BSIA AND NSI INSTALLERS ALIKE WERE distinctly unhappy about the decision taken by BSI GW/1 to uphold the CENELEC date of withdrawal of conflicting national standards, and introduce EN 50131-1. They feel that BSI GW/1 should represent the views of the UK security industry in Europe, which had clearly not happened in this case.

Manufacturers were particularly aggrieved as it meant changing software requirements in relation to a standard that wasn’t finalised.

As chairman of the BSIA’s Security Systems Section, I’m aiming to ensure that common sense prevails, and that changes to standards are implemented as soon as is reasonably practicable.

When BSI GW/1 reconvened on 27 February to discuss the conflicts in standards, and how EN 50131-1 might be introduced by September, the BSIA and the NSI again insisted that GW/1 represent the views of the industry – in that we should indeed be facilitating the introduction of European standards. However, the date of withdrawal should be 12 months after the revised EN 50131-1 is published.

GW/1 agreed to table an objection on the practicality of the date of withdrawal along with the Italians and Germans, and we’re very much hoping that there’ll be a review in due course.

Source

SMT

Postscript

Steve Kimber is chairman of the BSIA’s Security Systems Section, and managing director of Southern Monitoring Services