Updated 02/11/2026
A duress alarm is a button or device that lets someone call for help without the person threatening them knowing. It sends a silent signal to a monitoring station, which then acts on it. Duress alarms are common in shops, offices, clinics and any business where staff handle cash, work alone or deal with the public.
This guide explains how duress alarms work, the types you can choose from, and what happens when one is pressed.
How a duress alarm works
A duress alarm is part of a monitored security system. When it is pressed, the alarm panel sends a signal to a 24/7 monitoring station. Unlike a normal intruder alarm, a duress signal is usually silent on site: there is no siren, so the situation is not escalated and the person who pressed it is not put at more risk.
The monitoring station knows the signal is a duress event, not a break-in, and follows the response plan agreed with the business beforehand.
Types of duress alarm
Fixed duress buttons
A fixed button mounted out of sight, for example under a counter, a reception desk or a cash register. It is wired or connected to the alarm panel and is pressed by hand or knee.
Portable duress pendants
A small wireless button worn on a lanyard, belt or wrist, so staff can raise an alert anywhere on site, not just at the desk. Useful for staff who move around, work in a warehouse yard, or lock up alone.
Duress codes on the keypad
Many alarm systems can be set up with a separate duress code. If someone is forced to disarm the alarm, they enter the duress code instead of their normal code. The alarm appears to switch off as normal, but the monitoring station receives a silent duress signal.
Duress, panic or hold-up alarm: what is the difference?
The names are often used loosely. In general, a duress or hold-up alarm is silent and goes to a monitoring station, while a panic alarm may also sound a siren on site to scare someone off or warn people nearby. Which one suits depends on the risk: a silent alarm avoids escalating a robbery, while an audible one can make sense where drawing attention is the aim.
Which businesses use duress alarms?
- Retail and hospitality, especially counters that handle cash
- Petrol stations and fuel sites
- Offices and receptions that deal with the public
- Medical practices and clinics
- Warehouses and sites where staff open up or lock up alone
In a commercial alarm system, duress and hold-up buttons sit alongside zoned intruder detection and after-hours schedules, all on the same panel.
What happens when a duress alarm is pressed
With 24/7 back to base monitoring, the signal goes straight to the control room, which is staffed 24 hours a day. Rest-A-Sured’s monitoring response starts within 90 seconds. The operator follows the instructions set up with the business in advance, such as who to call and whether to send help.
Duress and panic signals are one of several things a monitored system can report beyond break-ins. Rest-A-Sured also monitors medical and personal alarms, fire and smoke, and plant and environmental alarms.
What to check before you add a duress alarm
- Is the alarm monitored? A duress button on an unmonitored system has no one to answer it.
- Where will the buttons go? Within easy reach, but out of sight of customers.
- Fixed, portable or both? Think about where staff actually are when something goes wrong.
- Who is called, and in what order? Agree the response plan with the monitoring station.
- Can your existing alarm do it? Many existing panels can have duress buttons or a duress code added rather than being replaced.
Duress alarms from Rest-A-Sured Security
- WA owned and locally owned, based in Wangara
- In the security industry since 1998 (28 years)
- WA security licence 09458
- Affiliated with one of the largest independently owned grade 1 monitoring stations in WA
- 2 year warranty on installations
See our commercial alarm systems and 24/7 security monitoring, or call 08 9309 9500 for a site assessment and a free quote.
Duress alarm questions
Is a duress alarm silent?
Usually, yes. A duress alarm is designed to send a silent signal to a monitoring station so the situation is not escalated. A panic alarm may also sound a siren on site.
Does a duress alarm need to be monitored?
For it to be useful, yes. The point of a duress alarm is that someone is alerted and acts on it, which is the job of a 24/7 monitoring station.
Can I add a duress button to my existing alarm?
In many cases. Fixed buttons, wireless pendants or a duress code can often be added to an existing panel. A technician can check what your system supports.
What is a duress code?
A separate keypad code that looks like a normal disarm but sends a silent duress signal to the monitoring station. It is for situations where someone is forced to switch the alarm off.