Security industry bodies have produced an industry agreement on an interim update of the PD 6662 scheme for intruder and hold-up alarms. The agreement was written with the input of trade associations, insurers, inspectorates and the police and has taken around four months to produce. The decision was made to produce the agreement outside of the BSI standards framework to allow for a more fundamental review of the PD6662 scheme to take place within the BSI to align with the introduction of the awaited second amendment to EN50131-1, still under development in Europe.
Those involved in the agreement included the British Security Industry Association, Fire and Security Association (FSA), National Police Chiefs Council (formerley ACPO), National Security Inspectorate (NSI), Police Scotland, RISCAuthority and the Security System and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB). A number of the BSIA’s Security Systems and Security Equipment Manufacturer members provided their knowledge during the consultation.
The BSIA says that its manufacturers have sought to ensure that there was a method of enabling the use of mobile devices to set or unset intruder alarm systems; an issue in need of addressing as a result of the restrictions in use through BS8243, the standard for alarm confirmation, and the lack of clarity in the EN50131-3 standard.
David Wilkinson, pictured, Director of Technical Services at the BSIA, said: “The BSIA has played an instrumental part in shaping this agreement and we are pleased that other industry organisations have also seen the benefit in contributing and aligning to this.
“The PD 6662 scheme for Intruder and Hold-up alarms systems is somewhat out of date. This industry agreement provides the ideal opportunity to update the existing scheme and enable the use of mobile device technology in this important market sector, whilst the full review of the PD is undertaken through BSI.”
The introduction of mobile devices enables installers to use this technology, which they could not under the current PD6662. In turn, this passes on the benefits of newer technology to users or purchasers of intruder and hold-up alarms.
The industry agreement will come into effect on September 1, 2015 and it is intended that the content of the agreement will be incorporated into the revised edition of PD 6662. The BSIA adds that it will continue to influence the European standards that impact on intruder alarm systems to ensure that wherever possible, the requirements in the industry agreement can be positioned at a European level, negating the need for a long term “national” implementation.
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