Publication of British Standard BS 8243:2021

12th July 2021

BS 8243:2021 – Design, installation and configuration of Intruder and Hold-up Alarm Systems designed to generate confirmed alarm conditions.

This Code of Practice was published on 30th June 2021 having undergone a full revision.

Following a 12 month transition period, the revised Code will be mandatory for NSI NACOSS Gold and Systems Silver approved companies from 30th June 2022. During this period installations can comply with either the 2010 or 2021 edition.

Key changes to the Code of Practice include:

  • the previous requirement for all intruder alarm systems intended for a Police response to use sequential confirmation is no longer a requirement, any single or combination of confirmation method(s) are permitted;
  • a number of prescriptive methods that set requirements for the design of audio or visual confirmation, have been removed to allow product innovation;
  • removal of the requirement to declare to the response authority when using detectors incorporating two movement detectors of the same technology within a single housing;
  • confirmation of hold-up alarm (HUA) by telephone call back by an alarm receiving centre (ARC) is now permitted only for residential premises;
  • confirmation procedures have changed to accommodate the different processes relating to sequential confirmation or where the confirmation is decided at an ARC;
  • removal of requirements for alarm handling, which is to be included in a new ARC standard, BS 9518; and
  • inclusion of an option to set/unset the intruder alarm system (IAS) using a remote device.

How do I obtain a copy of BS 8243:2021?

BS 8243:2021 is available as an outright individual purchase directly from the BSI, at a discounted rate from the NSI or, alternatively, as a download via the NSI approved company BSI Access to Standards service.

NSI approved companies should refer to Technical Bulletin 0059 in the Approved Company Login area of the website in the first instance. Please contact our Head of Approval Schemes, Matthew Holliday, with any queries.

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