
This allows you to specify the type of button press pattern required to send a panic signal
Mobile Mode
This setting should be enabled for mobile panic buttons that are expected to be carried on an individual's person or when the panic buttons are expected to be out of the wireless range of a hub for extended periods of time.
Access Control
An access controller detects a door open, door held open or door forced open event.
Alarm Consoles
An alarm console can also be configured as a trigger by using person detection on its camera.
Air Quality Sensor Events
A sensor detects motion, changes in temperature, humidity, air quality, etc.
Note: Air Quality Sensor Thresholds must be configured for the particular readings that you would like to use as a trigger to raise an alarm.
Offline Events
Set the desired response when an alarm device goes offline.
Alarm Responses
Video Verification
If enabled, video verification allows for a Verkada monitoring agent to review video footage of an incident before raising an alarm. This reduces the likelihood of false alarms.
There are two levels of security that can be configured for video verification:
Normal Security
An alarm is only raised if there is a visible threat to a person or property. For example, a person brandishing a weapon, broken glass, etc.
Max Security
An alarm is raised if a person is present or if there are any signs of an intrusion. This helps to significantly reduce the chance of a false alarm occurring.
Consider the following scenario:
Site is armed
A camera detects a janitor in a safe room
Trip event occurs
Video clip of the event is sent to the monitoring agent for review
In normal security mode, the agent determines that there is no visible threat to people or property and an alarm is not raised. In max security mode, the agent raises an alarm immediately if a person is present when the site is armed.
For video verification to be active for non-camera devices, you will need to link your devices to nearby cameras that can provide context for alarm events. For air quality sensors and doors, the cameras you've previously associated with those devices will be automatically used for video verification. For BH61 / BP41 sensor inputs, you can manually add nearby cameras when you configure those inputs.
Emergency Dispatch
If emergency dispatch is enabled the Verkada monitoring agent will contact the individuals in the order designated in the notifications list (see next section). If an emergency is confirmed or if no one can be reached, the agent will dispatch emergency services to the site address.
Immediate Dispatch on Panic
When enabled, Verkada monitoring agents will dispatch emergency services immediately without confirming. This will only apply to duress and panic alarms. Notification recipients will still receive a call/SMS to gain visibility into the situation.
Monitoring Test Mode
If enabled, the Verkada monitoring agent will still reach out in the order of your contact list, but will not dispatch emergency services if they are unable to reach you.Permit Number (Optional)
You can add an optional permit number to be shared with emergency services when dispatch is requested. This is sometimes a requirement in certain counties and states.
Emergency Dispatch Context Cameras
Our monitoring agents by default do not have live access to your cameras. This setting allows you to grant the monitoring agents a live stream of up to a maximum of 10 cameras alongside any footage that has been video verified to gather additional context during an active alarm.
Contact List
Here you can configure Command users to be notified via SMS and/or email notifications when an alarm is raised. These notifications can be sent regardless of whether emergency dispatch is enabled.
By default, all users will receive SMS and email notifications but will need to be explicitly designated as emergency dispatch contacts by clicking on the dispatcher icon. The call order is determined by the number to the right of the dispatcher icon.
Please have users on the notification list save the following numbers to their contact list as "Verkada Monitoring". These will be the numbers that we will use to notify you of an Emergency.
SMS
Phone Call
Alarm Actions
Here you can configure which actions to take when an alarm is raised.
Alarm Panel Outputs
If you have a BP41 alarm panel, you can configure Outputs A and B on the panel to provide 12V of power to sirens, strobes, and other alarm signaling devices in the event of an alarm. You can find setup instructions here.
Wireless Outputs
If you have a BX21 you can configure the wireless relay as an output for a siren, strobe, or other alarm signaling devices. You can find setup instructions here.
Play Alert Message
You can also choose to play an alert message on the alarm console.
Access Control Lockdown
Finally, we can leverage a configured lockdown scenario through Verkada access control as a response to an alarm being raised.
Arm/Disarm
Here you can configure additional settings for the entire Alarm site.
Entry Delay
The number of seconds to wait after a trigger event before raising an alarm.
Geofence Arm/Disarm
Restrict mobile app arm/disarm to when the user is within 200 meters of the alarm site.Arm Schedule
Automatically arm the site during the specified window.
Unusual Arm/Disarm Window
Receive a notification whenever an arm/disarm occurs within a specific time range.Disarm via Doors
Here you can select which doors will automatically disarm the site when the door is unlocked via a badge swipe. This option will only be available if a door exists in the site.
Arm via Doors
Here you can select which doors will automatically arm the site when the door is unlocked via a badge swipe. This option will only be available if a door exists in the site.
Note: The exit delay is 20 seconds.
Alarm Console
Here you can configure settings for the alarm console.
Keycodes
You can add multiple site keycodes that arm/disarm the system as well as individual user key-codes.
Duress Keycode
You can enter this code to trigger a panic alarm on the alarm console in case of an emergency. When a duress code is entered into the console, the system will disarm the site but will still trigger alarm notifications and emergency dispatch (if enabled).
Exit Delay
The number of seconds to wait after a keycode is entered on an alarm console before arming the site.
Enable Console Video Recording
Gives users access to live and historical video from the alarm console in Command.Enable Console Video Stream
Gives users access to live video on the console for all cameras in the site.
Enable Console Door Chime
The console will play an audio tone when a door in the site is opened.
Console Controls
Restart the console remotely.
