New Intruder Alarm Standards

An insurance view of the future

A presentation for ASC by

Barry Faiers

Principal Security Surveyor,

Allianz Cornhill Insurance Plc

The introduction of the new

European Standards and

British Standard Codes of Practice

that will be replacing

BS 4737 during 2005.

Then and Now

• British Standards were last updated in 1988

• Need to align with European Standards

• Conflicting British Standards Withdrawn 1st March 2004,

• but not all European Standards are published!

• PD 6662:2004 will be used to ‘plug the gaps’

What Standards?

• Pr EN50131 : 2004

• BS EN 50131 - 6

• PD 6662 : 2004

• DD243 : 2002

• DD243 : 2004

What’s Changing?

• There will be dual running of BS’s and EN’s from

1st October 2004 until 1st October 2005

• but not ‘mixed’ systems

• ENs will not be retrospective

• DD 243 will still apply

• to get a police response (England and Wales) new systems will still have to transmit a confirmed signal

What’s different?• EN calls for graded systems using graded equipment

• Grades 1, 2, 2X, 3, 4

• System will be graded to its lowest component.

• Some equipment e.g. Grade 4 may not be available yet.

• Terminology:

Terminology

• Signalling becomes Alarm transmission systems (ATS’s)

• Bells and sirens become Warning Devices (WD’s)

• Notification covers both ATSs and WDs.

• Specification becomes System Design Proposal

• New document introduced: As fitted Document

The Grades

• Grade 1 - very low, equivalent to DIY

• Grade 2 - acceptable for low risks

• Grade 2X - as Grade 2 but bells only

• Grade 3 - Roughly equivalent to existing systems

• Grade 4 - high security old BS 7042 systems

FEATURE GRADE 1 GRADE 2 GRADE 3 GRADE 4

Signalling andwarningdevices (WDs)

Choice of audibleonly or low graderemote signalling

Warning device andremote signalling(Option X permitsaudible only)

Warning device andenhanced remotesignalling

Warning device andhigh securitysignalling

MovementDetectors

Tamper detectionoptional

Tamper detectionmandatory

As Grade 2 + anti -masking detection

As Grade 3 + rangereduction detection

Level ofsupervision(guide to themethod ofintrusion to beconsidered)

Opening of externaldoors + trap

Opening of externaldoors and windowsetc. + trap

Opening of andpenetration throughexternal doors andwindows etc. + trapand specialconsideration to highrisk items

As Grade 3 +penetration of walls,ceilings, roof andfloor.

Tamper Control andindicating equipment+ signallingequipment + warningdevices+ power supplies.

As Grade 1 +detectors + junctionboxes.

As Grade 2 + anti-masking andadjustment of theorientation ofdetectors

As Grade 3 +penetration ofcontrols andsignalling equipment.+ penetration of WDs

EventRecording

Not required. 250 events 500 events + user i.d. 1000 events + useri.d.

Maintenancerequirementsper annum – asqualified by PD6662:2004

1 site visit 2 site visitsOR1 site visit + 1 remotediagnostic check(Option X – audibleonly- one site visit)

As Grade 2 2 site visits

Who decides the Grade?• The installer must carry out a written risk

assessment to determine the Grade of system. • NSI / SSAIB to check that risk assessment has

been done but not how the Grade was decided on.

• Insurer can advise client of the Grade required. • Insurer will not see the installers risk

assessment. (warranty implications!)

Summary – Gross Incurred Claims

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

£m

Theft Fire BI Weather Subsidence

What grade shall I request?• Most systems will be Grade 3 • this equates roughly to existing systems.

• Low risk shops could be Grade 2

• Low risk shops ‘live on premises’ and multi-tenure offices with 24 hour guarding could be Grade 2X

• Domestic - Grade 2 or 2X but Grade 3 for very high risk

What do I need to know?• Grade 1 not suitable for insurance purposes

• Difficult and costly to upgrade from 2 to 3

• Grade 4 will be rarely used and equipment may not be available in the short term.

• (Use Grade 3 equipment where grade 4 is not available)

• Remember the lowest graded item of equipment will determine the grade of the whole system.

How to specify:

• ‘An intruder alarm system must be installed by a company recognised by a UKAS accredited inspection body (NSI or SSAIB).

• The system must conform to EN 50131-1 according to the scheme described in PD6662:2004 for a Grade {2/3/4} system, with dual path signalling by BT Redcare GSM or Dualcom Plus’

How to check a specification • Correct grade of system?

• Method of verification? Sequential, audio, visual

• Coverage of equipment :

• enough detectors in an area for sequential activations?

• area of detection and coverage of microphones for audio?

• area of detection and view of cameras for visual?

• Method of unsetting as per DD243? - 6.4.4 is unacceptable

• Correct signalling - dual path? BT Redcare GSM or Dualcom Plus by name other systems are on the way, but untested!

DD 243 Unsetting

• 6.4.1 - General details• 6.4.2 - Unlocking entry door unsets IAS• 6.4.3 - unlocking “ ” disables all conf.• 6.4.4 - opening entry door disables all conf.• 6.4.5 - completion of unsetting using a PACE• 6.4.6 - unsetting carried out in conjunction

with the Alarm Receiving Centre.

DD243 : 2004

• Description of unsetting option inc. para no. e.g. 6.4.3.

• A warning if 6.4.4 unsetting is used

• A warning about single path signalling

• The specified parts of the premises that do, and do not, have effective confirmation facility

• Confirmation time to be stated

• Annexe F (informative): Information to be included in the System Design Proposal and As Fitted Documents.

DD243 issues

• Nottinghamshire Police are requiring all existing systems be made confirmed systems from March 2006 if a police response is required.

Other issues……SIA Approved Contractors Scheme

Proposed Standard Definition:• Seeks to describe the “perfect” organisation, rather

than setting a minimum standard• “Pass mark” to be decided after the scheme has been

piloted• “Reasonable” evidence of compliance required• No requirement for accreditation to ISO9001:2000• No requirement for compliance with British Standards

The End

QUESTIONS?(and maybe some answers)