BT redcare has moved to keep ahead of new European standards by introducing higher frequency polling when GSM becomes the primary path and maintaining it over a longer period.

Now as soon as GSM takes over as the primary path following any failure in the landline, polling will be carried out every three minutes and that will continue for up to 96 hours – enough to cover a Friday-through-Monday bank-holiday weekend. Previously polling was every five minutes for up to 72 hours. The move is BT redcare’s response to changes in interpretation of the new European Norm 50131 and concerns by the Association of British Insurers over protection of premises during bank holiday weekends.

After the full four days at three-minute polling, the GSM STU will be polled at five-hour intervals for a further ten days. Dealing with intruders who may try to anticipate the cycle, the pattern will now be “jittered” to give random polling times but all with a five hour mean. After 14 days, polling will drop back to 24 hourly for up to another 14 days after which point the GSM will be removed from the system.