Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC): 24/7 Alarm Monitoring for Lone Worker Safety
SoloProtect’s Alarm Receiving Centre is a 24/7/365 monitoring environment, purpose-built to protect lone workers. Staffed by highly trained operators, our EN 50518-certified ARC delivers immediate, expert responses to Red Alerts and other safety incidents — ensuring help is dispatched quickly and appropriately.
What is an Alarm Receiving Centre?
An Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) is a secure monitoring centre responsible for receiving, verifying and escalating alarm activations and emergency alerts. In lone worker safety, an ARC provides 24/7 alarm monitoring and emergency escalation support when a worker raises an alert, activates a panic alarm or experiences an incident requiring assistance.
When a lone worker triggers an alert via their device or safety app — whether through Red Alert, Man Down, or another feature — the signal is quickly routed to our 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre (also known as our Monitoring Centre).
From there, a trained operator listens in, verifies the seriousness of the incident, pinpoints the worker’s location, and follows a pre-agreed escalation protocol. This could include dispatching emergency services or contacting a manager or internal response team.
Our BS 8484-accredited and NPCC-compliant Alarm Receiving Centre can request a Level 1 police response when escalation criteria are met.
After a Red Alert is raised, our experienced operators are listening in just 3 seconds
24/7 Monitoring and Emergency Escalation
How a Lone Worker Alert Is Handled
Activation
The lone worker activates a Red Alert, Man Down Alarm, or other emergency trigger via their device or app.
Monitoring
Within ~3 seconds, the call is answered by a highly trained operator in the SoloProtect ARC.
Verification
The operator listens to the audio (including Check-In messages), checks location data, and verifies the seriousness of the situation.
Response
If escalation is needed, emergency services or nominated contacts are notified — with an average response time of just 41 seconds from alert to action.
Why a Certified Alarm Receiving Centre Matters
Time is critical in a lone worker emergency. With SoloProtect’s 24/7 ARC, there’s no need for your staff to call 999 or delay response. We handle verification, escalation, and communication — with robust systems designed to work in high-pressure scenarios. Unlike unregulated monitoring solutions, our ARC operates under the highest compliance and security standards, giving you confidence in every response.
Lone Worker Devices and Apps with 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre Support
Every alert is handled by our dedicated Alarm Receiving Centre around the clock. Explore our range of safety devices and mobile app solutions to ensure your team gets expert response whenever they need it.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Alarm Receiving Centre
Is the Alarm Receiving Centre available to all SoloProtect customers?
Yes — the 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre is included as standard. All customers benefit from professional monitoring as part of our lone worker safety service.
Can alarm calls be routed to our internal team instead of the ARC?
No — all emergency alerts are routed to our certified ARC. This ensures quick, consistent, and professional handling. However, our team can escalate the incident immediately to your managers, internal responders, or designated contacts.
What accreditations does the Alarm Receiving Centre have?
SoloProtect’s Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) operates to recognised industry standards designed to support quality, resilience, information security and emergency escalation procedures for lone worker safety.
Key accreditations and standards include:
- BS 8484 – The British Standard for lone worker services, covering how alarms are handled, escalated and monitored to support emergency response procedures.
- EN 50518 – The European standard for Alarm Receiving Centres, recognising high standards for security, resilience, staffing and operational continuity within monitoring centres.
- ISO 27001 – An internationally recognised standard for information security management, helping ensure sensitive customer and incident data is securely managed and protected.
- NPCC-compliant procedures – SoloProtect’s ARC follows National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) guidance relating to lone worker services and emergency escalation. This supports the ability to request a Level 1 police response in qualifying situations.
- BS 9518 – A code of practice relating to the processing of alarm signals within alarm receiving centres, supporting consistent and effective alarm management procedures.
These accreditations help demonstrate that SoloProtect’s monitoring centre operates in line with recognised standards for alarm monitoring, lone worker protection and emergency escalation.
Learn more about our accrediations
How quickly do operators respond to a Red Alert?
Operators begin listening to an alert call within approximately 4 seconds, and begin escalation in around 41 seconds on average.
See more information about Red Alerts
Can we visit the Alarm Receiving Centre?
Yes! Customers are welcome to tour our Sheffield-based ARC and see the infrastructure, technology, and security processes that support 24/7/365 uptime
Why is a certified ARC better than self-monitoring or in-house solutions?
Certified Alarm Receiving Centres like SoloProtect’s offer:
- Faster response times
- Verified escalations
- Police-level access (via BS 8484)
- Consistent coverage and reduced liability
Learn more with our blog: BS 8484 Lone Worker Standard Explained
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