We have been producing security sensors for years. Recently, though, we took a major leap forward with our newest product, the Sentinel high-security sensor. It is a tamper resistant, UL 634 Level 2 listed entry point sensor.
UL, a global independent safety science company, introduced its UL 634 rating as the standard for all connectors and switches for use in burglar-alarm systems. The UL 634 requires 40 standards be met to be listed, an additional eight testing criteria to achieve Level 1 and another eight requirements to achieve UL 634 Level 2. These eight requirements for Level 2 include passing a switch assembly removal test, a magnetic field compromise test and an extended endurance test. To understand why Sentinel is the superior option for high-security monitoring, it can help to see how it meets some of the requirements of a UL 634 Level 2 listing.
Resistant to magnetic tampering
Sentinel uses multiple Hall sensors to sense the magnetic field of the actuator. Standard security sensors only measure the strength of the magnetic field of the actuator. Sentinel can measure not only the strength of the magnetic actuator but also the X, Y and Z axis of the magnetic field. Duplicating the magnetic field in an attempt to trick the sensor is nearly impossible . Internal algorithms are also a key part of the versatility and performance of the sensor. Sentinel’s internals can tell the difference between a misaligned switch, door sag and a tamper attempt. The use of Hall sensors also allowed us to design a product that was significantly smaller than comparable sensors.
Resistant to physical removal or tampering
Sentinel features a tamper plate that houses a magnet and it must be installed before mounting the sensor onto the mounting surface. Once the tamper plate is mounted, the sensor will go over the top of the tamper plate and will be hidden inside of the sensor housing. While in a secure state, if an attempt were made to unscrew Sentinel from the mounting surface the tamper plate would stay on the wall while the sensor would move away. This would cause a change in magnetism and would send a tamper signal to the alarm panel.
Endurance test
UL 634 Level 2 certification requires an endurance test of over 1 million cycles. The test wasn’t just running the sensor through on/off cycles but was tested while mounted to a fixture that mimics a door swing. With Sentinel utilizing Hall sensor technology, there are no moving parts within the sensor, allowing for millions of cycles and a high level of reliability.
These are only three of the requirements that we had to meet while designing Sentinel. But our goal was not simply to meet the requirements of UL 634 Level 2, but to exceed them and develop a superior high-security sensor.
