Close to the wire

Changes from October 1 2005 are going to affect the installation, specification, and in some instances the maintenance, of all intruder and hold-up alarm systems.

As manufacturers and suppliers of wirefree systems, we at FM Systems have started to receive enquiries regarding EN 50131-1 and how this will affect this type of equipment …

Later in this article I will look at wirefree alarm systems specifically. But here again, are the main headline facts that all installers should know:

BS EN50131-1 & PD6662 will replace many of the British Standards currently used for both intruder and hold-up alarm systems.

From March 1 2005, BS4737, BS6799 and BSDD244 standards, which installers have been using as appropriate for both wired and wirefree alarm systems, were withdrawn.

NACOSS companies may like to note that the NACP12 document, which refers to wirefree interconnections, is not being withdrawn at this time to allow its continued used for the inspection of systems installed prior to October 1 2005. Many companies will probably keep a copy of the last edition of withdrawn standards for the same reason.

Currently you can install to the appropriate British Standard or European Standard, but this only applies until October 1 2005.

The European Standards will change the equipment specifications and markings as well as the methods used to specify and configure the installed systems.

You need to understand these standards and how they will affect your business operating methods now – if you have not already done so. A controlled, planned change will be easier and cause less disruption, possibly reducing financial losses than an overnight change, which is neither understood nor implemented correctly.

EN 50131 is divided into many parts, at this time not all parts are yet published as British Standards. PD6662 is a BSI interim document designed to allow the introduction of BS EN 50131 in a controlled way. The document provides guidance on the standards to be used in areas that are not covered by the BS EN 50131-1 document.

So what are the general requirements?

Many of the general requirements apply to both wired and wirefree alarm systems and can be divided into two sections.

You need to understand these standards and how they will affect your business operating methods now

What are the installation company requirements?

• The use of identity cards for screened employees
• The risk assessment
• Selecting the security system grade
• Selecting the environmental class of equipment to be used
• Preventative maintenance and system checks

Employees who have been screened to BS7858 should carry Identity cards including a photograph with an expiry date.

A risk assessment needs to include a survey of the premises and other appropriate information that may be available from the customer, insurer, etc.

The security system grade ranges from 1 for low risks to 4 for high risks.

The environmental class, which ranges from 1 for a typical inhabited indoor environment through to 4 for open outdoor environments

Preventative maintenance checks must meet the minimum required specification at the frequency appropriate to the security grade as quoted in PD6662 as well as the manufacturer's specifications figures where appropriate. Every item contained within the system should be tested including the interconnections. All this information should be recorded, the keyholder(s) informed of the results and any defects found rectified as soon as possible.

What are the equipment manufacturer requirements?

• Identification of faults.
• Control of access to the system functions and indications
• Monitoring of interconnections between system components
• Monitoring for substitution of system components
• Compliance with power supply requirements
• Compliance and identification of all system components to the security grade
• Compliance and identification of all system components to the environmental class.
• Supplying specifications for the system installation and maintenance.
• Clear documentation.

The exact requirement for the identification of faults varies according to the security grade but generally system faults, main power supply faults and back-up power supply faults must be identified as well as signalling faults on communicated systems.

Access to system controls, functions and indications are split into four levels, level 1 access is available to any person, level 2 access is for system operators, level 3 is engineer access and level 4 is manufacturer. The system operator must permit engineer and manufacturer level access. As the security grade of the system increases so does the length of the pin code or number of key combinations required when accessing the system.

Both wired and wirefree interconnections are covered as part of BS EN 50131-1, these interconnections should include intruder, tamper and fault conditions and other communications necessary for correct system operation and monitoring for component substitution.

The manufacturer needs to ensure that the provision for the power supply(s) and recharging facilities where appropriate meet with the specification required for the grade of the system.

All system components must be marked so that both the security grade and the environmental class of the individual components are easily identified. For small components a code may be used with a cross-reference table. Note that the entire system meets the security grade of the lowest rated component used within the system.

