EN50131 European Standards For Intruder Alarm Systems The date for withdrawal of British Standards that conflict with the new European Standards was the 1 st March 2004. We are now installing to EN50131-1:2004 as of the 1st October 2005. The current British Standards 4737, 7042 and BS 6799 Wireless Systems will be replaced by the new European Standards BSEN 50131 series on this date. Having said this, it has been agreed by security systems Industry representatives that a dual running period will be implemented for 12 months. This means that installing organisations will be able to choose to install to either the current British Standards or the new European Standards. After the dual running period has elapsed European Standards will become mandatory. Although you may initially have the choice to install to British or European standards, you need to be aware that an insurer may require installations to meet BS EN 50131. European Standards are not retrospective, therefore systems which are currently installed to British Standards will continue to be maintained and updated to that standard. As of the 1st January 2006 ALL our installations comply with BS EN50131-1; PD6662:2004 & DD243:2004 and are graded to insurance grades G2X, G2, G3 or G4 Risk assessment The implementation of the European Standards will affect those of us who conduct Risk Assessment and the design, installation, maintenance and repair of Intruder Alarm Systems. One of the most significant issues within the new EN standards will be evaluating the risk associated with the premises and determining a grade of system. This is because once the grade of a system is determined it will define the extent of the system, its signalling and tamper security requirements. We will provide a full written risk assessment with every system design proposal. Back to Top The European standards have been under development for some time, and not all of the standards are complete, but work on these standards continues. However, there are a suite of European Standards available to enable companies to install to. To enable this, the European Standards will include a document PD 6662:2004. This is a Published Document (PD) and is used to call up parts of the current British Standards where European Standards are still under development. As new parts of the European standards are completed they will eventually replace those parts of the PD6662:2004, which will eventually be phased out. Insurance acceptance
European Standards have Insurance acceptance. The Association of British Insurers (ABl) consider that the EN standards have a better structure to the technical design of a security system, mainly because the EN standards are risk based. European standards provide: A significant advantage for insurers and surveyors applying European Standards to systems is that a specification will grade a system appropriate to the associated Risk. The grading of a system based on a structured risk analysis will determine the: Within the European Standards there are four security grades of system and the standard defines the grades as: Grade 1 ‑low risk Grade 2 ‑low to medium risk Grade 3 ‑medium to high risk Grade 4 ‑high risk Back to Top Grade 1 system
Intruders are expected to have little knowledge of intruder alarm systems and be limited to a range of easily available tools. Grade 2 system
Intruders are expected to have a limited knowledge of intruder alarm systems and the use of a general range of tools. Grade 3 system
Intruders are expected to be conversant with intruder alarm systems and have access to a comprehensive range of tools. Grade 4 system
Security takes precedence over all other factors. At this level intruders are expected to have the ability and resources to plan an intrusion in detail and have a full range of specialised equipment, including means of substitution of vital components within the intruder alarm system. As you can see systems are evaluated against the risk of the level of intruder that may attack the system hence the requirement that system design meets the appropriate grade. The risk of premises may be defined by a security surveyor, customer or insurers. It is most likely that insurers will specify systems at Grades 3 and 4, where an insurer is involved. A further inclusion in European Standards is the classification of components which are used for the intruder alarm system installations. These will be classified and in turn will determine where they are installed. There are four classifications of components Class 1 = Indoors controlled temperature Class 2 = Indoors uncontrolled Class 3 = Outdoors sheltered Class 4 = Outdoors exposed
System specifications as we currently refer to them will in European Standards terms be known as the System Design Proposal and will propose the optimum system available by the installing company. Back to Top As systems will be graded the number of preventative maintenance visits will vary. Dependant on the grade of system the minimum number of maintenance visits will be: Grade 1 Grade 2 & 3 OR Grade 4 When conducting remote diagnostic system tests you will be required to check the following as a minimum: a review of the event log for successful setting and upsetting a check on the normal and standby power supplies, for correct functioning a check on recent activity of all detectors which would be expected to operate during the normal occupation of the building a check for the correct operation of any alarm transmission system, in conjunction with the alarm receiving centre
Back to Top Detailed records of all the above system checks will be required to be maintained. Initially to install to European Standards you will require copies of: PD 6662 :2004 ‑ Specifies use of UK standards where European Standards are not published EN 50131‑1:2004 Specifies system requirements ‑ Equivalent to BS 4737 Parts 1 Ft 2. This document forms part of PD6662:2004. This is because it is currently under a five year review. CLC/prTS 50131‑7 Application Guidelines 2002 ‑ Equivalent to BS 4737 Part 4. This document may in the near future become a BS DD. A "BS DD" is a British Standard, Draft for Development and will provide the general public with a chance to comment on the document which may be considered for change. EN 50136 Alarm Transmission
As some of the standards are still in the development stage SSAIB will inform companies in the near future clarifying which documents are required closer to the date of implementation. Finally, CLC/TS50131‑7 expects Surveyors, Installers, Maintenance and Service personnel to hold an appropriate qualification for the tasks that we undertake in our roles. At present the actually qualifications have not been decided and as a result this may be removed. Having said this the SSAIB would still encourage members to obtain a relevant qualification. This is essential for those working on building sites who will require a CSCS, Construction Skills Certificate Scheme card. Information regarding relevant industry qualifications can be obtained from the SSAIB. Back to Top | 
