Editorial

It seems there is still confusion and disagreement over EN50131 and a feeling that installers haven’t been listened to. This month also saw an “industry statement”, sent to us via the BSIA, announcing a new timetable for compliance. We wanted to direct readers online so they could read the statement in full. However, just before we went to press we made a trawl around the websites of the BSIA, NSI, SSAIB, ACPO, ACPOS and a search on insurance group IPCRes – the bodies behind the statement – and we couldn’t find any mention of it other than the press release on the BSIA’s site. The only place we could fit it in was here, so here is the full industry statement...

‘The introduction of new or revised European Standards or Technical Specifications in the EN 50131 series for intruder alarm systems continues to be a challenge to the industry. EN 50131-1: 1997 has been undergoing a revision and the industry expected that the new edition was to be published by June 2006. This standard has not yet been published. Since PD 6662: 2004 has been published a number of the component standards/specifications that deal with detectors, CIE, and wire free systems, etc have been issued. Amendments No’s 1 and 2 have been added to PD 6662:2004 to incorporate these new standards/specifications and industry requirements.

‘PD 6662:2004 is being revised to call up the new edition of EN 50131-1 (when published) and to include other requirements that are important to the implementation of the European Standards for intruder and hold-up alarm systems. It was expected that PD 6662: 2006 would be published with an implementation date of 1st October 2006, but due to the delay in the publication of

EN 50131-1:2006 this has not occurred. It is necessary to implement these standards/specifications in a practical way to minimise any negative impact a rushed implementation may have on the industry. Therefore the following implementation plan has been proposed by the main UK industry organisations that: Compliance with PD 6662: 2004 including amendments No1 and No2 will be implemented with the exception of the use of DDCLC/TS 50131-2-6: 2004 from 1st October 2006.

‘Junction boxes used in all Grades of systems will need to be environmentally classified, having been environmentally tested to the same environmental tests as specified in TS 50131-2-2 (Table 6 and Table 7 refer) and this will be implemented from 1st April 2007. (Note: In the new edition of EN 50131-1 Junction box tamper detection is mandatory in Grade 3 and Grade 4 systems and optional in Grade 1 and Grade 2 systems.)

DD CLC/TS 50131-2-6: 2004 : Requirements for Opening Contacts. This technical specification is called up in PD 6662: 2004, but due to manufacturing issues and training on installation methods its implementation will be delayed. On the implementation date, the “Note” immediately beneath Table 12 of pr EN 50131-1:2004 will no longer apply. The implementation date will be from 1st April 2007.

Compliance with the new edition of PD 6662 incorporating EN 50131-1:2006 and any amendments that take account of the publication of any Standards and technical specification and industry requirements in the interim will be implemented from 1st October 2007.

‘It is important to remember that the dates stated above are based on the publication of the relevant documentation at the expected time. The industry organisations believe that the above proposals will allow a structured implementation to the 2006 version of EN 50131-1 with minimal disruption to the industry. As the new edition of PD 6662 should be published well before the implementation date, installers who can source the equipment may, if they so wish, install to this new PD 6662 prior to 1st October 2007. The above industry statement is approved by ACPO and ACPOS.’

Next month we will be publishing more reaction, so if you want to contribute to the discussion contact our Mailbox.

Alan Hyder, editor