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Security installations often demand professionalism, focus, and a strict adherence to standards. However, when customers survey the market for security companies, it may be difficult for them to determine the professional companies from the amateurs.
This is where third-party certifications come in. The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) certification is a seal of quality for these security companies. It tells customers, police, and even insurance companies that the company has been independently audited and meets recognised standards.
Is this certification necessary when picking the right security company?
Yes! Certifications help customers and insurers determine the overall service quality of the company, which is why they are so important.
Read below to learn more about NSI certification and what NSI approval means for customers and insurers:
UNDERSTANDING NSI
The NSI certification has a singular goal: to assure the quality, compliance, and reliability of security services. This professional body was created to set a high standard for security hardware installation and services for professional security companies like Calder Security.
The NSI is one of the UK’s leading third-party certification bodies for security and fire safety service providers. Like SSAIB, which is another similar certification, the NSI also audits and accredits companies and provides them with a certification under different levels.
There are two levels of certifications:
- Gold
- Silver
Companies are awarded with the appropriate level depending on the scope of their quality systems, compliance, and technical competence. The gold standard is awarded to the best of the best companies. Gold-level service providers are the companies that service large reputable organisations, while the silver level, which is just as good, is given to companies that service small to mid-sized commercial and residential properties.
NSI Gold is the highest level of certification for security and fire companies, offering both high technical standards and ISO 9001 Quality Management certification.
On the other hand, NSI Silver covers the same high-level technical standards but focuses on product or system installation quality rather than the company-wide quality management system audit required for the gold level.
Keep in mind that large organisations often require a strong and thorough paper trail to help them remain compliant, transparent, and legal. This is why Gold-level companies often cater to these high-demand corporate customers.
The NSI also stands as one of the most widely accepted accreditations by the police and insurance companies.
NSI APPROVAL AND INSURANCE
NSI approval has a direct impact on insurance premiums. The NSI approval badge isn’t just for show, but it validates the service quality of these companies and helps insurers know that the company that you have chosen to protect your commercial or residential property is in good hands.
Many insurance policies specifically require alarms to be installed and maintained by an NSI-approved provider for:
- policy compliance,
- police response eligibility,
- higher-risk premises,
- Insurance premium discounts.
In simple terms, when your property is less likely to be robbed due to a good security system or an attempted robbery is more likely to be thwarted, insurance premiums can go down, especially if you have a history of zero to low incidents.
If you don’t go with an NSI-approved company, then chances are that you might be able to negotiate on the premium, especially if you have a good track record, but you won’t be able to fully dominate the negotiation and get a very good deal.
WHAT NSI APPROVAL MEANS FOR CUSTOMERS
Insurance companies have a very good idea of what these accreditations mean, but the average customer may look at these badges and think that they aren’t a big deal.
Accreditations are what you should be looking out for when choosing the right security company for your commercial or residential needs.
For customers, NSI approval means:
Accountability
The installer or monitoring company has been checked for competence, business practices, staff vetting, insurance cover, and compliance with British standards.
It means that the company is likely to provide thoroughly vetted and professional security resources and that customers can rest easy knowing that their property will remain safe.
Reliability
Systems such as CCTV, intruder alarms, access control, and fire alarms are more likely to be installed correctly and maintained properly by an accredited company than a new company that hasn’t acquired the necessary certifications.
The simple truth is that companies with this certification are more likely to be reliable and professional. Companies like Calder Security are fully vetted and have years of industry experience, making them a far better choice than a relatively new player in the market.
Long-Term Quality
These badges aren’t just a matter of a one-off membership fee. When you are accredited, you will be audited by the professional body periodically. This means that the company will have to remain reliable, legal, and compliant as long as its accreditation is valid.
Security companies also understand this and happily have themselves audited so that they can continue to be registered with these certification bodies.
Legally Compliant
If there is a rare slip, then you can bet that accredited companies will be held to a stricter standard and there will be serious measures for accountability.
NSI-approved companies operate at a certain standard. This standard is based on the guidelines provided by the British Standards. This is why many NSI-approved companies work with full transparency and keep a strict record of all their dealings with their customers.
SHOULD YOU GO WITH NSI GOLD OR NSI SILVER?
Gold approval is generally viewed as the premium standard since it assesses both technical quality and the company’s wider administrative systems, documentation, and training.
When choosing a company for your needs, you may be confused between going with an NSI Gold or NSI Silver company.
While NSI Gold is the gold standard in the security business, you are less likely to require the full level of services of an NSI Gold company.
The reason for this is simple: NSI Gold is typically for commercial companies that require security services on a large scale with proper documentation.
Think of Google, Amazon, BCG, or any other large company in virtually any field. These companies need to be compliant, and they require the third-party companies that work with them to be compliant as well.
This is where NSI Gold really shines. Large corporations will most likely go with NSI Gold companies because they will be able to provide them with the right level of management systems, training, and documentation.
On the other hand, NSI Silver offers literally the same level of professionalism but without the added management systems and documentation requirements. Silver-level companies also follow the same ISO requirements, but they are more suited for small to medium-sized businesses.
