Legislation - Intruder Alarms & Monitoring
PD6662 | DD243 | BS5979 | ACPO Policy
PD6662: 2004 - Scheme for the application of European Standards for intruder alarm and hold-up alarm systems
PD6662 is the new standard for the installation of intruder and hold up alarm systems and has replaced the old british standard (BS4737) as of 1st March 2005. The new European standard (EN50131) is not yet complete and therefore a published document (PD6662) has been released to introduce the standard and retain certain elements of BS4737 where the European standard is incomplete and also includes elements of DD243 (see below).
EN50131 is designed to be a structured standard and is risk based meaning that the survey and system design is based on the risk to the premise. Furthermore, the standard also covers all of the components of the system therefore, for example, a grade 2 detector fitted to a grade 3 system would downgrade the system to grade 2. This ensures that all components used in the system design and installation satisfy the associated risk.
| Grade (Risk) | Typical Premises | Auxiliary Power Standby Time | Police Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Risk Domestic | 12 | No |
| 2 | Average Domestic or Low Risk Commercial | 12 | Yes |
| 3 | High Risk Domestic or Average Risk Commercial | 24 | Yes |
| 4 | High Risk Commercial | 24 | Yes |
Additionally, all of the components of a system are subject to an environmental classification:
| Class | Location | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indoor - controlled environment | |
| 2 | Indoor - General | Most indoor locations |
| 3 | Outdoor - controlled/sheltered | |
| 4 | Outdoor - General | The bellbox on the exterior wall which is exposed to all weather |
DD243 - Code of practice for the installation and configuration of intruder alarm systems designed to generate confirmed alarm conditions
This standard gives recommendations for the design, installation and configuration of intruder alarm systems that incorporate alarm confirmation technology. It gives details intended to minimise false alarms and what type of confirmation may be used.
There are 3 methods of confirmation:
- Audio
- Sequential
- Visual
BS5979 – Remote Centre Receiving Signals from Security Systems
This British Standard gives recommendations for the operation of alarm receiving centres (ARC’s) receiving signals from security systems, i.e. fire, personal attack, intruder and closed circuit television.
ACPO Policy (Police Response to Security Systems)
Police forces nation-wide now require alarm signals to be confirmed in order to warrant a priority response. Confirmation has therefore become one of the most important aspects of alarm monitoring.
This policy details the police response that can be expected to electronic security systems.
For a security system to be recognised by the relevant police force it must comply with the ACPO Policy on Police Response to Security Systems.
Unique reference numbers (URNs) are issued to systems that are terminated at a recognised alarm receiving centre.
Police Attendance
For a remote signalling security system there are two levels of police intervention.
LEVEL 1 – Immediate/Urgent
It should be noted that police response is ultimately determined by the
nature of demand, priorities and resources, which exist at the time a
request for police response is received.
Security systems issued with a URN will receive LEVEL 1 response until three false calls have been received in a rolling 12-month period.
LEVEL 3 – Withdrawn
No Police attendance, keyholder response only.
Following three false calls in 12 months LEVEL 3 will apply and police response will be withdrawn. The customer will be advised in writing with a copy sent to S.C.A.M.P. Security; we will be required to instruct our ARC not to pass alarm messages to the police.
A full copy of the Police Response to Security Systems can be obtained
from
www.acpo.police.uk.
