Detector-Activated CCTV Systems Realise Protective Potential Through Updated British Standard

Matthew Holliday, Head of Approval Schemes at the National Security Inspectorate Matthew Holliday, Head of Approval Schemes at the National Security Inspectorate (NSI), describes how a newly revised British Standard should improve facilities’ protection, using detector-activated surveillance alarm systems that provide police response.

The use of detector-activated CCTV, with remote/third party monitoring of sites to evaluate alarm signals generated by British Standard BS 8418-compliant systems, enables facilities to gain a police URN (Unique Reference Number) qualifying them for police response from their local constabulary.

Disappointingly, users of CCTV surveillance such as facilities managers have been largely unable to take advantage of police response with relatively few URNs issued to such systems over the past 18 years.

So, what has held back market take-up of these video surveillance systems (VSS) to date? In short, onerous technical and operational requirements of the standard and the consequent relatively high cost of compliant remote video verification equipment when compared with alternative technology have restricted their rollout. But all that is about to change…

Standard Shake-Up

The pace of technological growth in the security sector, along with changes in legislation such as data protection and privacy regulations, mean system standards require periodic revision. Notably, one British Standard (BS 8418) has just been updated for the fifth time since its original introduction in 2003 – such has been the pace of change and the resultant limitations of its previous inceptions.

Capabilities provided by video surveillance include linking remote monitoring of premises with on-site audio announcements. They also enable operators to quickly and easily check whether a detector activation is a genuine security breach and pass any verified incidents on to police for immediate manned response, in line with insurance-related requirements.

Addressing the drawbacks, the latest 2021 iteration of BS 8418 (covering the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of detector-activated VSS) makes several major changes. Key among these is the introduction of a two-tiered risk-based approach: ‘Type A’ and ‘Type A+’ systems.

  • ‘Type A+’ enhanced level systems are designed to suit higher risk industrial, military, utilities and other similar sites. These continue to use similar technical and installation requirements as the previous (2015) version of BS 8418.
  • The new ‘Type A’ level sets minimum recommendations for systems, based on a site threat assessment and risk analysis.

In essence therefore, a ‘Type A+’ system design includes additional security features, while a standard ‘Type A’ system involves the use of image transmission to alarm receiving centres (ARCs) and dedicated remote video response centres (RVRCs), with alarm verification operators at these centres screening out false alarms using recognised detection techniques.

Importantly however this does not, by any means, represent a ‘watering down’ of requirements for lower risk sites. These must still meet prescribed technical standards for operations, including detection and alarm transmission. In some cases sites may already benefit from pre-existing security measures, including building intruder alarms. Adding a BS 8418: 2021-compliant surveillance system will provide further complementary protection.



Promoted Benefits

It’s expected the simpler installation and technology requirements of ‘Type A’ systems will encourage significantly greater use of remote video monitoring. In this way, BS 8418: 2021 compliance will further help reduce false alarms and the number of 999 emergency calls being made, both of which put pressure on the police and divert resources away from genuine incidents.

The new two-tier arrangement can help VSS system providers install and maintain systems better tailored to their specific circumstances and therefore more efficient. Additionally, with the Standard being more performance-outcome focused, system providers are enabled to deploy innovative solutions more readily – helping facilities managers and other end users to realise the security benefits.

For a VSS to be allocated a police URN, it must be installed and maintained by a company independently approved by a UKAS-accredited Certification Body such as NSI. As is generally the case with an edition of a standard, approved companies have a transition grace period to give them time to adapt.

In this case NSI has set a 12-month transition period for its approved companies, ending on 31st July 2022. During this period new installations can comply with either the 2015 or 2021 edition of BS 8418.

Conclusion

Recent significant efforts to finally realise the tangible, but largely latent benefits of video surveillance alarm monitoring are contained with this newly published update of BS 8418. For FMs and others addressing security needs, the opportunities this technology offers can now be exploited to the full.

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Detector-Activated CCTV Systems Realise Protective Potential Through Updated British Standard