A controlled change will cause you less disruption, and possibly reduce financial losses, than an overnight change

The specifications required for the correct installation and maintenance of the alarm system. These need to be as clear and accurate as possible. Where instructions for end users are supplied, these need to be written to reduce the chance of incorrect operation. End users may have multiple levels of instructions designed to meet their individual access levels.

What about BS EN 50131 and wirefree systems?

When looking at BS50131-1 and PD6662 documents, the only area that mentions wirefree refers to monitoring the availability of interconnections. The area covered within these documents refers to the frequency of polling between the control panel and all other devices within the system.

The devices need to report to the control panel more frequently as the security grade increases. For portable, deliberately operated devices, however, this requirement has been removed. This will allow remote controls and similar devices to be carried by the keyholder away from the protected premises without generating a fault condition.

To gain a better understanding of many of the requirements for wirefree alarm systems we need to look elsewhere within the European Standards.

Some items such as battery monitoring are mentioned in BS EN 50131- 6. This states that a low voltage signal shall be generated within ten seconds when the storage device voltage falls below the value indicated by the manufacturer.

This seems to indicate that the control panel or the actual device may show the low battery condition, but does not seem to have any requirements for further communication of this information.

BS EN 50131-1 does mention that a means is required for the recognition of prime power faults and the requirement for a message to be sent to the alarm receiving centre. This message could possibly be an alarm for Grade 1 or 2 systems, not an ideal situation particularly if a system has police response. Under the old Class 6 requirements this information must be passed to the alarm receiving centre by a unique channel.

I had expected to find much of the information regarding other items relating to requirements for wirefree interconnections within PD 6662 but, apart from a brief mention of wirefree interconnections with the scope section of the document, very little is covered relating to the actual wirefree interconnections.

Some issues such as the operating frequency required for wirefree interconnections will probably not be covered by the EN50131 standard as OFCOM in the UK and similar bodies in other countries regulate this issue.

We must have guidelines

There needs to be published guidelines in relation to wirefree interconnections … and soon

There needs to be published guidelines in relation to wirefree interconnections … and soon.

These should be either in the form of EN 50131-5-3 or an interim document to ensure, for example, that minimum levels of signal strength, indication and measurements are defined and documented.

Other areas include the number of electronic differs (coding) to reduce the possibility of cross talk between systems. My best contacts suggest BS EN 50131-5-3 will cover these points.

These issues are currently addressed by most systems currently on the market as they were designed to meet the now withdrawn British Standards, but I would suggest that installers look carefully at the specifications of any new product brought onto the market to ensure the systems they install remain secure.

Ultimately I expect the BS EN 50131-5 -3 to cover all of the above items relating to wirefree interconnections, however this is likely to take a while.

The BSI website says this was last updated 15/03/2005 and advises a completion date of 31/08/05. After publication, manufacturers will need time to meet the requirements, so I would realistically estimate 18 month to two-years before this standard is fully implemented.

An additional requirement for wirefree interconnections could be added to the PD6662 document or supplied as a document on its own which could cover many of the above issues by referring to the BS6799 & BS DD 244 documents.

If this could be produced and agreed upon quickly within the industry the opportunity exists to close this gap between the withdrawal of the old standards and the introduction of the new. This would maintain the hard won credibility of the wirefree section of the industry. I believe this is in the interests of everyone that uses, installs, and recognises wirefree alarm systems.

When the complete series of EN standards relating to Alarm Systems – Intrusion Systems is eventually complete and all relevant issues are covered, there will be benefits for everyone involved within the industry.

For alarm installers the biggest benefit will be the ability to compare products directly from different origins against the same reference standard and quickly identify which are best suited to the project currently being specified.

Ashley Thomas is Technical Sales Engineer at FM Electronics Ltd. Tel 01594 827070, email ashleythomas@fmelectronics.co.uk or visit the website www.fmelectronics.co.uk ).