A guide to Security System Grading

Understanding Grading and Risk Assessment.

As of 1st October 2005, the existing British Standards (BS4737, BS7042 and BS6799) were withdrawn and replaced by a new European Standards EN 50131. The European Standards are NOT retrospective.

The European Standards rely on a site security risk assessment risk assessment to grade systems according to the type of risk and the effort an intruder might be prepared to use in a burglary.

As a result, alarm equipment is now also graded to meet the criteria of the standards.

Grade 1 is for a property unlikely to attract an intruder and that any attempted intrusion is likely to be a spur-of-the-moment occurrence with no prior planning.

Properties falling into this Grade would be low risk domestic properties without an insurance requirement.

Grade 2 applies to a property which might attract an experienced thief with some knowledge of alarm systems, access points, and may carry some basic tools to be used to bypass a simple alarm system.

This grade would cover most domestic & low-risk commercial properties.

Grade 3 applies to a property at substantial risk of burglary - the property is likely to contain articles of high value/ease of disposal. The intruder could be expected to have a good knowledge of alarm systems.

This grade would cover high-risk domestic properties and the majority of commercial properties for example newsagents, hi-fi shops etc.

Grade 4 Intruders could be expected to plan in advance, have a good knowledge of alarm systems and the tools to bypass or substitute parts of the system. Intruders may also be expected to gain access through floors, walls and ceilings.

Examples of properties in this grade would include jewellery shops, banks, bullion stores, bonded warehouses etc.