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Early Spring Forward for Daylight Saving Time May Impact Your Security Systems

This year, Daylight Saving Time (DST) starts on March 11 instead of in April. In an effort to cut energy costs, the U.S. Congress passed a law to move the start date of Daylight Saving Time ahead by three weeks and to move the end date of DST back by one week. Please be aware that not all technology from cell phones and computers to security systems will automatically update to the new start and end dates of Daylight Saving Time. This is nothing like Y2K, but there are steps that should be taken to ensure there is no gap or lapse in your security protection.

Key Notes:

Most intrusion and fire alarm systems have display clocks that will require reprogramming. The system clock is typically reprogrammed from the keypad.
Almost every access control system operates on an internal clock, which will require reprogramming. The system clock is typically reprogrammed from the system software.
Almost every CCTV recorder (VCR, DVR, etc.) operates on an internal clock, which will require reprogramming. The system clock is typically reprogrammed from the recording unit.
Special care should be taken on any security system that operates any type of automatic relay function such as “auto-open,” “auto-close,” “auto-on,” “auto-off” that is based on the system’s internal clock. These functions will automatically occur based on the previous programming unless otherwise adjusted.
Please note that many internal system clocks have existing auto-programs for the old Daylight Saving Time dates. Thus, three weeks after March 11, the clock will automatically change. This may override your manual adjustments from March 11. Be prepared to adjust your system clock four times:

March 11: new start DST date
April 1: old start DST date
October 28: old end DST date
November 4: new end DST date

HSM Support Options:

If you have a question about the impact of the new start and end dates for DST on your HSM security system or do not know how to reprogram your system, please contact HSM’s ProtectionNet Customer Service Center at 1-877-HSM- 4YOU. If required, the ProtectionNet Technical Assistance Center (TAC) team can provide basic technical support over the telephone 24 hours a day. For Daylight Saving Time telephone support, there will be no charge to HSM customers.
If you want or need to have an HSM service technician visit your location to test or reprogram your security system for the early DST date, please contact the HSM ProtectionNet Customer Service Center at 1-877-HSM -4YOU. A service technician can be dispatched to your location during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:00am–4:00pm, or at any time on an emergency basis. An on-site service visit by an HSM technician for Daylight Saving Time support is a chargeable service call and will be billed based on HSM standard T&M (time and material) rates.

It’s best to get out your calendar now and circle Sunday, March 11, 2007. Before then, you should determine if your security system requires the clock to be reprogrammed, if you can reprogram the clock yourself, if you need HSM telephone support or if you require an on-site service call. Advance planning will help reduce the risk of any problem, potential gap or lapse in your security system and will put your mind at ease.

In addition, do not forget the extra week in the fall. We will not “fall back” until the first weekend in November. Thus, if your system requires manual reprogramming, it may be required four times (March 11: new start DST date; April 1: old start DST date; October 28: old end DST date; November 4: new end DST date) every year, although not on the same days of the month.