How intruder alarms can now better protect retailers
In June, the British Standard Code of Practice for the Design, Installation and Configuration of Intruder and Hold-Up Alarm Systems (BS 8243:2021), designed to generate confirmed alarm conditions, was revised. Its changes are considered far-reaching and provide greater choice for large and small retailers in protecting their premises, according to NSI Chief Executive Richard Jenkins.
With reported retail robbery amounting to £25 million annually across the UK*, sites secured by monitored security alarms are central in safeguarding retail premises, enabling immediate police response to verified alarm activations. Dependent upon the level of risk, insurers may insist systems are installed and regularly maintained by a competent provider operating to recognised industry standards accepted by the Police and request supporting documentation to demonstrate this. Further information on insurance requirements for intruder alarm systems in workplaces.
New technical and operational changes lie at the heart of the new standard BS 8243:2021 increasing capability for catching criminals using new technologies based around visual alarm confirmation, before a confirmed incident is passed to the police for response.
BS 8243:2021 will become mandatory for NSI NACOSS Gold and Systems Silver approved companies from 30th June 2022, find out more about the latest revision in our article in Retail Destination – ‘Cause for Alarm’.