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PD6662 : 2004
The mandatory new installation standard for Intruder Alarm Systems. It became effective from 1st October 2005.
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What is PD6662?
PD6662 is a document which takes prEN50131-1, and also calls up the relevant parts of BS4737 to fill in the gaps left in EN50131 due to the component standards not being published yet. Additionally, it calls up DD243, which is not being replaced by EN50131. This gives us two things
- A more complete document to work with, causing less ambiguity.
- A hybrid standard which has many familiar features of the old BS4737.
Both the above points should mean an easier transition into EN50131. As and when the component standards within EN50131 are published, PD6662 will be updated to remove the relevant references to BS4737. Then, over the coming years, there will be an incremental changeover to the full EN50131 family of standards. Until this all happens, in the UK, we will be installing systems to PD6662: 2004, rather than EN50131.
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What does it mean in real terms?
The consequence of the new standard has been to introduce some slight changes in the look and feel of the alarm system in use, some changes to the signalling, changes to detectors and bell boxes at the higher security grades, and a requirement for the installer to document all aspects of a survey before installing the system.
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What does the new terminology mean?
The following is a brief list of the phrases and abbreviations, not described elsewhere in this page, which are used commonly in the new standards.
| Alert |
Indication given by the system to warn users that there is information to be shown |
| ATS |
Alarm Transmission System – The signalling system used by the alarm panel |
| CIE |
Control and Indicating Equipment – The control panel, keypads and expanders |
| Indication |
Specific sounds or keypad displays which tell the user the status of the system |
| Notification |
The activation of sounders or signalling to pass on the presence of an alarm condition |
| Restore |
Procedure of returning the system to the normal state following an alarm |
| WD |
Warning Device – sounder, siren, bell box etc, which gives an alarm or an alert |
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What are Security Grades?
A system must meet one of four security grades, depending on the level of risk. These roughly translate as follows:
| Grade |
Risk |
| 1 |
Low risk: Not likely to be enforced in the UK as it covers DIY-style bells-only systems. |
| 2 |
Medium risk: This is first level that will be recognised by insurers and covers the majority of domestic and low value commercial premises. Required as a minimum for Police-calling systems. |
| 3 |
Medium-high risk: This covers most commercial and industrial premises, as well as high value domestic premises. |
| 4 |
High risk: This is for high security applications, and roughly equates to the old BS7042 high security standard. |
It is the installer’s responsibility to ensure that a system of the correct grade is installed. This must be done via a properly documented Site Survey. Refer to En50131-7 for more details on the Site Survey. The advice of the customers’ insurers should be sought if there is any doubt on the grade required.
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What is EN50131?
EN50131 is a collection of different standards designed to cover the design and installation of all aspects of Intruder and Hold-Up Alarm Systems. EN50131-1 is the main document. This is the generic standard, upon which all of the other component standards are based. The component standards give more detailed specification on specific parts of the alarm system as shown below:
- EN50131-1 Generic standard
- EN50131-2 Standard for detection devices
- EN50131-3 Standard for control panels and peripherals
- EN50131-4 Standard for warning devices, bells, sounders etc.
- EN50131-5 Standard for interconnections, wires, wireless links etc.
- EN50131-6 Standard for power supplies
- EN50131-7 Application guidelines, mainly for installers
However, not all of these standards are published. Currently only prEN50131-1: 2004, a redraft of the generic standard, EN50131-6 and EN50131-7 are being introduced. This means that there are some holes in the detail covered by the standard. To get around this, the British Standards Institute has created another document called PD6662.
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