Security Standards: What Exactly does the Kitemark Stand for?

We have recently been discussing the subject of quality standards concerning insurance requirements. British and, whilst we remain part of the EU, European standards are incredibly important factors when selecting security products, and not just for the purpose of complying with insurance conditions.

British and European standards dictate whether security products meet certain levels of quality, functionality and, where relevant, resistance. In this post we’re taking a look at some of the most common standards associated with popular security initiatives, so that you know precisely what to look out for when making important buying decisions.

Intruder Alarm Standards

We discussed intruder alarm standards in a recent post. As we mentioned, most insurance policies demand that intruder alarms comply with standards governing design, installation, maintenance and monitoring, and there is a reason for this demand: the alarms that fall under the remit of these standards offer far superior levels of protection.

The standards applicable to intruder alarms are BS8243: 2010, which relates to the confirmation system that is responsible for summoning police response; and BS5979 for the alarm receiving centre (there’s more information about confirmation systems and receiving centres in our post on choosing the right alarm).

PD 6662: 2010 and EN 50131 European standards are also relevant and correspond with general levels of functionality and design of an intruder alarm.

PD 6662 makes it imperative that intruder alarms are designed based on the findings of a security risk assessment, and systems are graded accordingly depending on the levels of security they offer, with Grade 1 being the lowest, and Grade 4 the highest, although the most popular are Grades 2X, 2 and 3.

Lock Standards

British Standard BS3621 is the most widely known standard applying to door and window locks. BS 3621 locks can be deadlocked and the key can be removed from either side, which means the doors and windows they protect cannot be accessed or exited without a key once they are locked. BS3621 locks will resist compromise by drilling with regular tools for up to five minutes. They will also incorporate anti-picking features, and there is a stipulated minimum of 20mm by which the bolt must project into a full bodied steel keep.

British Standard BS8621 locks include all the benefits of BS3261, but do not require the need for a key to exit the door or window. This standard governs locks used for fire escapes, and where fast exits are required that would be inhibited by the need for a key. This type of lock should only be used where appropriate, in other words not in situations where an intruder would have the ability to break a window and open the lock from the outside.

BS10621 locks are similar to those governed by BS8621, except that the locks can be disabled from the outside using an override key. This is an ideal solution for situations where a property is being left unoccupied and needs to be locked down after the last person has left. It means that if an intruder does gain entry through a window, they will not be able to exit through a door as they would with a BS8621 lock.

CCTV Standards

BS EN 62676 is a widely encompassing standard that provides recommendations and minimum requirements for CCTV when used in a security setting. The standard sets out the minimum performance and functionality and also applies where the system is incorporated into other security solutions, such as intruder alarms.

One of the core aims of this standard is to govern the quality of the features that a robust CCTV system should incorporate, including easily accessible and playable data and efficient export of recordings. The standard branches off into sub-standards which govern a variety of features including the security, performance and connectivity of recordings; how devices work together and connect across a network; methods of connectivity for IP video transmission devices that use web-based services; and how analogue devices exchange information.

What is not covered by this standard, but instead by BS8418, is the installation and remote monitoring of detector-activated CCTV systems. Systems installed and monitored in line with this standard must have the ability to obtain a response from the police or other authority once an incident is confirmed by the monitoring centre.

And Finally… Security Provider Standards

At Barry Bros Security, we have become renowned as one of West London’s longest serving independently run businesses. We place heavy focus on maintaining high standards and have done so since 1945. Proof of this is evident in our vast portfolio of official accreditations and certifications, all of which are explained right here.

If you are seeking standards compliant security solutions, you are welcome to visit us at our London showroom, or give us a call. Our experts are on hand to guide you through your buying decisions, and will ensure that everything you invest in is suitable for your individual requirements.