CFPA Security Guideline No X(2)/2009

Guidance for the selection and use of electronic security systems in empty buildings

(Draft 08/2009)

CFPA Guideline: Guidance for the selection and use of electronic security systems in empty buildings (draft)

CONTENTS

1.INTRODUCTION

2.WHY ELECTRONIC SECURITY

3.INTRUDER ALARM SYSTEMS

Conventional

Temporary

4.CCTV

Conventional

Temporary

5.CONCLUSION

6. REFERENCES

7ABBREVIATIONS

Appendix: Temporary Alarms – Owners Checklist

1. Introduction

Comprehensive information relating to the problems usually associated with empty buildings, together with guidance and advice in respect of possible safeguards, is outlined within the IPCRes document ‘Guidance for the protection of empty buildings’.

This document provides additional information for those responsible for any building not in normal use and who are considering protection using electronic security systems, i.e.intruder alarms and CCTV surveillance systems.

By way of clarification, and to avoid unnecessary repetition/qualification within the body of this document, the termsthose responsible and normal use are considered to mean :-

Those responsible– owners, leaseholders, tenants, managing agents and their staff, also referred to as ‘owners’

Normal Use – buildings that, to all intents and purposes, are not being used as a workplace, store or as accommodation, also referred to as ‘empty’

The appendix outlines some technical details of temporary intruder alarms and CCTV systems/services available from known specialist providers in the field.

2. Why electronic security?

Empty buildings are prone to various common problems, e.g. deterioration of the fabric, damp, escape of water, fly tipping, fly posting and external vandalism, etc.

Many of these problems can be eliminated or reduced by good management, including regular inspections and appropriate maintenance and repair, but such buildings are often additionally under threat of beingaccessed by trespassers or intruders for various activities. These range from squatting, illegal trading (including drugs), parties (raves), internal vandalismto theft of contents or fixtures and fittings. There may also be a significant risk of partial or complete destruction by fire, often as a result of arson.

Physical securityis often put in place to deter or hinder unauthorized access but may not be practical or sufficient in every case to prevent intruders gaining access. Therefore some means of alerting the owners tounauthorised access will often be necessary to fully manage the aforementioned risks.

This usually involves the use of an intruder alarm system, although sometimes a remotely monitored CCTV system may also prove suitable.

3. Intruder alarm systems

Intruder alarm systems can be considered under two headings, namely ‘Conventional’ and ‘Temporary’ alarm systems.

Conventional intruder alarmsystems

Many buildings in normal use are fitted with a permanently installed,mains powered, internal intruder alarm system.

Installing Companies

This type of system is usually installed, maintained and monitored by installing companies and ARCswho are subject to third party accreditation by an inspectorate body such as the NSI or the SSAIB.

This certificationis supported by insurers and other interested bodies, including the police, as a means of ensuring that relevant British/European standards are complied with for alarm design, maintenance, ARC monitoring, security procedures, record keeping and staff security vetting.

NSI/SSAIB certification is a pre-requisite for obtaining a routine police response to alarm activations within current police SSP rules.

Response

In addition to arranging their own private keyholder or commercial response to alarm faults/activations, systems meeting police SSP rules can apply for a police URN, and thus beeligible for a routine emergency police response to qualifying activations.

Summary

To install a conventional alarm in a building once it is empty can involveconsiderable expense and delay and therefore, wherever possible, as a building becomes vacant any existing alarm system should be formally taken over by the owners and maintained/upgraded as appropriate to provide ongoing intruder detection.

At the same time it is essential to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made to respond to any alarm activations by the appointment of suitable premises keyholders.

Temporary Intruderalarmsystems

Where an empty building has no alarmsystem, or it proves impractical to take over and use an existing system, e.g. previous owners have removed/damaged components or the necessary mains power supply is no longer available, it is often possible to install a temporary alarm unit or system.

Systemproviders

Various specialist companies exist who are able to provide temporary alarm products/services. Due to the niche nature of this activity, the majority of such companies do not seek NSI/SSAIB accreditation, partly because there are few relevant BS/EN standards that specifically apply to such systems. Nonetheless, some form of external accreditation of all or some of their activities is desirable, and owners may wish to select providers having regard to this issue.

Products

Temporary alarms are designed to be powered by a battery, although mains power can sometimes be utilised (if present on site). Low battery power indications are usually sent to the ARC.

