New Regulations for the UK Alarm Industry from 1st October 2005

(Implementation commencing from 1st June 2005)

As with most things nowadays, the regulations covering the installation of security alarms has been affected by the European Union - a new European Standard entitled EN 50131 has been drawn up for use throughout Europe.

Unfortunately this regulation has not yet been standardised throughout Europe as each country has stated that it requires its own specific differences from the others. Due to the fact that it has been decided to stipulate 1st October 2005 as the enforcement day for EN 50131 this has led to the requirement of a "bridging document" to allow for those trying to work to the standards, to be able to do so - in the UK this document is entitled PD 6662 - (Scheme for the implementation of European Standards for Intruder and hold-up alarm systems). UK Inspectorates require their approved installers to start working from this bridging document from 1st June 2005.

For monitored police response alarm systems it is mandatory that your alarm installer work to the requirements of PD 6662, a failure to do so could render your insurance and police response as invalid or seriously compromised.

What will you need to look for when obtaining a quotation?

Firstly your installer must provide a Risk Analysis of the property to be protected.

Secondly he must "Grade" the risk out of Grade 1 to 4 as follows:-

Grade 1:    Low risk, likely to be a DIY type audible only installation.

Grade 2:    Low to medium risk, will likely be a monitored alarm system.

Grade 3:    Medium to high risk, will be a monitored alarm system probably with dual-path Dualcom

                or Redcare monitoring.

Grade 4:    Exceptional risk, will be a monitored alarm system with dedicated dual path signalling

                probably by Dualcom or Redcare monitoring.

This page is being constantly updated - currently under construction.