Cost-Effective Lockdown Alarm Systems Reduce installation cost without compromising the emergency alert Cost-effective lockdown alarm systems should reduce installation, disruption and long-term ownership costs without making the alert harder to raise, hear or understand. Wireless installation can be particularly useful across schools, campuses and multi-building sites where cabling or civil works would add significant cost. Get a Lockdown Quote Why wireless lockdown alarms can reduce installation cost Wireless Less cabling, trenching and disruption where a wireless design is suitable. Scalable Start with the functions you need and add compatible features later. Activate Anywhere Provide activation points where staff may actually need to raise the alert. Multi-Site Wireless design can simplify coverage across separated buildings, subject to a site survey. What makes a lockdown alarm system cost-effective? Lockdown safety should be approached with the same mindset as fire safety. Even if the likelihood feels low, the consequences of hesitation are high. Cost-effective means investing in clarity and reliability — not just buying the cheapest thing that makes noise. A “just-do” option (whistles, bells, fog horns) can be quick to buy, but they don’t provide structured response, site-wide certainty, or a defensible decision if the worst happens. Where a wireless system can reduce project cost The biggest cost difference is rarely the equipment — it’s the installation, disruption, and the cost of “doing it again” when the first solution can’t scale. This system is often materially cheaper because it avoids those hidden costs. Scalable Start with what you need now and expand later. The system grows without forcing you into a full replacement or paying for features you don’t need on day one. Reduced Civil Works Avoid trenching, reinstatement, traffic management, permissions, and the disruption that comes with running cable across external areas. Faster Installation Faster deployment compared to traditional wired approaches. Less time on site typically means lower labour cost and less disruption to teaching or operations. Less Cabling No extended cable routes, no chasing walls, no long-distance wiring runs between buildings. That removes one of the biggest drivers of cost and project delay. Multiple Battery Options Flexible power choices can reduce electrical works and allow deployment in areas where mains power isn’t practical or would increase installation cost. Simple Starter Systems Smaller starter systems can be deployed without major works, supporting phased rollouts and budget control. You can start simple, prove it works for your site, and expand in stages. Key Benefits of the Camelott Lockdown Alarm System The Camelott Lockdown Alarm is designed for real sites — rural schools, campuses, portacabins, separate blocks, and phased upgrades — with a modular platform that scales without replacement. Purpose-Built for Lockdown A dedicated lockdown alert with clear meaning, distinct from everyday bells and distinct from fire alerts. Multiple Activation Points Multiple activation points can be positioned around the site so staff are not dependent on one central panel. Point-of-Incident Activation Place activation points close to the areas where staff may need to raise an alert quickly. Wireless Over Obstacles Wireless links can reduce the need for trenching between separate buildings, subject to radio coverage and the site survey. Multi-Site (No Line of Sight) Multi-building coverage can be designed for sites where blocks are separated or not directly visible from one another. Scalable Features Add voice announcements, battery notifications, fault monitoring, SMS/email alerts, AV alerts, and PC/mobile activation as requirements evolve — without replacing the system. Why a lockdown alert should be clear and easy to recognise Fire alarms are regulated because a small fire can become serious quickly. You trigger the alarm early because hesitation costs time. Lockdown incidents work the same way — even though regulation is evolving. A Clear Signal Staff should be able to recognise the lockdown signal and understand what their procedure requires them to do. Clear Beats Complex Too many tiers (“small lockdown”, “big lockdown”) can create hesitation or misinterpretation. A single unmistakable lockdown alert reduces confusion. Noise Isn’t a System A horn or bell may be suitable in some settings, but schools should still consider coverage, recognition, activation and testing. Designed for the Site The system should be selected around the site’s layout, communication needs, risk assessment and emergency procedure. Built to Scale — From Simple to Fully Integrated Start with the basics and expand later. The modular approach keeps budgets under control while allowing upgrades if expectations, guidance, or your site requirements change. Start Simple Begin with a clear push-button lockdown alert and local sounders — fast to deploy and easy to train. Add Reliability Add battery notifications, health checks, and fault alerts so the system remains ready. Add Communications Add voice announcements, email and SMS notifications so the right people know immediately. Add AV + Digital Control Add AV alerts, screen messaging, PC and mobile activation for larger campuses and multi-site oversight. Activate the Alarm at the Point of the Incident The first person to recognise an incident should be able to raise the alert immediately — without leaving pupils, without running to a separate building, and without relying on someone else. Immediate Activation Trigger from classrooms, corridors, playgrounds, offices, and portables. AV, PC & Mobile Activation Activate via screens, PCs, and approved mobile devices where configured. Avoid One Activation Location Use multiple suitable activation points rather than relying on one fixed location. Document the Rationale Record why the chosen alerting method, coverage and activation points suit the site’s procedure and risk assessment. Lockdown alarm options: what should you compare? There is no single alerting method that is right for every school or site. Compare how each option works in your buildings, how staff would activate it, whether everybody can recognise it, and what installation work is required. Feature to check Wireless lockdown alarm Manual horn / bell Existing PA / fire-system integration Multiple activation points Can be designed with multiple fixed or approved digital activation points. Depends on where devices are kept and who can reach them. Depends on the existing system, controls and permitted integration. Detached buildings Can support separate blocks

