The Burglar Alarm Installation Standards – EN50131

Risk Assessment

Since the introduction of the Alarm Installation Standard EN50131 in October 2005, 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 now fall into line with the requirements of the European Alarm Standard EN50131 – 2004, that clearly states the Police and Insurance Companies requirements for any burglar alarm company that wishes to install a burglar alarm system in this country.

Included within these new alarm standards comes the statutory grading of all alarm systems, this now allows the burglar alarm industry, the various Police forces and the Insurance Industry to have one universal method of indentifying any proposed burglar alarm installation, by the grade of the alarm equipment and the method of alarm notification.

Under the new burglar alarm installation standards your alarm installation company is now responsible for the undertaking of a risk assessment or risk analysis prior to the installation of any alarm system. This is to ensure that the grade of their proposed burglar alarm installation will be and is fully commensurate to the level of risk to both the occupants and the contents of that property.

By undertaking a risk assessment your burglar alarm installation company will have correctly surveyed your property and that they have accessed and recorded in writing all the possible risks and threats to that property and that their proposed grade of alarm installation and method of notification has been correctly accessed to fully meet these demands.

This also means that for the first time that clients will have to ensure that their alarm installation company is certified and has been approved by one of the national alarm inspectorate e.g. SSAIB to undertake an alarm survey and risk assessment of that property, which is something electricians and electrical contractors continually fail to disclose to their clients, when asked to tender for the electrical installation and burglar alarm installation, in a new build property.

Levels of Notification

With the new alarm standards comes the various levels or methods of alarm notification, this is basically the difference methods of signalling that can be proposed for that particular alarm installation.

Alarm Grades & Types of Notification

Grade 1 & 2X Systems: DIY Systems & Residential Premises

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

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

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