Bypassing a Zone on a DSC NEO

If you have a wired or wireless security system, you may be wondering how to bypass a zone. Most wired security systems have multiple zones, and each zone can be bypassed individually.

To bypass a zone, you will need to access the keypad of your security system. Once you are at the keypad, you will need to find the zone that you want to bypass. Once you have found the zone that will not set and stays open, you will need to enter a keypad command to enter the bypass command. After you have pressed the bypass button, the system will bypass that particular zone. You will still be protected by the other zones and your system will keep functioning, except that one zone which is bypassed.

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Bypass

Most users are not familiar with the terms used by alarm engineers and installers. Most of you should have heard the term bypass. What does it mean to bypass a zone? If your alarm system has a open input for example let’s say zone 4 is the Kitchen window, and you have not closed it, the alarm system will not arm, unless an attribute called force arming is enabled on the zone. The alarm system will give an audible beep upon code entry, but the system will not go to a arm state. To get around the problem, let say the hinge on the window broke and you are unable to close the window, we can bypass the zone in question. After bypassing has been completed we can now arm the system, as we normally would.

How do bypassed zones work?

After a zone has been bypassed the system will ignore the zone in question. That is why most commercial systems have the feature protected by a code prompt. Only certain users or pins have the option to bypass zones, since the feature can become a security risk of the wrong user has access to the feature.

Imagine someone bypasses some of the zones on the system, arms the system before the leave a premises. The control room would receive a message that the system is armed, but with some zones bypassed. The vulnerability in your perimeter is now the ideal point of attack or breakin, unless someone notices the bypass.

By default the system has been configured to clear your bypasses on every arm and disarm, but the possibility to exploit the system is still present.

Bypass or Stay/Away/Night Zones 

The [*][1] command functions differently depending on whether the system is armed or disarmed.

Note: For UL/ULC listed installations, group bypass is not allowed. 

When The Alarm System is Disarmed 

Users can bypass individual zones or a programmed group of zones using the [*][1] keypad command. Zones are commonly bypassed if users want to have access to an area while the partition is armed, or to bypass a defective zone (bad contact, damaged wiring) until service can be provided. A bypassed zone does not cause an alarm. 

When the partition is disarmed, all zones that were bypassed using [*][1] are no longer bypassed, except for 24-hr zones. If the Code Required for Bypass option is enabled, an access code is required to enter bypass mode. Only access codes with the Bypass attribute enabled can bypass zones (see “Access Code Attributes” on page 48). 

Bypassing zones with an LCD keypad: 

1. Ensure the system is disarmed. 
2. Press [*] to enter the function menu. The keypad displays “Press [*] for < > Zone Bypass.” 
3. Press [1] or [*], then key in your access code (if required). 
4. Scroll to a zone or key in the three-digit zone number. Only zones enabled for zone bypassing are displayed. Enter the 3- digit zone number or scroll to the desired zone and press [*] to bypass the zone. 

“B” appears on the display to indicate the zone is bypassed. If a zone is open, “O” appears on the display. When an open zone is bypassed, the “O” is replaced by “B.” 

5. To clear a bypassed zone, repeat the above procedure. The “B” disappears from the display indicating that the zone is no longer bypassed. 
6. To exit bypass mode and return to the ready state, press [#]. 

Bypassing zones with a LED/ICON keypad: 

1. Ensure the system is disarmed. 
2. Press [*][1], then enter your access code (if required). 
3. Enter the three-digit number of the zone(s) to be bypassed. The zone light turns on to indicate that the zone is bypassed. 4. To clear a bypassed zone, repeat the above procedure. On LED keypads, the zone light turns off to indicate that the zone is no longer bypassed. 
4. To exit bypass mode and return to the ready state, press [#]. 

Note: LED Keypads display the bypass status of zones 1-16 only. 

Other Bypass Features: 

The following features are also available on the [*][1] zone bypass menu: 

Bypass Open Zones 

Bypass Group 

Displays a programmed group of zones (bypass group) commonly bypassed. Press [*] to bypass all zones in the group. Program Bypass Group 
To program a bypass group, bypass all desired zones then select Bypass Options > Program Bypass Group. The selected zones are saved to the bypass group. When finished, press [#] to exit. 
In order to program a bypass group, a master or supervisor code with access to the appropriate partition must be used. Bypass Recall 
Press [*] while in this menu to bypass the same group of zones that were bypassed the last time the partition was armed. – 41 –

Section 4: System Operation 

Clear Bypasses 

Press [*] to clear all bypasses. 

Shortcuts from the [*][1] base menu: 

991 = bypass group 
995 = program group 1 
998 = bypass open zones 
999 = bypass recall 
000 = clear group 

When The Alarm System is Armed 

When the system is armed, pressing [*][1] toggles between stay, away or night arming. If a night zone is on the system, press ing [*][1] either prompts the user for an access code if required, or sounds an acknowledgment tone and changes the arming mode. 

Note: If section [022], Option 5 [Stay/Away Toggle] is on, the system does not change from Away to Stay mode. The zone attribute for zone bypassing must be enabled (see section [002] Zone Attributes, Option 04). Holdup zones should not be part of bypass groups. 

A zone that is manually bypassed via [*][1] will bypass the alarm, fault, and tamper conditions when DEOL is used. If a 24-hour zone is bypassed, ensure that the zone is restored or disabled before removing the bypass.