Why Schools Need a Lockdown Alarm Rapid, distinct emergency communication when normal movement may no longer be safe A school lockdown alarm can help staff warn the rest of the site quickly when the school’s emergency procedure requires lockdown, invacuation or restricted movement. The important questions are whether the alert can be raised quickly, reaches the required areas and is clearly understood by staff and pupils. View School Lockdown Systems The planning problem: delays and uncertainty Serious incidents are relatively rare, but emergency communication still needs to work when a school decides normal movement around the site may increase risk. A lockdown alarm is a communication control; it does not prevent the incident itself. Reliance on one location If the alert can only be raised from reception or one fixed panel, the person who first recognises the incident may have to contact somebody else before the wider site is warned. An unclear signal Staff need to know what the emergency signal means. A lockdown alert should be clearly distinguishable from routine bells and the school’s normal fire-evacuation signal. Coverage gaps Workshops, sports areas, playgrounds, temporary classrooms and detached buildings may need different alerting methods. Coverage should be checked rather than assumed. Testing and readiness The alarm and the school’s procedure should be tested so faults, weak coverage or unclear responsibilities are identified before a real emergency. Why multiple activation points matter The first member of staff to recognise an incident may be in a classroom, corridor, playground, office or separate building rather than at reception. Raise the alert closer to the incident Suitable activation points around the site can reduce reliance on one central location. The exact number and type should follow the school’s site layout, emergency procedure and risk assessment. Plan for more than one building Split-site schools, demountables and detached blocks can make communication more difficult. Wireless or hybrid alerting can help, subject to a proper coverage assessment and system design. What should a school check before choosing a lockdown alarm? Avoid choosing a system from the headline price or sounder specification alone. Start with what the school actually needs people to hear, see and do. System checks Can the alert be activated from suitable locations around the site? Is the lockdown signal clearly different from other routine and emergency alerts? Have classrooms, halls, offices, external areas and separate buildings been considered? Can visual or voice alerting be added where sound alone may not be enough? How are faults, batteries and communication links checked? Can the system be expanded if the school changes? Implementation checks Has the school decided what its lockdown or invacuation procedure actually requires? Are activation points positioned around realistic incident scenarios? Will nominated staff receive an operational handover? Is there a documented testing and maintenance process? Are drills and staff responsibilities kept separate from the technology itself? Can the supplier explain the proposed coverage rather than promising it without a survey? Camelott® can survey, design, install and support the communication system. The school remains responsible for its safeguarding, risk assessment, emergency procedures, drills and staff responsibilities. School lockdown alarm FAQs Why might a school need a lockdown alarm? A school may need to warn staff quickly when normal movement or evacuation could increase risk. A dedicated alarm can help put the school’s existing emergency procedure into action by giving people a rapid and recognisable warning. Is a lockdown alarm the same as a fire alarm? No. They support different emergency procedures. A fire alarm normally supports the school’s fire-evacuation arrangements, while a lockdown alert supports the school’s lockdown or invacuation procedure. The signals should be clearly distinguishable so staff know which procedure to follow. How many lockdown alarm devices does a school need? There is no universal number. It depends on the buildings, distance, construction, noise, external areas, activation requirements and the warning methods being used. A site survey should determine the proposed coverage and device locations. Can a lockdown alarm cover separate buildings and playgrounds? Potentially, yes. Wireless lockdown systems can be designed for detached buildings and suitable outdoor areas, but distance, construction, terrain, interference and ambient noise need to be considered during the survey. Will a lockdown alarm prevent a serious incident? No. A lockdown alarm is a communication control. It does not prevent an intruder, weapon incident or other emergency. Its purpose is to help warn the people who need to put the school’s planned response into action. Does Martyn’s Law require schools to buy a lockdown alarm? No specific lockdown alarm product is mandated by Martyn’s Law. A dedicated system may support lockdown and communication procedures where it is appropriate for the premises. Legal scope and preparedness should be considered separately from the purchase of equipment. Need to review your school’s lockdown alerting? Camelott® can assess buildings, activation points and the areas that need to receive the warning, then provide an itemised recommendation for a suitable lockdown alarm system. School Lockdown Alarm Survey Call 03333 449497 For the current legal position, see Martyn’s Law Explained .

Teaching Times Editorial Under the Desk: Schools Prioritise Lockdown Preparation This article by Sal McKeown , published by Teaching Times , looks at how schools are approaching lockdown preparation and the range of incidents that can require pupils and staff to remain secure inside the site. The useful point is that lockdown planning is not only about one type of threat. Schools need clear procedures, staff who understand their role and a reliable way to communicate when normal movement around the site may no longer be safe. Camelott® is sharing the article because it reflects questions we regularly hear from headteachers, safeguarding leads and estates teams: how quickly can an alert be raised, will it reach the people who need it, and will everybody understand what the signal means? Legal context: Martyn’s Law is now the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. The main duties are not yet in force and are currently expected to commence in spring 2027. Read our Martyn’s Law Explained guide for the current position.