Systems usually comprise a portable control/power unit and various wire free intruder alarm sensors, although some use various forms of audio or visual detection &/or verification. Fire detection sensors can be added to some systems.

Most systems provide silent/covert notification of activations to an ARC via the mobile ‘phone (GSM) network, but some have an option to use additional on site sirens/sounders.

Some products have the option to send periodic test calls to and from site to check the operational status of the system and the means of notification.

Response

As these systems do not meet SSP rules, they do not qualify for a URN and a routine emergency police response. Some, providers undertake to ring the local police via normal telephone lines to alert them to verified alarm activations but this is disapproved of by ACPO and therefore users should make no assumption that this will happen.

It is therefore essential that owners put in place adequate and reliable arrangements for private or commercial keyholders to attend the alarm protected site, and investigate or rectify the cause of any alarm activation or fault.

If arrangements are made for owners’ own keyholders to attend activations, they should be advised to do so with due regard for their safety, e.g.

  • Attend in pairs
  • Let someone know where they are going and when they can be expected to make contact/return
  • Carry mobile ‘phones
  • Be aware that if there are signs of a break in,or suspicion that intruders are present, they can call for police assistance via the 999 telephone network.

To avoid some of the difficulties that can arise with use of owners’ own keyholders, many of the companies specialising in this field provide a commercial response and keyholding service.

Owners should ensure that any company employed to provide such a service meets with the full approval of their insurers

Summary

Temporary alarms are a cost effective and proven way of providing protection against intrusion into, and movement within,empty buildings. However, their effectiveness will depend on many factors.

Owners should therefore satisfy themselves as to the suitability and effectiveness of such a system, as outlined in the checklist at Appendix I.

4. CCTV

CCTV takes many forms but, to be effective, a system needs to be monitored so that unauthorised persons approaching or entering a building may be challenged and/or a keyholder or response service can be dispatched to attend.

CCTV systems can be considered under two headings, ‘Conventional’ and ‘Temporary’.

Conventional CCTV Systems

Installing Companies/Products

The complexity of effective conventional CCTV systems is such that they should only be entertained where installed, maintained and monitored by installing companies and ARCs who are subject to third party accreditation by an inspectorate body such as the NSI or the SSAIB.

This accreditationis supported by insurers and other interested bodies, including the police, as a means of ensuring that relevant British/European standards are complied with for system design, maintenance, ARC monitoring, security procedures, record keeping and staff security vetting.

NSI/SSAIB certification is a pre-requisite for obtaining a routine police response to alarm activations within current police SSP rules.

Response

To qualify for an emergency police response via an ARC, a CCTV system must meet police SSP rules and be granted a URN.

Summary

In some cases it may prove possible to make arrangements for monitoring an empty building via a conventional CCTV system already installed by either taking over and using an existing site CCTV system or making arrangements with the operators of a system covering an adjacent site/public space, e.g. a town or shopping centre system.

In all other cases the cost of installing a new convention monitored CCTV system to protect an empty building, particularly for a short period, will usually be prohibitive.

Temporary CCTV Systems

Installing Companies

A few specialist companies exist who are able to provide temporary CCTV products/services.

Due to the niche nature of this activity, the majority of such companies do not seek NSI/SSAIB accreditation, partly because there are few relevant BS/EN standards that specifically apply to such systems. Nonetheless, some form of external accreditation of all or some of their activities is desirable, and owners may wish to select providers having regard to this issue

Products

Devices are currently available consisting of an enclosure housing a battery power supply, PIR, camera with infrared illumination, GSM unit and key switch.

Response

As these systems do not meet SSP rules, they do not qualify for a URN and a routine emergency police response. However, some providers undertake to ring the local police via normal telephone lines to alert them to visually verified system activations. The chances of this resulting in a police response are increased if the monitoring operation can persuade the police operator that a criminal act has taken place or is likely to take place. Note however that trespass as such is a civil, rather than criminal, offence.

As with temporary intruder alarms it is essential that owners put in place adequate and reliable arrangements for private or commercial keyholders to attend the CCTV protected site, and investigate or rectify the cause of any system activation or fault.

Summary

Where visual evidence of activities at an empty building is required, a temporary CCTV system may be the only cost effective solution.

5. Conclusion

Wherever practical, it will usually be preferable to utilise or adapt an existing conventional electronic security system for the monitoring of an empty building.

