| BS 8418: British Standard [BS8418] | Security CCTV Systems, Monitors, Cameras, Installations, Remote Monitoring, Detector Activated, Code Of Practice

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BS 8418 [2003]: Security CCTV systems / Monitors / Cameras / Installations / Remote monitoring and Detector Activated. Code of practice [BS8418]

Welcome to BS8418.co.uk

The aim of this website is to unmask and enlighten you with answers to questions and fears relating to the BS 8418.

Subjects Related to BS 8418:2003:

- Closed-circuit television
- Detectors
- Remote control systems
- Security systems in buildings
- Anti-burglar measures
- Crime prevention devices
- Installation
- Design
- CommissioningThe new Code of Practice for the installation and remote monitoring of detector activated CCTV Systems – is set to both raise the standard of integrated systems and define the character of those systems too.

“Police Response to Security Systems (April 2008)”, published by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), is absolutely clear. Only monitored sites allocated a Unique Reference Number (URN) will receive Police response, and URNs will only be allocated to sites that are monitored by Remote Video Receiving Centres (RVRCs) accredited to British Standard BS8418.”

Under normal circumstances, to qualify for a URN a site must not only be monitored by a BS8418-accredited RVRC, but the CCTV system must also be designed to and installed to the BS8418 standard. However, in order to bring as many legacy systems as possible into a regulated environment, ACPO have agreed to an amnesty program where older monitored CCTV systems (not compliant with BS8418) can be allocated a URN and qualify for Police response provided the URN application is made by an accredited RVRC such as Camwatch.

This amnesty period expires on 31st December 2008. After this date, URNs will only be allocated to BS8418 compliant systems, meaning that companies that miss the deadline may have to pay for an upgrade to qualify.

- Do you rely on a Police response for your CCTV system?
- Are you concerned that your current monitoring company is not accredited to BS8418?

If the answer to any of the above is “yes”, you may be interested in the following:

BSi code: BS 8418:2003
ISBN number: 0 580 42479 0
Product code: 30138356
Publication Date: 3rd Sep 2003

Brief:

But above all, it will drive integrated systems as a commercial opportunity. According to a BSIA survey, only 14% of premises in the UK have security systems. This suggests a huge commercial opportunity exists for the industry. The attitudes of the police and insurance industry are key in driving that figure up. Because of the waste of police time in chasing false alarms (98% of activations are false), some end users have lost confidence in the value of investing in security. However, going forward, if a user wishes to be guaranteed a level 1 police response, adherence to BS8418 will be mandatory. And where the police go, the insurance industry is sure to follow. End users will find themselves motivated by financial (ie insurance) as well as security concerns to pursue the integrated solution route.

Standard Scope:

BS8418 covers the design, positioning, configuration, performance, commissioning, operation and maintenance of remotely monitored and detector activated CCTV systems. This means that the standard only covers integrated systems. It also means that it is the system and not individual products or components that comply with the standard. For instance it is not possible to purchase products that comply with BS8418. A key purpose of adhering to the standard is to qualify for a Unique Reference Number (URN) which is issued by the local police authority to guarantee a level 1 police response. Without a URN, this level of police response is not guaranteed. It is this purpose that has led to the standard being stringent for the elimination of false alarms is a key police objective.

BS8418 Summary:

Here is a bird’s eye view of some aspects of BS8418.

Introduction: Code of Practice

BS 8418: 2003 is a guideline for design, develop, install, operate and remote monitor detector activated CCTV systems. The UK standard is to minimise false alarms to CMS and achieve best practice of CCTV systems design and installation.

Why BS 8418 Compliance?

Although BS 8418 is an UK standard, it is recognized as one of the most professional and reliable security related standard in the industry.

Advantages of BS 8418 compliance:

- A BS 8418 compliance system will enable the efficient monitoring of your premises.
- A BS 8418 compliance system will give you a faster and upper level response from the Police.
- A BS 8418 compliance system can achieve best practice of CCTV system design and installation.
- A BS 8418 compliance system can reduce the possible cases of false police call out.
- Systems with BS 8418 compliance can reduce the insurance liability.A fully compliant system contains the equipment, the installation service and the remote video response centre for receiving remote signals for designing, installing and monitoring the system.

Why has this new British Standard been introduced?

Increasingly sophisticated intruder alarms are being integrated to incorporate ’smart’ detectors and CCTV cameras to provide a means of verifying, or confirming if an alarm is genuine. This ensures that the appropriate response can be actioned quickly and effectively by keyholders, and more importantly by the Police. To minimise the number of false alarms that the Police attend, intruder alarms must comply with DD243. Now, with the introduction of BS8418, this initiative has been applied to detector activated CCTV and remote monitoring.

How will this affect me?

The Police will now only issue a Unique Reference Number (URN) to systems that comply with BS8418.

This not only affects the overall design of the system, but also the performance of motion detectors, CCTV cameras, alarm handling and how the system is maintained. Is it easy to become compliant with BS8418?

To obtain a URN and therefore qualify to receive Police response, your CCTV system will need to comply with all of the following: -

- ACPO Security Systems Policy
- BS 8418 Installation and remote monitoring of detector activated CCTV systems – Code of Practice
- BS EN 50132-7: CCTV Application guidelines
- The system must have the capability of audio challenge

Field of View

The standard is adamant that camera and detector fields of view should match one another and be confined to within the site’s boundaries and not extend into public areas.

Light

PIRs facing east or west must not affected by the sun or from reflection and shadows Only high quality PIRs must be used to avoid false triggering Cameras should not face directly into sun or light. However, there should be sufficient light (night and day) to illuminate the cameras’ fields of view.

System integrity

Each individual detector must be uniquely identifiable to the system. All cabling and detection devices should incorporate tamper protection.

Event verification

To ‘verify’ an event, the field of view should be set so that a 1.6m high human target fills at least 10% of picture height. To ‘recognise’ an intruder the target should fill a minimum of 50%. Fixed cameras are the recommended option for vulnerable areas (e.g. the entry/exit route) or a PTZ camera with its park position viewing the vulnerable area. If PTZ cameras are used in isolation, use should be made of presets so that the operator will observe each incident as though it were viewed by a static camera.

Audio

An audio challenge facility is recommended and required to guarantee level 1 police response. The audio challenge should be audible in all areas of detection.

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

The installation of a back-up UPS system should be considered. The system should have the ability to monitor and indicate video loss to the RVRC. Ensure that the system has an alternative signaling path to indicate failure of the main signaling path to the RVRC. The system should have a full connection and retry protocol. Plan to ensure that the fully detailed event log-system history be retained and held at the protected site.

Unique Reference Number

To obtain a URN, installers of remotely monitored detector activated CCTV systems will need to comply with all of the following: -

ACPO Security Systems Policy

BS 8418 Installation and remote monitoring of detector activated CCTV systems – Code of Practice. BS EN 50132-7: CCTV Application guidelines. The system must have the capability of audio challenge.[Information last updated: Jan 2009. For a comprehensive picture we recommend you obtain a copy of the standard from BSI at www.bsi-global.com.]

BS 8418: British Standard [BS8418]