The Role of Lockdown Alarms in Martyn’s Law Preparedness Where dedicated emergency alerting fits within a wider security procedure The role of lockdown alarms is to help communicate an emergency procedure quickly and clearly when people may need to lockdown, invacuate, evacuate by a different route or restrict movement. The alarm supports the procedure; it does not decide the response and it does not make a premises compliant with Martyn’s Law by itself. Hear Lockdown Alarm Sounds Current legal position: the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 is law, but its substantive duties are not yet in force. The SIA currently expects commencement in spring 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed. What is the purpose of a lockdown alarm? A lockdown alarm is a communication control. Its job is to warn the people who need to act and give the site’s planned response a clear starting point. Distinct from the normal fire signal A fire alarm and a security alert can require different actions. The lockdown signal should therefore be clearly distinguishable from the site’s normal fire-evacuation alarm and other routine sounds. Linked to a written procedure Staff need to know what the signal means and what they are expected to do. The sound or message only becomes useful when it is tied to a clear, practised procedure. Fast enough to be useful Activation should be practical for the people most likely to recognise an incident. Relying on one reception desk or one vulnerable location can introduce avoidable delay. Designed for the actual site Classrooms, workshops, halls, toilets, playgrounds, detached buildings and noisy areas can require different combinations of audible, visual or digital alerting. Multiple activation points The first person to recognise an incident may be nowhere near reception. Multiple suitable activation points can reduce dependence on one central location. Depending on the selected system and site design, activation can include fixed call points, authorised portable triggers or approved software controls. The location and type of trigger should follow the emergency procedure and the situations in which staff may genuinely need to raise the alert. Position activation points around realistic incident locations. Make activation simple enough to use under pressure. Control who can activate, reset or issue an all-clear. Test the complete route from activation to the people who need to receive the warning. Lockdown alarm sounds, voice messages and visual alerts There is no single universal UK lockdown tone. The warning method needs to be distinctive, intelligible and understood by the people expected to respond. Listen before choosing an alert Camelott® publishes 32 alarm-tone samples together with guidance on tone, voice annunciation, fire-alarm distinction and controlled all-clear procedures. Listen to the 32 Sounds Distinctive tone A dedicated tone can provide a simple warning, but people must already understand what it means and which procedure follows. Voice annunciation A short voice message can add context or instruction where the acoustics, procedure and chosen equipment make spoken information appropriate. Flashing beacons Visual alerts can supplement sound in noisy environments or where audible warning alone may not reliably reach everyone. Digital notifications Compatible systems can add desktop, monitoring, email or SMS functions where useful, but supplementary notifications should not become the only reliable on-site warning method. Where wireless lockdown alarms can help Wireless installation can reduce cabling and disruption, particularly on older, multi-building or fragmented sites. Radio coverage still needs to be assessed rather than assumed. Less cabling A suitable wireless design can reduce long cable runs, wall chasing and civil works compared with a comparable wired installation. Multi-building sites Detached blocks and external areas can be considered as part of the survey, with bridges or other compatible equipment used where the selected system supports them. Expansion Modular systems can allow compatible activation points, sounders, beacons or digital functions to be added later as the site or procedure changes. Survey and commissioning Building construction, distance, interference and ambient noise affect real-world performance. Coverage should be checked during design and commissioning. Example wireless lockdown alarm layout. Actual equipment quantities, positions and radio links depend on the site survey and selected configuration. How lockdown alarms fit with Martyn’s Law Martyn’s Law does not mandate a branded alarm system or a particular alarm tone. The technology is relevant only where it helps the responsible person implement suitable procedures. The Act requires appropriate public protection procedures — including evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication — for premises and events in scope, so far as is reasonably practicable. Enhanced Tier premises and qualifying events have additional requirements for public protection measures and documentation. A lockdown alarm does not make a site “Martyn’s Law ready” or compliant by itself. It may support the lockdown and communication parts of the plan where a dedicated alert is appropriate for the premises. For the legal scope, thresholds and current implementation position, read Martyn’s Law Explained . The role of lockdown alarms — FAQs Does Martyn’s Law require a lockdown alarm? No specific lockdown alarm product is mandated. The legislation requires appropriate public protection procedures and, for Enhanced Tier premises and qualifying events, additional public protection measures and documentation. Should a lockdown alarm sound different from the fire alarm? Yes, the signals should be clearly distinguishable where the planned responses differ. In education settings, Department for Education guidance says that where an existing alarm system is used for a threat alert, the threat signal must differ from the normal fire-alarm sound. Is a siren or a voice message better? Either can be suitable. A tone is simple and fast but depends on people already knowing its meaning. Voice annunciation can add instruction, but intelligibility, acoustics, message length and staff training matter. Some sites use both. Can a lockdown alarm have more than one activation point? Yes, where the selected system supports it. Multiple suitable activation points can reduce reliance on one central location and should be positioned around the site’s procedure and risk assessment. Can wireless alarms cover separate buildings? They can be designed for multi-building sites, subject to