Be prepared!

After years of debate the European Standards (EN) are about to be introduced for the intruder alarm systems industry. All installation companies and specifiers will be directly affected.

From October 1 2005 all NEW installations will be required to be installed to European Standards.

With the implementation of PD6662:2004, it is now possible to install systems based on the European standards that have been published to date. PD6662:2004 describes a scheme for installations and also includes issues which were considered necessary for the smooth introduction of the new standards within the UK.

In order to provide a smooth transition period from the current British standards to the European standards a period has been agreed during which either British standards can be used or systems can be installed using the PD6662:2004 scheme. The transition period expires on October 1, after which all systems in the UK must be installed in accordance with the PD6662:2004 scheme.

Structured approach

The significant difference between European standards and BS 4737 is the structure the standards take, in the form of:

• Structured standard
• Grading of systems
• Classification of equipment
• Risk based

Taking these into account it provides a structured approach for:

• Assessment of risk
• Technical survey
• System design (System design proposal – specification)
• Installation of a system in accordance with agreed specification
• Installation of equipment in accordance with manufacturer recommendations

Relevant sections

The EN standards consist of a number of sections, these being:

• prEN 50131-1 (2004) General Requirements
• DD CLC/TS 50131-2 Detectors
• DD CLC/TS 50131-3 Control Equipment
• TS 50131- 4 Warning Devices
• TS 50131-5 Interconnections
• EN 50131-6 Power Supplies
• DD CLC/TS 50131-7 Application Guide Lines
• EN50136 -1 Alarm Transmission System
• PD6662:2004 Enabling document for the UK

Design based on risk

One of the fundamental differences between the current BS standards and the new EN standards is the way in which systems will be designed. European Standards will require system designs to be based on RISK.

To aid this, intruder alarm systems installed in buildings will be graded. The grade of system, of which there are four, will take into account the:

• Risk level of the premises
• Contents value
• Typical knowledge intruders might be expected to have

The grading of a system based on the risk assessment conducted may determine the:

• Extent of the system
• Openings in perimeter
• Movement detection
• Perimeter detection
• Point detection
• Signalling (Notification)
• Audible
• Alarm transmission system
• Tamper security

This is mostly an equipment requirement.

Graded systems

System grades are categorised within the EN standard as:

Grade 1: Low risk system where intruders are expected to have little knowledge of intruder alarm systems and be restricted to a limited range of easily available tools.

Grade 2: Low to medium risk system where intruders are expected to have a limited knowledge of intruder alarm systems and the use of a general range of tools and portable instruments.

Grade 3: Medium to high-risk system where intruders are expected to be conversant with intruder alarm systems and have a comprehensive range of tools and portable electronic equipment.

Grade 4: High-risk system where security takes precedence over all other factors. Intruders are expected to have the ability or recourse to plan an intrusion in detail and have a full range of equipment, including means of substitution of vital components in the intruder alarm system.

Risk Assessments

Conducting a structured Risk Assessment will form a fundamental part of a survey. The risk assessment will form the basis of the system proposal because, based on this information, the best system design with adequate detection can be offered to the client. A risk assessment should consider all the possible risks at the premises. There is no one particular method for conducting a risk assessment. It is necessary however to ensure that all the risks are considered and the system designed is suitable to protect that risk.

Classes of equipment

As well as the grading of systems, there will also be classification of equipment.

This will determine where devices are installed and will be based on the environmental performance of devices which are classified as follows:

Class 1: Indoors controlled temperature.

For general use in a residential or commercial premises where temperature is maintained.

Class 2: Indoors uncontrolled. For use in hallways, corridors or where condensation occurs on windows, and in unheated storage areas or property where heating is intermittent.

Class 3: Outdoors sheltered. For use outdoors where the components are not fully exposed to the weather.

Class 4: Outdoors general. For use outdoor where components are fully exposed to the weather.

The following two documents are fundamental in the EN 50131 series.

1. General requirements

Firstly the prEN 50131-1(2004) is the General Requirements document. This specifies the “system requirements”, similar to BS4737. It states what the system should consist of and how it should operate. This document has 12 main sections covering:

• System functions
• System components
• Security grading
• Environmental classification
• Functional requirements
• Power supply
• Operational reliability
• Functional reliability
• Environmental requirements
• Electrical safety
• Documentation
• Marking and identification

2. Application guidelines

The second document is CLC/TS 50131-7 Application guidelines. The guidelines are intended to provide advice relating to the design installation, operation and maintenance of alarm systems. In this document there are 8 main sections covering:

• System grading
• Environmental classification
• System design, installation and planning
• System installation
• Inspection test, commissioning and acceptance
• Documentation and records
• Operation
• Maintenance and repair

Minimum requirements

Finally, as the complete suite of EN standards will not be available at October 1 2005, installing companies will need to use, as a minimum, the following standards to install, survey and maintain systems to European Standards,:

• PD 6662:2004 Specifies use of UK standards where EN not published
• Draft prEN 50131-1 Specifies system requirements – equivalent to BS 4737 Parts 1 & 2
• DD CLC/TS 50131-7:2003 Application Guidelines – equivalent to BS 4737 Part 4
• EN 50136 Alarm Transmission – Part specifies system requirements

Installer training

If you have not undertaken any training on the European standards then you can attend a workshop training session supported by BT redcare throughout the UK in association with ECS Ltd and Independent Risk Assessment Consultancy developed for surveyors and engineers.

The purpose of the workshops is to ensure intruder alarm company staff and other specifiers (consultants, police, architects, brokers, insurance risk advisors or surveyors) are equipped to take full advantage of the new standards. They aim to provide personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the requirements. The content will cover fundamental areas:

Risk Assessment: Assessing risk, evaluating risk, gathering the correct information, grading intruder alarm system systems and understanding insurance company requirements.

System design proposal: Details of information that must be included in a system design proposal and general guidance on the preparation of written specifications. The new revised DD243:2004 includes important additional information that must be included in the System Design Proposal.

System design, installation and maintenance: System planning, component grading, siting/locating system components, signalling requirements, tamper security requirements, interconnections, DD243:2004, PD6662:2004, maintenance schedules (remote system checks/ site visits) ACPO, and general insurance company requirements such as setting and unsetting, confirmation, and dual path signalling In order that the most appropriate training can be provided we are offering two workshops. Both workshops will cover the fundamental aspects described above but each will be tailored to meet the appropriate needs of either the:

Sales/surveyors/specifiers: The impact of the new standards will mean that the way surveys are conducted will alter significantly particularly with the introduction of risk assessment. This will allow surveyors and specifiers to deal with new opportunities that may enhance system performance.

Installing and maintenance staff: The system installation, selection of system components, technical survey and the maintenance requirements will be important factors for installers and maintenance personnel because they differ from current procedures. Learning the new requirements will ensure that systems are installed and maintained correctly.