Your alarm goes off. What happens next?

Who needs a Keyholding plan?

Any business with premises that may be empty overnight or at weekends needs a clear answer to who receives an alarm call and who can safely attend. That includes shops, offices, schools, warehouses and managed vacant buildings. Holding a set of keys is only one part of the arrangement: someone must be available, authorised to enter and familiar with the site. If your usual responder is away, a backup must know what to do.

Without a reliable plan, an alarm can be missed, a damaged entrance can remain unsecured or an employee may feel pressured to investigate alone. Suspected intruders should never be confronted. Written response instructions, secure access records and a way to report what happened help everyone make safer decisions. Professional Keyholding may reduce the need for staff to attend out of hours, but your organisation still needs to assess its own risks and agree the level of cover it requires.

What the check covers

1. Do you have a named person or security provider responsible for out-of-hours alarms?
2. Is backup cover arranged if the main responder cannot attend?
3. Does the responder have clear instructions for suspected intruders or signs of a break-in?
4. Have you assessed lone-attendance risks and put check-in and emergency procedures in place?
5. Are keys, access permissions and emergency contact details kept secure and checked regularly?
6. Does the responder know how to operate the alarm and record what happened?
7. Is there a plan for securing the premises if a door or window is damaged?

Answer each question Yes, No or I'm not sure. Your result identifies arrangements worth reviewing; it is not a safety rating or certification. Please do not enter alarm codes, key locations or personal contact details.

Sample result: arrangements worth reviewing

For example, if backup cover is not arranged, your action list will suggest nominating someone available and confirming how alarm calls reach them when the primary responder cannot attend. Your actual result depends on your seven answers and appears immediately, without an email address.

Staff attending alarms alone?

Employers must assess and manage risks to people working alone. Include out-of-hours alarm attendance in your arrangements. Professional Keyholding can reduce the need for staff to attend, but should be considered as part of wider risk management. Read HSE guidance on lone working.

Keyholding risk check FAQs

Who should arrange Keyholding?

Businesses, schools, landlords and premises managers should know who holds authorised keys and who will attend when an alarm activates outside working hours. The right arrangements depend on the building, its occupants and your existing response plan.

What happens if nobody can attend an alarm?

An activation may go unchecked, and damage or an insecure entrance may not be discovered promptly. Agree a primary responder, backup cover and clear instructions before an incident. Do not assume an alarm automatically brings police attendance.

Is this a formal risk assessment?

No. This free check highlights arrangements worth reviewing based on your answers. It cannot assess every hazard, determine legal compliance or replace a site-specific assessment by a competent person.

Do I need to share my details to see the result?

No. Your answers stay in your browser and your action list appears immediately. You can print or save it as a PDF. Contact Armour Security only if you choose to discuss Keyholding options.