What is my alarm system allowed to do? – A legal classification

It sounds incredibly tempting at first: Simply install everything I need to protect my home! Motion detectors, lighting, loud outdoor sirens, cameras in every corner – especially people who have already been the victim of a burglary tend to plan their security based on the motto "more is better." 

However, this isn't advisable, as the law has set strict requirements for many components of an alarm system, which users must adhere to. We've summarized these restrictions below so you can relax and enjoy your security system! 

1. Motion detector 

There are basically two types of motion detectors: indoor and outdoor. The models also differ in how they are triggered: Some only trigger lighting, thus acting as a deterrent. Others send a signal to an alarm system when triggered, thus triggering the alarm. 

There are two different legal regulations governing the operation of motion detectors outdoors. First, only waterproof motion detectors may be installed outdoors to prevent injuries and property damage from short circuits and sparks. The housing must also have a drainage option for rainwater to prevent damage from waterlogging. Second, outdoor lighting triggered by a motion detector may not be activated for longer than 30 minutes to avoid disturbing neighbors. 

The PIR-926 outdoor motion detector is waterproof and storm-proof, thus complying with legal regulations. The battery is solar-charged, so the motion detector is always ready for use. 

There are no legal regulations regarding the general installation of motion detectors outdoors, so you can install as many as you like. The only exception is if they're paired with a camera. In this case, the same regulations apply as for surveillance cameras. 

2. Camera 

The use of surveillance cameras of any kind in private spaces automatically triggers criminal law, as the right to one's own image and the special protection of confidentially spoken words are guaranteed by law. Merely attempting to record someone without their knowledge is generally punishable and can result in up to one year in prison . Recording images and sound may therefore only be done within strict legal limits. Recording one's own property or home is permissible.

Private living space (including property) is specially protected by law and may not be violated. As a general rule, you should post a sign indicating the use of a camera on your property . Secretly filming someone else also violates their right to their own image : People may not be filmed without their consent, nor may the results be published, for example, by uploading them online. Therefore, you must ensure that your camera is actually only monitoring your own living space or property. 

Public spaces may not be filmed. Rotating cameras must be used to ensure they are not directed at neighboring properties or apartments. Shared access routes and driveways are also subject to this policy and may not be filmed, as such surveillance may violate a neighbor's right to informational self-determination . 

A brief digression on image rights: Different European countries naturally have different rules. In short, in Austria, Italy, and France, for example, it's permitted to film third parties and publish their images, provided you obscure all identifying features such as faces or license plates. In Austria, it's generally permitted to photograph or film people without their consent, but the material may not be published. The exception to this rule is minors, of whom no images may be taken. 

Things are quite different in Germany : Here, you are generally committing a criminal offense if you make someone else's pictures or videos available to the public without their consent. This is known as a "prohibition with reservation of permission." There are exceptions to this rule, which you can read about here on Wikipedia , but these apply to artistic representations, not to recordings from your surveillance camera! 

Of course, these rules don't apply to the potential burglar( s ). If someone illegally gains access to your home, you are certainly allowed to film them doing so! However, you may not publish the resulting footage yourself under any circumstances ; instead, you should leave it with the investigating authorities as evidence. 

With the PT-300Q indoor camera, you have a complete overview of almost everything around you. You can monitor the feed from up to four cameras simultaneously in real time via the app and save everything to a microSD card or the cloud! 

3. Alarm systems 

Alarm systems and loud outdoor sirens may generally be installed in any private home. The acoustic signal primarily serves to discourage and scare away intruders, while a pulse is sent to the base station and triggers the actual alarm. 

Of course, a triggered alarm siren can be extremely disruptive to residents and neighbors. Therefore, the duration of the siren is limited by law to 180 seconds – this time must not be exceeded. 

The WS-280 outdoor siren will sound its 105 dB alarm tone for exactly these permitted 3 minutes once it is triggered.

Conclusion: 

When installing your smart home security system, you must adhere to a few legal regulations. Apart from that, you can put together your own personalized security system based on your needs and the requirements of your home. You can find everything you need here in our starter kits: https://chuango.de/collections/smart-home-alarm-starter-kits