Beat Euro deadline

2005 is set to be the most significant year of the decade for security installers. The demands for changes brought on by the European Standards have left many confused and worried about their future working patterns.

Installers have until October 1, after which time national standards will be withdrawn and new installations will have to comply with EN50131-1 and the PD6662 document.

So where should you be by now in this “dual running” period? What should you be doing in your company to prepare and comply with the Euro regs? What is grading all about? What should you know about risk assessment? What should you be looking for in security equipment? What training do your engineers need?

Security Installer magazine has had more letters, calls and emails about this subject than anything since the introduction of the ACPO policy called for alarm confirmation. This year we will be concentrating heavily on the build-up to October with features and news items about the standards change in every edition … Just look for the “Deadline 1/10” logo.

We are aware that there is a fair amount of confusion about what EN50131-1 demands. For instance, some readers have been worried about qualification requirements, believing that only NVQ qualified installers would be able to work under the standards. This original idea has since been dropped as unworkable … although a recent trawl of websites is likely to produce a confusing picture.

Other installers have said they will hold off from the new standards until manufacturers have produced Euro-compliant products this spring and summer.

The only way to stay on top of this and gear up for the changes is to get totally up-to-date information … and if you visit our Security Roadshow at Sandown Park on March 8 you will be assured of that.

“Euro Standards – Where should you be now?” is the title of our free information session for installers presented by Alex Carmichael, the Technical Manager of the BSIA.

Alex will give visitors an up to the minute run-down of exactly where installers should be by now and, importantly, our Q&A session will give you a chance to ask questions about any aspects of the standards of which you are unsure in an informal “walk-in, walk-out”format.

Sessions will run at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. You don’t need to book, just register for the show.

At Security Installer we have heard of a number of other fee-paying and non-fee-paying seminars and events centred around the changes. Many have already been held, and we urge all readers to consider attending such future events.

The BSIA themselves have a number of initiatives lined up for this year and we will be giving details throughout the coming months of these and other sessions (see page 39 for EN50131-1 basics and details of information sessions given by Euro experts Martin Kane and Martyn Halliday.).

Meanwhile, put March 8 in your diary to attend our free session at Sandown … and, of course, have a chance to see products from more than 80 security and electrical manufacturers covering intruder alarms, CCTV, access control and a host of peripheral areas.

Visitors to our roadshows are sure of a great day out in a relaxed atmosphere. Without the pressure of a big national show, our exhibitors have time to talk to visitors and installers can ask more in-depth questions about equipment … and come away with lots of free expert advice!

Because our shows are “do-able” in a morning or afternoon, installers over the years have seen the benefits of dropping in for a couple of hours without losing a day’s work … and remember there is always a refreshment and bar area where you can meet colleagues and relax for a while.

Sandown Park is a popular venue that will be familiar to many installers as it was, for a number of years, the home of Securex. So put yourself in the picture over the Euro requirements and head for Sandown Park on March 8.