What PIDS actually does
PIDS detects a defined physical event at the perimeter — vibration on a fence, beam break, microwave pattern change, buried-cable pressure event — and raises an alarm at the boundary, before the intruder is inside.
Main PIDS technologies
The four widely deployed families:
- Fence-mounted vibration / fibre-optic sensors
- Microwave bistatic / monostatic beams
- Active infrared beams
- Buried cable (pressure, magnetic, leaky coax)
Where PIDS is typically specified
PIDS is standard on critical infrastructure, government, military, high-security industrial and high-value logistics. On commercial sites it's increasingly common where perimeter is the primary risk surface.
In summary
- PIDS detects at the boundary, before the intruder reaches the building.
- Four main technology families with different physics and failure modes.
- Almost always paired with CCTV verification.
Frequently asked questions
Does PIDS replace CCTV?
No. PIDS detects but doesn't identify. CCTV is needed for verification and identification.
How does PIDS differ from a general intruder alarm?
General intruder alarms detect inside a building — PIRs in rooms, contacts on doors. PIDS detects at the outer boundary of a site, usually along a fence line or across a defined ground area, before the intruder reaches the building. The two are complementary rather than alternatives, and are commonly deployed together on high-value sites.
Which PIDS technology is most widely used?
Fence-mounted vibration or fibre-optic sensors dominate installed base globally, largely because most secured commercial and industrial perimeters already have a chain-link or palisade fence to mount them on. Microwave beams are next most common, particularly at vehicle gates and short critical runs. Buried cable is a specialist choice for covert or high-security perimeters.
Does PIDS work in bad weather?
Modern PIDS is designed for outdoor operation, but performance in extreme weather varies by technology. Fibre-optic fence sensors and dual-tech microwave/IR barriers cope well; older piezo systems and single-technology microwave beams can generate weather-driven false alarms in high wind, driving rain or heavy fog. Selection should factor local climate as a primary design constraint.
Can PIDS be added to an existing fence?
Fence-mounted PIDS retrofits onto most existing chain-link, palisade and weldmesh fences provided the fence itself is in serviceable condition. A structural survey of the fence is a required first step — a poorly maintained fence generates false alarms and undermines detection reliability, and retrofitting sensors onto it does not fix the underlying structural problem.
How is PIDS integrated with the response process?
PIDS events are routed to the alarm receiving centre with zone information indicating where along the perimeter the event occurred. The ARC pairs each PIDS zone with a designated CCTV camera view for verification, then follows the site's escalation protocol — typically audio challenge, keyholder or guard dispatch and verified police response as appropriate.
Is PIDS regulated by a specific standard?
PIDS in the UK is commonly designed to CPNI or NPSA guidance for high-security sites, and to EN 50131-based principles for commercial sites. In the US, UL 634 covers certain sensor categories. There is no single mandatory PIDS standard equivalent to EN 50131 for intruder alarms — site-specific design is expected to reference the relevant guidance.
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