Over years, a number of countries have separately developed standards for security fog devices including France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and the UK, writes Paul Dards, MD of MSS Professional Ltd and inventor of the Smokecloak system.
Some of these standards were based on the UK Standard BS7939:1999, "Smoke Security Devices – Code of Practice for the Manufacture, Installation and Maintenance". However, Paul Dards thought that it was time for a European-wide standard "For a device to be installed properly it needs to be integrated with an existing alarm system. With regulations in place that pertain to alarms, for example EN50131, there are a considerable number of grades on levels of security and system integrity so if you are going to integrate another technology with the alarm system, it will need to fall in with those defined parameters. As we rely on the alarm systems to trigger our fog generators, I felt it a nonsense not to be part of the same regulations. In addition the new standard needs to address the changing use of security fog, not only for unoccupied buildings but also for violent daytime raid protection." says Paul.
To facilitate this, Paul contacted his trade association, the British Security Industry Association who in turn approached CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation, with a request that the committee would consider the development of a new standard.
CENELEC is set up under Belgian law and is composed of the National Electrotechnical Committees of 28 European countries. In addition, eight National Committees from Eastern Europe and the Balkans are participating in CENELEC work with an Affiliate status.
In May 2005 a presentation by Paul Dards was undertaken to the international CENELEC TC79 committee in Stockholm to substantiate the need for a workgroup to be formed to establish the requirements for "Security fog devices". The committee decided that a working group should be formed, WG10, with the task of developing a new section of EN50131, the title "Alarm systems – Intrusion and hold-up systems – part 8: Security fog devices".
Invites were circulated to the international committee and a number of experts came forward to be approved by their country’s CENELEC division to join WG10.
Since 2005 there have been many meetings with the members of the group all keen to see the Standard formulated in a way that will satisfy the international committee. The Standard defines the requirements for security fog devices and will align with the existing standards referenced by EN50131 in terms of safety and environmental issues. In addition it will specify design, performance and operational criteria and also give the necessary tests and trials to ensure efficiency and reliability of such devices.
At the end of 2008 the final draft was circulated to the international committees for vote, the deadline for response was January 23. The result of this vote was 18 countries voting to accept the draft standard and none countries rejecting the draft. The automatic conclusion of this vote is the standard will be automatically implemented by all countries.
Paul Dards adds: "This is a marvellous result, once people realise that these units stop not only burglary but armed raids as well, the uptake will be rapid, especially as security services and police forces are under more and more pressure. The standard is expected to be published by May 2009 and will be of great benefit for end-users, manufacturers, specifiers and insurers."
