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Security standards aren’t just printed on websites and marketing material for the heck of it. They convey quality, reliability, experience, and expertise.
There are several security standards that business owners should understand. Some are directly relevant to large businesses, while others may be highly specialised or for general residential and commercial properties.
It’s easy to get confused, which is why we have made this guide to help business owners figure out exactly the type of security standards they need to follow for the best experience.
Read below to learn more about the standards every business owner should understand and their implications:
ALL ABOUT STANDARDS
There are two broad guidelines that security companies follow:
- Standards
- Certifications
Let’s discuss the standards first.
There are multiple types of standards for different security systems. For example, the commercial alarm standards are determined by the BS8243 and DD243 standards.
These standards form the compliance foundation of modern commercial alarm systems and allow companies to follow strict guidelines that enable them to provide hardware and services that are competent and recognisable by relevant professional bodies, insurers, and regulatory authorities.
Most standards stem from the British Standards, which highlight all the professional standards followed within the UK. These standards are put in place to ensure that products, services, and processes are safe, reliable, and compliant.
In the security world, hardware and services that are not compliant with the British Standards are deemed unfit for use and may even be dangerous. Furthermore, non-standard security hardware or services will also not be recognised by your insurer, which means that you will likely end up paying a higher premium, or you may not be allowed to get insurance until you use compliant services.
SECURITY STANDARDS EVERY BUSINESS OWNER SHOULD UNDERSTAND
Why do business owners need to understand security standards? Well, these standards directly affect insurance approval, police response eligibility, legal compliance, contract wins, and customer trust.
The sad reality is that in most cases, new business owners only discover this fact after a failed insurance claim, a rejected tender, or a system that does not meet required standards.
Here are some of the key standards that you should know:
The NSI and SSAIB Accreditation
These certifications set a high standard for security companies that want to market their services to the masses. The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) are two of the most recognised independent certification bodies in the UK.
These certification bodies do not manufacture or provide services on their own. Instead, they audit security companies against recognised industry standards.
This is why their approval is widely recognised by insurers, police forces, and commercial clients.
For customers, these certifications mean that the installers are independently audited and have engineers and processes that are assessed periodically.
They also mean that the business will be able to provide compliant documentation and maintenance procedures that are in line with the industry standards.
These aspects are extremely important for large corporate clients because they need to work with third-party companies that are fully compliant and accountable.
In the context of insurance, in commercial sectors, insurers may specifically require NSI or SSAIB-approved installers before granting coverage or police response capability.
BS EN 50131
The British Standard EN 50131 is a standard for intruder alarms in the UK.
It is perhaps one of the most important standards in physical security as it governs intruder alarms, hold-up alarms, system grading, installation requirements, and maintenance expectations.
The standard relies on four grades based on risk level:
- Grade 1 – Low-risk Residential
- Grade 2 – Standard homes and small businesses
- Grade 3 – Higher-risk commercial premises
- Grade 4 – High security sites
For customers, choosing the wrong grade can create problems with insurers or police response applications. This is why we recommend that you consult with an SSAIB-approved security company like Calder Security to assess your business needs and determine the best course of action for your property/business.
PD 6662
This standard is the UK implementation Standard that works alongside BS EN 50131. This standard effectively tells UK installers how to apply the European standards when installing hardware.
The PD 6662 is heavily referenced by the NSI, SSAIB, police, and insurers. Needless to say, a professionally-installed monitored alarm in the UK will usually reference compliance with PD 6662.
ISO 9001
This standard is for quality management. The ISO 9001 is not a security-specific standard, but it is incredibly important in the security market because it focuses on process consistency, documentation, quality control, and corrective actions.
For example, several NSI-Gold tier companies operate under ISO 9001 standards, as it leads to better project management, more reliable service delivery, and stronger documentation. All these things are crucial for large enterprises, which makes NSI-Gold a crucial certification for security companies serving the corporate sector.
CYBER STANDARDS IN THE UK
In the modern world of Artificial Intelligence and smart security hardware and services, you need a standard that governs cybersecurity.
Cyber Essentials has become one of the most recognised cyber certifications in the UK.
It focuses on five core technical controls:
Firewalls
An invisible security wall in cyberspace that fends off nefarious parties from entering your home network. Firewalls are essential for maintaining the security of CCTV cameras and securing access to security hardware that is connected to the internet.
Secure configuration
Every compliant security device must be configured using the latest security protocols and end-to-end encryption tools. These protocols help keep your devices safe from hackers and allow your system to run reliably.
Access control
Access control systems in the digital space allow users to manage admins, guests, and people trying to remotely access the security hardware. Cyber Essentials dictates that access control must be present for all security hardware to keep them safe from unauthorised use.
Malware protection
Hackers can target systems using malware, which is a type of computer code specifically designed to corrupt systems and give hackers a way into your network. Security systems that are connected to the internet are vulnerable to these threats if there isn’t a layer of malware protection embedded in the connection. Thankfully, all compliant security services provide these basic measures to keep customers safe.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
Security standards may not mean a lot to you until you run into a problem with your insurers or when your property becomes ineligible for police response.
Business owners must understand that these standards are for the betterment of their business.
Brands that are perceived as safer are more likely to gain favourable customer sentiment. This is why business owners must convey that they use all the appropriate standards and take security seriously.
Security companies also frequently market their accreditations to attract clients from various industries. For example, following these standards has become increasingly important in public-sector tenders and is often requested in supply chains of corporations.
BENEFITS OF SECURITY STANDARDS
Here are some of the key benefits of using compliant hardware and services that are designed using appropriate security standards:
Police Response
Security standards are vital for maintaining police response.
A Type A or Level 1 response from local police is considered the gold standard because it allows for prompt action by local enforcement.
