Instalments

New controls for subcontractors
(The BSIA tightens up on the use of trained sub-contractors by intruder alarms installers, paving the way for regulation…)
"Under a new Code of Practice approved by the BSIA Council, sub-contractors employed by BSIA member companies for the installation of intruder alarms will be subject to new controls.

The BSIA's move follows widespread concern over the standard of sub-contractors with their unregulated use potentially invalidating the standards required of BSIA installers. Now all BSIA member companies are committed to recruiting sufficient trained staff to install all their alarm systems and sub-contracting will be phased out.

In the transitionary period companies will be required to comply with the BSIA's Code of Practice for the Management of Sub-Contracting of Intruder Alarm Installations which will come into effect on 1 October 1988.

Agreement of the new Code was reached on the condition that sub-contractors will be subject to inspection and approval by the BSIA's Security Systems Inspectorate. Progress by member companies in recruiting sufficient qualified staff to make the use of sub-contractors unnecessary will be kept under review, with the objective of discontinuing subcontracting by 1st July 1989."

New lease of life for intruder alarms
(Modern Alarms pioneered the option of a leasing plan for intruder alarms customers…)
"In a marketing move that could affect most alarm installers, Modern Alarms has announced the launch of a customer-orientated sales push by introducing a new leasing plan for its intruder alarm customers.

The company's plan is aimed at the domestic market and certain types of small businesses and consists of offering a third option – that of leasing their intruder system – in addition to the choices of renting and outright purchase that Modern already offers.

Under this new scheme, the company says, a British Standard system can be installed and maintained for as little as £5 per week, with additional benefits that will include comprehensive maintenance and breakdown service, together with monitoring of all types of signals, as well as the installation costs. Other benefits to the package are that payments remain fixed for 5 years, at the end of which time customers will be entitled to a reduction in the quarterly payments. The customer thus has the benefits of ownership without the drawbacks, says Modern.

At the end of five years, customers will be able to renew their agreement at a reduced rate, have a new system installed at no charge and carry on paying the same rate or even to cancel the agreement."

Demonstrating competence
(We explained the NSCIA's philosophy of competence testing and published the full skill specifications of the 17 alarm installation engineering tests…)
"A competent alarm installation engineer has the right combination of knowledge, practical skills and experience to correctly carry out any installation task given him by his employer. He will do it at a commercial speed as well. But is this enough?

Currently, a company recruiting skilled labour has no sure way of judging the ability of an applicant to cope with its particular activities and levels. Usually he is taken on for a trial period, and a recruit's incompetence is not discovered until systems or customers, start to give trouble.

Perhaps it is too much to expect an engineer to be capable of satisfying all prospective employers. But it is not too much to expect an engineer to prove his competence in a range of core skills, and demonstrate his knowledge of them. After all, to train a skilled man in company specifics is comparatively easy and cheap."