Mercantile Burglar Alarm Systems (CVSG)

A mercantile alarm system is one in which the operation of electrical protection circuits and devices activates an alarm sounding device inside and/or outside of the protected premises. A mercantile alarm system may or may not provide remote location transmitting equipment that will transmit a signal off premises. The operation of a mercantile alarm system is primarily under the control of the owner or others interested in the property to be protected.

Any supervision of system arming and disarming is not audited by UL. Alarm investigators are not required or audited by UL.

A mercantile Certificate displays the following information about an alarm system.

System description

• Type of system - premise, stockroom, safe, vault, night depository, automatic teller machine or holdup
• Extent of protection - numbers 2, 3 or 4; complete or partial. (Definitions can be found in UL 681. For example, extent 2 is the highest level of protection and extent 4 the lowest.)
• Area covered/location - text that clarifies exactly what is protected by system.
• Alarm sounding device - inside, outside or inside and outside.

Remote monitoring 

• Monitoring entity (if monitoring is provided) - the name and address of the party monitoring the system.
• Party notified in case of alarm - may be law enforcement, subscriber or subscriber's agent.
• Primary signal transmission method 
• Secondary transmission method (if used)
• UL Listed alarm transport company (if used) - name of company and UL file number.
• Line security employed - no line security, standard line security (equivalent to the traditional Grade AA, BB, CC), encryption (uses Listed equipment marked Encryption).

Control and transmitter units

Manufacturer's name and model numbers