The Standards

Risk Assessment

Since October 2005, with the introduction of the Alarm Installation Standard PD6662, all new burglar alarm systems in this country are now graded in-line with the level of risk to that particular property.

This means that all burglar alarms in this country must fall into line with the requirements of the European Alarm Standard EN50131 – 2004, which says for the first time who can install and maintain your burglar alarm system to this fully recognised and universal alarm installation standard.

Included with the new standards comes the grading of each alarm system, this now gives the burglar alarm industry, the various insurance companies and Police Forces a universal means of identifying any burglar alarm installation, by its equipment grade and chosen method of notification.

With these new standards the burglar alarm companies have now the responsibility of ensuring that the grade of any proposed burglar alarm installation is fully commensurate to the level of risk to that premises.
This also means that for the first time that clients must ensure that their alarm installation company has been certified and approved by a national alarm inspectorate e.g. SSAIB to carryout an alarm survey and risk assessment to that property, which alas is something electricians and electrical contractors fail to tell their clients, when approached to install their burglar alarm installation.

Levels of Notification

With the new alarm standards comes the various levels or methods of alarm notification, this is basically the difference methods of signaling that has been used or is proposed for that particular alarm installation.

These together with the grade of the alarm system, now gives a much clearer indication of that installation:

Alarm Grades & Notification

Grade 1: Not recognised by the Insurance or Police – DIY System [B&Q etc or DIY Kits]

Grade 2X: General “Audible” Alarm System [1 x Internal + 1 x External Sounder]

Grade 2 Systems: Residential or Small Business Premises

Grade 2A: Standard “Monitored” Alarm System with 25 Hr ARC Reporting + 2 x Internal Sounders
Grade 2B: Standard “Monitored” Alarm System with 25 Hr ARC Reporting + 1 x External Sounder
Grade 2C: Standard “Monitored” Alarm with a “Second” form of Monitoring + 5 Hr ARC Reporting
Grade 2D: “Encrypted” Alarm with + 5 Hr ARC Reporting

Grade 3 Systems: Large Residential or Large Business /Commercial Premises

Grade 3A: “Encrypted” Alarm with 5 Hr ARC Reporting + 2 x Internal Sounders
Grade 3B: “Encrypted” Alarm System with 3 Hr ARC Reporting + 1 x External Sounder
Grade 3B: “Encrypted” Alarm System with a “Secondary” Monitoring + 5 Hr ARC Reporting
Grade 3D: “Encrypted” Alarm System with 3 Min ARC Reporting

Grade 4 Systems: High Security – Banks etc

Grade 4A: “Encrypted” Alarm with 3 Min ARC Reporting + 2 x Internal Sounders
Grade 4B: “Encrypted” Alarm System with 3 Min ARC Reporting + 1 x External Sounder
Grade 4B: “Encrypted” Alarm System with “Secondary” Monitoring + 5Hr ARC Reporting
Grade 4D: “Encrypted” Alarm System with 3 Min ARC Reporting