26/05/2026
What is an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC)?
An Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) is a continuously manned monitoring centre where information from alarm and video surveillance systems is received, assessed, and acted upon in real time.
ARCs are generally defined in two categories:
Category I ARCs provide a higher standard of monitoring and handle security-critical applications, including intruder alarms, hold-up alarms, access control systems, CCTV requiring emergency response, and lone worker monitoring.
Category II ARCs typically handle non-security applications such as fire alarms, lift alarms, social alarms, and non-security video surveillance systems.
When an alarm is activated, the ARC is responsible for ensuring it is correctly verified and actioned without delay — whether that involves escalation, dispatching a response, or notifying keyholders.
A professional ARC typically provides:
• 24/7 monitoring of intruder and fire alarms
• CCTV alarm verification and incident assessment
• Coordination of keyholding and alarm response
• Escalation to emergency services where appropriate
• Lone worker and out-of-hours protection support
At Samson, our SSAIB certificated EN 50518 Category I ARC operates 24/7, delivering monitoring, respon se coordination, and operational support across security-critical systems. Our ARC is also Secured by Design accredited as meeting the 'police preferred specification'.
We support both end users and security installers, offering flexible monitoring and response services tailored to system configuration.
For end users, this means:
• Professional 24/7 protection when premises are unoccupied
• Faster response and escalation when incidents occur
• A fully managed security layer behind their system
For installers, this means:
• A UK-certified ARC partner for monitoring services
• The ability to offer professional monitoring without building infrastructure
• Reliable escalation and response aligned with installations
• A straightforward way to add recurring monitoring revenue
Professional monitoring is what turns a security system into an active, managed protection service.
