A shop, an office or a medical practice protects itself differently from a house. Several people have access, some zones stay open while others are closed, and you need to know who armed or disarmed the system, and when. An Ajax alarm meets these needs with three tools: security groups, badges and the user log. This article explains how to use them in a professional setting.
Which hub for a shop or office?
The hub sets the limits of the system. For business premises, the Hub 2 Plus (€512.48 incl. VAT) is the most comfortable choice: 200 devices, 200 users, 25 groups, 64 scenarios, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and two 4G SIM cards. The Hub 2 (€292.75 incl. VAT) remains possible for a small space: 100 devices, 50 users and 9 groups, with Ethernet and two 2G SIMs. Prices are indicative: the price displayed on the product page prevails.
In both cases, the limit is 10 sirens and keypads in total, and 5 ReX range extenders. If you hesitate, our comparison Hub 2 vs Hub 2 Plus sets out the decision criteria. All options are gathered in the Ajax hubs collection.
Security groups: protect one zone without blocking another
A group is a set of detectors that are armed together. In a shop, you could create for example:
- a "sales floor" group;
- a "stockroom" group;
- an "office" group;
- a "rear access" group.
In the evening, the last employee arms everything. During the day, you can arm only the stockroom or the rear while the sales floor stays open. In a practice with several practitioners, each can arm their own room without touching the others. Each user receives rights on certain groups only.
Mind the ceiling: 9 groups on a Hub 2, 25 on a Hub 2 Plus. For premises with many zones, this is one more argument for the Plus version.
Badges and the KeyPad Plus keypad
The KeyPad Plus (€158.64 incl. VAT) is a wireless keypad with an RFID reader. Each person gets their own badge or card, and can also have a code. Advantages in a professional setting:
- a simple gesture to arm or disarm, without typing a code in front of customers;
- a lost badge is deleted in the app, without changing anyone else's code;
- each badge is linked to a person, so to a name in the log.
Place the keypad inside, near the entrance, at about 1.4 m height, never on the facade. For a point of sale, two keypads (main entrance and rear access) are common. The standard KeyPad (€122.96 incl. VAT) works by code only. The KeyPad TouchScreen (€427.54 incl. VAT) is a higher-end option. See all models in Ajax keypads.
The user log
Every action is recorded in the app: arming, disarming, alarm, with the time and the user. For a manager, this is useful to check the morning opening, understand why an alarm was triggered or know who came in outside opening hours. The log is included, without subscription. It identifies people, so inform your employees of its existence and use.
A practical tip: give each person their own badge, even for a few days of cover. A shared badge makes the log useless, because you no longer know who did what. And when someone leaves the company, remove their access the same day.
Which detectors for business premises?
- Sales floor, corridor, office: the MotionProtect (€79.34 incl. VAT) detects at 12 m, with adjustable pet immunity.
- Veranda, premises exposed to sun or draughts: the MotionProtect Plus (€109.51 incl. VAT), which combines infrared and microwave.
- Sensitive area needing evidence: the MotionCam (€174.00 incl. VAT), which sends photos on every alarm.
- Access doors: the DoorProtect (€46.04 incl. VAT), or the DoorProtect Plus (€69.07 incl. VAT) with shock and tilt detection for the entrance door.
- Shop windows: the GlassProtect (€79.34 incl. VAT) detects glass breakage by microphone.
For a shop window, place motion detectors out of direct sunlight, away from radiators and air conditioning. A detector is mounted at about 2.4 m so that an intruder must cross its field. To choose by room, browse the Ajax detectors.
Dispatching and intervention: what happens when the alarm goes off?
An alarm sounding in empty premises only matters if someone reacts. Two services complete the equipment:
- Dispatching, from €21.78/month incl. VAT: a monitoring centre receives the alarm, checks it on images and calls emergency services if necessary.
- Intervention after alarm, €30.25/month incl. VAT + €90.75 incl. VAT per intervention, provided by European Private Security (approved no. 0549945656): an agent travels to the site.
The hub transmits via SIA DC-09, SurGard Contact ID or ADEMCO 685, which allows it to be linked to a monitoring centre. An M2M SIM card costs €9.68/month incl. VAT. For the full picture, read alarm linked to a monitoring centre. The services are described in installation and services.
Insurance: check your policy
An alarm, sometimes linked to a monitoring centre, is often a condition of insurance for a business: check your policy. Read your contract or ask your insurer exactly what it requires (type of system, installer, connection, maintenance). Do not assume anything.
Installation and obligations
For a shop or an office, installation is carried out by a company approved by the FPS Interior. Our installation costs €302.50 incl. VAT for up to 10 items within 15 km of Brussels, by Belgium Security Brussels (approved no. 0666948937). Beyond that, travel costs €121 incl. VAT. The system must be declared on police-on-web within 10 days, then confirmed every year, and the outdoor siren is limited to 3 minutes. Everything is explained in declaring your alarm system in Belgium.
An example setup
For a small shop with a sales floor, stockroom and back door: one Hub 2 Plus, 2 or 3 MotionProtect, one MotionCam at the till area, one DoorProtect Plus on the entrance door, one DoorProtect on the rear access, one KeyPad Plus and one siren. This is only a starting point: the real number of devices depends on the floor plan. For a starter kit, see the Hub 2 Plus kit or the alarm kits collection.
Frequently asked questions
How many users can be created?
50 on a Hub 2, 200 on a Hub 2 Plus.
Can I remove access for an employee who leaves?
Yes. You delete their badge or code in the app, without touching the others.
Is an alarm required by my insurance?
It is often a condition of insurance: check your policy.
Do I need a monitoring subscription?
No, the alarm works without one. Dispatching is optional.
Can I control the alarm remotely?
Yes, from the app, with notifications and history.
Further reading
Explore Ajax alarms in Belgium, compare with which Ajax alarm to choose, or contact us through the contact page or on 0800 37 087.