This includes shops, small retail stores, small offices, residential properties, and more. Silver companies use the same level of technical knowledge and professionalism to get the job done.
This is why, if you want to secure your commercial or residential property, the best route is to go with an NSI Silver company. They will offer a balanced level of services and cost for your security needs.
In practical terms, customers often associate NSI approval, regardless of Gold or Silver levels, with:
- Better reliability,
- Fewer false alarms,
- Improved aftercare,
- Stronger compliance,
- Lower long-term risk.
That is why many commercial tenders, insurers, local authorities, and high-value sites either prefer or require NSI-approved contractors.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER CERTIFICATIONS?
Like the NSI approval, there are other certifications that you may want to look for in security companies.
The NSI certification isn’t the end-all, be-all in the security world; there are, in fact, several other certifications, like the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board or SSAIB.
Both SSAIB and NSI are highly reputable certification bodies for security, fire, and telecare in the UK.
SSAIB and NSI are both recognised by police and insurers for compliance, making them largely equivalent in quality assurance for customers.
The SSAIB certification is known for being particularly strong with smaller to medium-sized firms, providing a friendly, rigorous inspection process. These companies work in the same way as NSI Silver companies and offer a wide range of reliable and trusted services.
SSAIB-certified companies, like Calder Security, offer the same level of professionalism, experience, and accountability as any NSI-approved company, which is why both SSAIB and NSI are recognised by insurers in the UK.
On top of the SSAIB and NSI certification, companies can also be further accredited by other bodies such as the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA), which certifies companies that follow high standards in installing, repairing, and generally dealing with locks for security purposes.
Companies like Calder Security are vetted by both SSAIB and the MLA, making them a fine choice for all your security needs.
The important thing to understand is not to get into the branding on these certifications and just focus on picking a company that offers at least one or two certifications.
In most cases, you will be fine with picking either SSAIB or NSI. Ultimately, your requirements (corporate/commercial/residential) will dictate which accreditation is best for you.
NSI VS SSAIB: KEY SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
As mentioned above, NSI-approved companies and SSAIB certifications provide compliance, better coverage, and professional installations.
Since both certifications are of similar high standards, they share several overlapping roles.
Let’s explore some of the key similarities and differences of these certifications that can help you figure out the best certification for your home or business:
NSI Gold and SSAIB Certification
The primary difference between NSI and SSAIB is that NSI offers tiered certifications. As explored above, the NSI Gold is often considered a premium-level certification that requires security companies to not only meet technical installation standards but also implement and maintain a full quality management system that includes accountability measures and proper documentation.
The NSI Silver certification has a narrower focus that emphasises technical competence without the necessary full management integration.
This is why very large companies usually regard NSI Gold as an important factor because it signals stronger internal controls and organisational experience.
For homeowners, the NSI certification level may be overkill since it might not be necessary for their use case.
Home security installations are self-contained and don’t require strict auditing or the installation of highly complex security hardware.
This is why the SSAIB certification is more than enough for homes and small to medium-sized businesses. The SSAIB is also capable of catering to workplaces and provides excellent coverage for all types of businesses.
SSAIB-approved companies like Calder Security can easily cater to a wide range of customers without compromising on their security demands.
Market Presence
If you think that the NSI is more highly regarded in the industry, then think again. SSAIB and NSI have fantastic visibility in the security market.
Both certifications are proudly showcased on the official documentation and content of security companies.
However, when servicing larger clients in the corporate sector, security companies may put more emphasis on their prestigious certification and highlight it more prominently in marketing materials.
This doesn’t make SSAIB inferior; on the contrary, the SSAIB has been the gold standard in the industry and is a signal of a security company that provides flexible and high-coverage security solutions.
Approval Process
NSI and SSAIB have the same goal when vetting security companies, but they may have different criteria. These certifications focus on conducting deep audits that cover staff vetting, documentation, and risk assessments.
NSI accreditation places greater emphasis on internal controls, record keeping, and traceability, especially in the case of the Gold-tier certification. This is a requirement because larger clients often require security companies to be fully transparent and compliant.
In this case, the NSI will beat the competition, but for the vast majority of security installations for homes and regular commercial spaces, the SSAIB certification is adequate to cater to both homeowners and workplaces.
You can also look for additional certifications, such as the MLA. As mentioned above, this type of highly specialised certification is important for companies that offer locksmith services.
The MLA certification guarantees that the locksmith provided by the company will be a master at their craft and will do all the work using strict standards.
CONTACT CALDER SECURITY
At Calder Security, we provide a comprehensive range of security solutions that include not just professional installation but also monitoring, maintenance, and repair services for your residential and commercial security systems.
We are members of the Master Locksmith Association (MLA), approved members of the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB), and also conform to all the relevant British and EU Standards.
We follow all the best practices in the industry and install only high-quality, state-of-the-art security systems.
We offer various levels of monitoring via a 24-hour monitoring centre manned by security professionals who perform checks to confirm the alarm, notify the keyholder(s), and, if appropriate, alert the police.
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 and reminders for when the checks are due 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 third-party certifications and what NSI approval means for customers and insurers.
Photo by Alexis Dreher on Unsplash