Alarm Zone Planning Guide¶

Guide to alarm zone planning for UK homes covering zone types, sensor assignment, programming, and best practices for effective intruder detection coverage.

Understanding Alarm Zone Types and Functions¶

Alarm zones are the individual detection circuits that the control panel monitors. Each zone represents one or more sensors protecting a specific area of your UK home. Understanding zone types is essential for effective alarm design. Entry/Exit zones: typically the front door and back door circuits. These have entry/exit delay (standard UK settings: 30 seconds entry, 15 seconds exit). Immediate zones: interior PIR detectors, glass break detectors, and shock sensors. These trigger instantly when activated during armed state. Perimeter zones: ground floor door and window contacts. These can be set to immediate or can be used in part-arm mode for overnight protection. Fire zones: smoke and heat detectors with 24-hour fire response (continuous siren tone). Panic/PA zones: personal attack buttons with silent or audible response. Medical alert zones: pendant or pull-cord triggers for assisted living. Typically UK Grade 2 alarm panels support 4-8 onboard zones expandable to 16-32 zones using zone expander modules. For a typical 3-bedroom semi: 8 zones (front door, back door, 2x ground floor PIR, 1x first floor PIR, kitchen, garage, fire). Texecom panels support up to 20 zones, Pyronix panels up to 16 zones.

Zone Planning Strategy for UK Homes¶

Ground floor zones: assign separate zones for front door (entry/exit), back door (entry/exit or immediate), living room PIR (immediate), kitchen PIR (immediate), dining room PIR (immediate). Window contacts can be grouped by room on single zones (wired in series) or on individual zones if using wireless contacts. First floor zones: landing PIR (immediate), master bedroom door contact (perimeter), other bedroom door contacts (perimeter). Garage/outbuilding zones: assign to separate zones (immediate, 24-hour). Assign zone names in the panel that clearly identify the room and sensor type (e.g. Living Room PIR, Front Door Contact, Kitchen Smoke). The keypad display shows the zone name on alarm - clear naming helps identify the source quickly. Part-arm (home mode) zones: configure the front and back doors plus ground floor window contacts as armed in part-arm mode. This allows safe movement inside while the perimeter is protected. Fast alarm response: set ground floor zones to 0.5-1.0 second response for immediate detection. First floor zones can use 1-2 second response to reduce false alarms. Logging: enable zone logging on the panel to review alarm history. Zone planning diagram: draw your floor plan and mark each sensor and its zone number before installation.

Specifications and Comparison¶

Zone Type	Delay/Response	Example Location	Sensor Type
Entry/Exit	30s entry, 15s exit	Front door, back door	Magnetic contact
Immediate (Interior)	Instant trigger	Living room, hallway	PIR detector
Perimeter	Instant or part-arm	Ground floor windows	Contact or shock sensor
Fire (24hr)	Instant, continuous siren	Hallway, kitchen	Smoke or heat detector
Panic (24hr)	Silent or audible	Bedroom, office	PA button or pendant

FAQ¶

How many zones does my UK home alarm need?: A 3-bedroom semi-detached needs 8-12 zones: front door, back door, 3-4 ground floor PIRs, 1-2 first floor PIRs, kitchen/dining, loft, and garage. Zone expander modules (4-8 zones, £30-£50) add capacity if needed.
Can I put multiple sensors on one zone?: Yes - wired contacts can be connected in series on a single zone (NC loop). All sensors on a zone trigger as that zone. This is efficient for grouped window contacts. PIR detectors should be on individual zones to identify the location.
What is part-arm (home mode) in UK alarms?: Part-arm activates perimeter zones only - doors and ground floor windows - while bypassing interior PIRs. This allows you to arm the system at night while family members move freely inside. Set in the alarm keypad installer menu. For more information see our Dual-Tech Detector Guide UK.

Last updated: 2026-05-31.

External Resources¶

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