Insurance companies also demand that your security system be “police response capable”. Compliant hardware is designed to communicate with an Alarm Receiving Centre or ARC to provide an immediate response.
Reduced False Alarms
One of the key features of using compliant hardware and services is that they greatly reduce the chances of false alarms.
False alarms are not just a nuisance, but they also lead to police withdrawal, especially if there have been three or more false alarms in 12 months. When this happens, police will not visit your premises in response to further alarms until you fix the source of the false alarms.
False alarm management is integral to the British Standards since it relieves the burden of police resources and allows for more effective monitoring.
Insurance Compliance
As mentioned above, one of the first things an insurance company looks for in your business is your adherence to standards. Following standards not only enables insurers to give you better rates, but it also reduces the burden on their end.
More importantly, by following standards, your business will be able to make insurance claims much more fluidly. Keep in mind that insurers give preferential premiums not just based on the usage of compliant hardware but also on the use of services.
This is why commercial premises must have alarm systems that conform to BS8243 and are installed by NSI or SSAIB installers like Calder Security.
Audit and Traceability
British Standards also cover how the system logs errors, confirmed signals, and intrusion events. This makes the following standards vital for large corporations that hire companies that provide a high level of auditing and scrutiny. In fact, the NSI certification, especially NSI-Gold, is designed to cater to large businesses that require thorough management systems.
NSI-Gold companies provide services that emphasise logs, diagnostic reports, maintenance records, and even error detection, which can be helpful for investigations, insurer audits, and forensics.
Supporting Legacy Standards
Standards can be deprecated and replaced by new standards, but remain backwards compatible. For example, while the new BS8243 standard has replaced DD243 2010, they are still backwards compatible. Business owners, however, should upgrade their legacy systems to be fully compliant.
This requires a significant redesign of the entire security system around the premises, but it is worth it if you consider the benefits discussed above.
BRITISH STANDARDS FOR SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Commercial security systems also require proper servicing and maintenance to ensure continuous reliability, efficiency, and performance. Maintenance services are also governed by standards that every business owner must know.
The BS9263 is the appropriate standard which must be followed by all compliant security companies. This standard includes recommendations and requirements regarding maintenance, testing, and management of security systems.
The standards highlight how businesses should revamp internal processes to make security maintenance easier. For example, businesses must appoint a “responsible person” who should be tasked with overseeing the security system in the premises.
This is to ensure that maintenance, testing, fault logging, and corrective actions are performed in accordance with the applicable standards and on time.
DO YOU NEED TO FOLLOW ALL STANDARDS?
We have discussed a lot of security standards in this guide, but as a business owner, you might be wondering the number of standards that you need to know for your business.
The good news is that you don’t have to flex your memory! This is where certifications and accreditation come in.
When choosing a security company, instead of going through a list of standards, you can pick a company based on three certifications:
SSAIB
This certification is for all types of residential and small to medium-sized businesses. When a security company is SSAIB-verified, like Calder Security, you can rest easy knowing that they will follow all the appropriate hardware and service standards that we have discussed above.
NSI
If you want security solutions for very large corporations and enterprises, then you need to go with either an NSI-Gold or NSI-Silver company. NSI-Gold is ideal for large corporations because it offers very thorough auditing and documentation, while NSI Silver can be opted for by any large company that doesn’t have strict requirements.
MLA
The Master Locksmith Association, or MLA, is the gold standard for companies that offer locksmith services. Calder Security has both SSAIB and MLA certifications, which makes them the perfect comprehensive security provider for your locksmith and general security needs.
PERIODIC SERVICING BY CALDER SECURITY
Business owners can get peace of mind if they opt for the services of SSAIB-approved security companies like Calder Security.
Compliant companies provide more detailed inspections, conduct functional tests, and provide preventative maintenance, which helps in keeping your business running without any problems.
Detailed inspection is performed according to BS9263 and may include:
- Inspection and functional testing of all detectors, sensors, and warning devices.
- Verification of communication paths (Alarm Transmission System, primary and backup)
- Verification of power supplies, battery health and capacity, and backup systems.
- Verification of anti-tamper systems and wiring integrity.
- Checking arming and unarming logic for entry and exit sequences, delay paths, and confirmation logic related to sequential or other confirmation methods.
- Reviewing and clearing log or event histories and verifying fault records.
- Visual inspection of wiring and environmental factors such as moisture, temperature, and corrosion.
- Carrying out corrective repairs or replacements in the case of fault detection.
- Providing a detailed maintenance record or report which includes a listing of the number and types of tests performed, results, faults, and any remedial actions.
CONTACT CALDER SECURITY
At Calder Security, we provide a comprehensive range of security systems for residential and commercial properties. Our services include professional installation, monitoring, maintenance, repair, and keyholding services.
We have been in the security industry for over 40 years and have extensive knowledge about all kinds of security systems. Our experts can also recommend the best system suited for your domestic and commercial security needs.
We are SSAIB-approved installers, and all of our burglar alarm installations are carried out by qualified, experienced engineers who comply with standards: PD6662: 2010, DD243, and BS8243, required to qualify for police assistance.
Our systems meet the stringent requirements of BS4737 and European Standard EN50131 (Intruder Alarm Systems in Buildings). We have both wired and wireless systems and can also advise you on the best option for your property. Our expert installers guide and train users before leaving the site, making sure they are comfortable with the system and understand how it works.
We understand the importance of regularly maintaining security systems since the inability to do so might result in serious faults and consequent vulnerabilities in your property’s security.
We provide professional maintenance checks, reminders, and contracts to help you stay compliant with the law and work fast to restore your security systems to excellent condition. We offer a 24-hour call-out service for customers and can also repair systems not installed by us. Our engineers are highly skilled and can restore faulty systems to full working order in one visit.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 9799 to talk to our experts for more information on security standards every business owner should understand.