However, where this cannot be achieved, temporary electronic security systems can be an effective means of monitoring, particularly when coupled with effective physical protection and suitable deterrent site warning signs.

The main advantages of installing a temporary electronic security system compared to a conventional system are:

  • Speed of installation
  • No need for mains power
  • No need for a telephone line
  • Cost, temporary systems are usually hired by the week/month
  • Wirefree technology allows units/detectors to be quickly relocated
  • Companies providing such systems can arrange a commercial response to system activations and other services useful to owners of empty buildings, e.g. regular site inspections, boarding up services, waste clearance, etc.

There are a number of companies that specialisein the provision of site surveys, installation, maintenance, monitoring and response to temporary electronic security systems in vacant buildings.

Whilst most of these do not meet all of the traditional standards/inspectorate ‘benchmarks’ familiar in the field of conventional electronic security systems, most are dealing with the specific issues that arise in relating to protection of vacant property on a daily basis. As such they are likely to have the expertise and resources available to adequately deal with most problems encountered.

6. References

IPCres document -Guidance for the protection of empty buildings

IPCRes document – Electronic security systems: guidance on keyholder selection and duties

PD 6662:2004 (incorporating prEN 50131-1:2004) Scheme for the Application of European Standards for Intruder and Hold-up Alarm Systems.

DD243:2004: Installation and Configuration of Intruder Alarm Systems Designed to Generate Confirmed Alarm Conditions – Code of Practice.

BS 8418: Installation and Remote Monitoring of Detector Activated CCTV Systems – Code of Practice

BS 7984:2001: Keyholding and Response Services- Code of Practice

BS 7499:2002: Static Site Guarding and Mobile Patrol Services – Code of Practice

BS 7858 :2004: Security Screening of Personnel Employed in a Security Environment – Code of Practice

Appendix

Temporary Alarms – Owners Checklist

Before deciding upon the use of any particular temporary alarm system, owners should ascertain the degree of compliance with the following‘ideal’ checklist.They should also seek advice/approval from any interested insurer.

Premises/design Issues

  • What level of alarm/CCTV protection is required?
  • Are theareas requiring protection suited to the proposed detection, i.e. free from undue vibration, vermin, birds, etc likely to cause false alarms?
  • How many control units/detection devices will be required?
  • Can control unit(s) be sited within an alarm protected &/or a secure area?

System providers/installers

  • Do they install themselves or refer enquiries to sub-contracted installers?
  • Do the installers have any third party inspectorate accreditation or otherwise operate to relevant standard, e.g. BS7858 or ISO 9000?

System equipment

  • Is the product accredited to any standards, e.g. PD6662 or ISO9000?
  • Can the control unit be physically fixed in place?
  • Is the control unit likely to resist physical attack whilst sending any system activation to the ARC?
  • What is the expected battery life of the control unit? (min of 3 months recommended)
  • Will detection devices send low battery power signals to the control unit?
  • Will the control unit send low battery power signals to the ARC?
  • Will a log record of alarm setting/unsetting and activations be captured at the ARC or in the site control unit?
  • What maintenance checks are advised?

Alarm notification (signalling)

  • Who is acting as the ARC?
  • Does it operate 24 hrs a day and 365 days per year?
  • Does the ARC have any third party inspectorate accreditation or otherwise operate to a relevant standard, e.g BS5979?
  • What notification method/product will be used?
  • Can/when will test calls be sent between the control unit and the ARC?

Response

  • Who will be notified of and respond to any activations/faults?
  • If a commercial response and keyholding company is being used do they hold any third party inspectorate accreditation or otherwise operate to a relevant standard e.g. BS7858, BS7984 or BS7499?
  • Is any commercial response/guarding services SIA licensed?
  • Are any response times for the commercial response/keyholding service guaranteed?

7. Abbreviations used in this guide

ACPOAssociation of Chief Police Officers (England Wales & NI)

ACPOSAssociation of Chief Police Officers (Scotland)

SSPSecurity System Policy (ACPO/ACPOS)

ARCAlarm Receiving Centre

BSBritish Standard

CCTVClose Circuit Television

prENdraft European Norm (European Standard)

GSMGlobal System for Mobile Communication

IPCResInsurers Property Crime Reseach Group

PIRPassive Infra-Red Movement Detector

NSINational Security Inspectorate

SSAIBSecurity Systems & Alarm Inspection Board

SIASecurity Industry Authority

URNUnique Reference Number