Redwave brings Tuffnells - ‘Express Delivery’ in false alarm reduction

REDWAVE, the new external detector from Optex Europe that combines several technologies in a single unit to provide the optimum installation performance, is having a profound impact in reducing the number of false alarms for Tuffnells Parcels Express – the nationwide business-to-business delivery operation.

Through its installer, Richards CCTV, Tuffnells has deployed REDWAVE technology to protect the perimeter at two of its largest distribution centres in Haydock and Northampton that have been experiencing excessive false alarm activations.

Brian Sutton, General Manager – Security Services explains: “Because our depots are in operation 24-hours a day, most of our sites are in isolated corners of commercial estates often adjacent to agricultural land. This means we do get quite a number of alarm activations caused by animals, primarily foxes and rabbits, and also domestic pets.  On the two sites in question, animals weren’t the only problem. Alarms were also being triggered by traffic, environmental conditions and the weather, both sunshine and rain."

“Activations had risen to such a level in Haydock and Northampton that we turned to our installer for a solution. All of our sites use RedWall detection technology from Optex, and Richards CCTV recommended we trial its new Optex REDWAVE technology. It has proven very successful. False alarms have been reduced dramatically with the resultant savings in cost from our monitoring provider (Remguard) dealing with a lower number of additional activations.”

REDWAVE has been designed specifically to counter the three major headaches for installers, remote monitoring centres, and end-users associated with false alarms in outdoor detection: repetitive movement – ie from objects such as trees, flags, advertising bunting etc; small animals – from foxes and other mammals to insects flying in front of the detector; and ‘over-ranging’ – alarms triggered by activity (eg from passing vehicles) beyond the perimeter being protected.

In addition to using passive infrared (PIR) and microwave technology as in conventional combination detectors, REDWAVE also has Adjustable Microwave Range Limiter (AMRL) technology that allows users to adjust the detection distance, and a Dual Quad Zone Logic (DQZL) PIR that uses two PIR detectors to increase detection density and eliminate undetectable areas.

With conventional outdoor combination detectors, microwave transmission distances are not easily adjusted, resulting in many false alarms being triggered from outside the detection area.  AMRL technology incorporated within REDWAVE, however, enables installers to choose the real detection distance required with a dial setting that offers seven, five meter intervals between zero and 30 metres.

REDWAVE also uses two, vertically configured PIR detectors that create two different, highly dense detection areas, one near and one far.  The dual coverage essentially eliminates dead detection spots, preventing the likelihood of ‘missed’ alarms. Furthermore, the sensitivity of each area can be adjusted separately.

Each PIR uses Quad Zone Logic providing multi-segmented detection zones throughout the detection area and an alarm signal base on the cumulative energy of each zone.  This greatly reduces false alarms, particularly those caused by sudden small temperature changes from light reflections or small animals.

The result is a detector with false alarm reduction properties second to none, as Optex Europe’s Divisional Sales Manager Nigel Hackett concludes: “REDWAVE is a ‘win win’ product for both parties: Tuffnells has a system that is more reliable than any other product currently available; and Richards CCTV has a detector that satisfies its customers’ needs.”