Installers are likely to have until March 1 2005 before they are required to conform to the revised European standards for systems … and manufacturers will now have more time to adapt their equipment.
A timescale for the introduction of new systems standards has been announced by "the group of UK organisations that opposed the premature introduction of the new European Standard for system requirements, EN50131-1".

There will now be dual running of current British Standard BS4737 with the revised draft EN 50131-1 from March 1, 2004. The revision of EN 50131-1 will be timed to coincide with this date (March 1, 2004), as will the revision of the accompanying guide to the standard (PD6662), DD243 and the Personal Alarm proposals from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

Should all the revisions meet the deadline of March 1, 2004, installers will be required to conform to these revised standards by March 1, 2005. This will allow manufacturers the necessary time to adapt equipment accordingly, including the new grading requirements.

This timescale has been agreed by the BSIA, NSI, SSAIB and Association of British Insurers. The proposal has been backed by ACPO and ACPOS (Scotland).

BSIA Technical Manager Alex Carmichael said: "Installers and manufacturers have had a great deal to contend with. I hope this announcement will reassure them that the utmost is being done by their representative bodies to minimise any disruption and confusion in the sector."

Equipment manufactured to meet the revised standards should be clearly marked giving the correct environmental classification and, where there exists a component standard or component technical specification published in the EN50131-1 series, giving the correct grade.

•EN 50131-1, the European standard for system requirements which replaces BS 4737 was published in 1997, but the application guidelines and many of the product specification standards are still unavailable, so it is yet to be introduced.

Source

Security Installer