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Understanding Entry / Exit Delays on Alarm Panels
What is an Entry Delay on the Alarm Panel?
You must disarm the system before the entry delay period ends, or an alarm will occur. The keypad beeps during the entry delay period, reminding you to disarm the system. The beeps stop when a code is entered, but will restart after about 15 seconds if an invalid code is entered.
You can also arm the system with no entry delay at all by using the INSTANT or MAXIMUM arming modes. These modes provide greater security while on the premises or while away for extended periods of time.
See your Alarm System Installer for your delay times.
What is an Exit Delay on an Alarm Panel?
Exit Delay Restart (if programmed): If you wish to open the entry/exit door to let someone in after arming STAY (the perimeter zones remain armed), you can restart the exit delay at any time – simply press the [✱] key, then let that person in. The system automatically rearms the entry/exit door when the exit delay expires, which avoids having to disarm the system and then rearm it again. Additionally, when the system is armed AWAY, reopening and closing the entry/exit door before exit delay time expires (e.g., re-entering to get a forgotten item), will reset the exit delay time once.
What is an Exit Alarm on an Alarm Panel?
Whenever you arm the system, the exit delay begins. If an entry/exit door or interior zone is faulted before exit delay expires and remains faulted (e.g., exit door left open), the system sounds an alarm and starts the entry delay timer. If you disarm the system before the entry delay ends, the alarm sound stops and the message “ALARM CANCELED ” or “CA” is displayed on the keypad, along with a zone number indicating the faulted zone. No message is sent to the Central Monitoring Station.
To clear the exit error condition, the open zone must be made intact; to clear the display, enter your code plus OFF. If you do not disarm the system before the entry delay ends and the faulted zone remains open, the alarm sound continues and an “exit alarm” message is sent to the Central Monitoring Station (after the installer-programmed dial delay expires). The message “EXIT ALARM” or “EA” is displayed on the keypad, along with a zone number indicating the faulted zone. To stop the alarm, the system must be disarmed (your code plus OFF); to clear the display, enter your code plus OFF a second time. An “exit alarm” also results if an entry/exit door or interior zone is faulted within two minutes after the end of the exit delay.
Note: Your system may have been programmed for this feature to minimize false alarms sent to the Central Monitoring Station. Ask your installer if “Exit Alarm” is active in your system. If so, check this box.