Key Post If considering an alarm system- The PSA & EN50131

KoolKid

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For some people there is a lot of confusion re The PSA (Private Security Authority) & The EN Standards. There are lots of different views some things true but a lot very confusing for the average consumer.
I thought I would just lay out some facts to clear things up.
These are purely the facts not opinions. Please do not post any opinions or personal views, as this is what causes confusion in the first place.

The Government of Ireland through the Private Security Services Act, 2004, established the Private Security Authority which took up office in that year.
The PSA has the responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security industry in Ireland.
The Authority is independent in the exercise of its functions. The Board of the Authority, chaired by Mr. Maurice Dockrell, consists of representatives of the legal profession, private security employers and employees, An Garda Siochána and relevant government departments and agencies.

If you are considering employing a person or company to install an alarm system in your property by law you must use a licenced contractor.
An up to date list of contractors is available here
[broken link removed]
There is a list of exemptions here
[broken link removed]
These exemptions are issued to Contractors in order to obtain Standard EN50131 which is required for licensing

If you are unsure about any person or company it is best to contact the PSA
Address:
The Private Security Authority
Davis Street
Tipperary Town
Telephone: (062) 31588 / 32600
Telephone: (062) 32628 / 32629 for Contractor Licensing
Fax: (062) 31591 (Licensing Division)
Email: [email protected]

The full act can be downloaded [broken link removed] (PDF document).

It is an offence under the Act for a security company or a person working in the industry to provide, or present themselves to provide, a security service without a licence.

More importantly for the consumer: Similarly, it is an offence to employ an unlicensed security operator.
These offences only apply to work done for some form of remuneration. It does not apply to DIY or maybe a friend doing you a favour & installing a system at no charge.

A person convicted of such an offence is liable to a fine or imprisonment for up to 5 years.
Licensing for Intruder Alarm Installers and Alarm Receiving Centres (Monitoring Stations) became mandatory on 1 August 2006.

The Standard EN50131 is the standard to which all systems must conform.
Corforming to this standard is a requirement of the PSA licence so therefore all licenced installers must install to this standard.
This standard is enforced by the NSAI or equivelent inspection authority.

The MYTHS busted..

The PSA Licence is not simply a licence that can be purchased by anybody. Certain criteria must be satisified. This includes the above mentioned EN standard, certain office procedures, staff vetting & much more.

The NSAI or equivlent inspection authority certification is also not something can be purchased by anybody. Certain criteria must also be satisified. Continued satisfaction of criteria is enforced by regular inspection. If an installation fails an inspection, the installer must give confirmation in writing to the inspector that the errors have been corrected. This information remains on the installers record.

Licences can be revoked for continued non-conformance.

Anyone can install alarms with no formal training!!. Another myth, not true as EN50131 is now a legal requirement, by way of it being a requirement of the PSA licence, all systems must conform to this standard. Durning inspections the installers must show extensive knowledge & understanding of the working of systems, the electrical requirements, electromagnetic & radio interference requirements and the national electrical standards.
The standards are recognised and accepted troughout Europe, by police forces, insurance companies, security companies & the industry in general.

I hope this clears up some things for everybody.
I am not posting views & not looking for views or discussion
These are simply the facts & as mentioned is also the law.


With regard to the PSA I have taken & condensed some information from their website, here [broken link removed] .
 
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Good post KoolKid. I have a few clarifications though. Firstly, your point that...

Anyone can install alarms with no formal training!!. Another myth...

This isn't the case. The legislation is clear in that it only applies to situations involving remuneration, so it does not apply to DIY installers. Anyone without training can install alarms, they just can't do so for reward.

Another clarification, generally, there is no legal requirement for alarms to be installed to EN50131. The only [broken link removed] this applies is in premises where 'Three or more restricted firearms or six or more firearms, of any type, kept in the same place.' The PSA legislation simply requires alarm installers to have obtained this standard in order to receive a licence under the act.

The NSAI are a certification body, they have no enforcement function. Their only course of action, as they [broken link removed], is to 'revoke the certification of any installer whose installations regularly fall below the requirements of I.S. EN 50131/1.' I have no insight into how many inspections they carry out or what constitutes regularly falling below the required standards.


Another point to note is that I have read previously that it can take some considerable time for the PSA to update their published list of approved installers, so if anyone is considering an installer who says they are registered, but does not appear on the published list, a phone call to the PSA should clarify.


I'd be interested in your take on the above, perhaps we can edit your post where required in order to clarify anything that requires it.
Leo
 
Good post KoolKid. I have a few clarifications though. Firstly, your point that...
Anyone can install alarms with no formal training!!. Another myth...



This isn't the case. The legislation is clear in that it only applies to situations involving remuneration, so it does not apply to DIY installers. Anyone without training can install alarms, they just can't do so for reward.

Hi Leo,
The post as a whole is aimed at people employing someone to install an alarm.
It is an offence under the Act for a security company or a person working in the industry to provide, or present themselves to provide, a security service without a licence.

More importantly for the consumer: Similarly, it is an offence to employ an unlicensed security operator.
However, I take your point , & will add an exclusion for DIY work.

Another clarification, generally, there is no legal requirement for alarms to be installed to EN50131. The only [broken link removed] this applies is in premises where 'Three or more restricted firearms or six or more firearms, of any type, kept in the same place.' The PSA legislation simply requires alarm installers to have obtained this standard in order to receive a licence under the act.
An installation company must certify all installations & they must all be available for inspection, I think with guns & gun safes and firearms you are referring to the minimum grade required.
For any monitored system the Guards will require a cert prior to issuing a URN. (This is the unique Reference Number required for Garda Response.
The NSAI are a certification body, they have no enforcement function. Their only course of action, as they [broken link removed], is to 'revoke the certification of any installer whose installations regularly fall below the requirements of I.S. EN 50131/1.' I have no insight into how many inspections they carry out or what constitutes regularly falling below the required standards.
If the license of the NSAI (or any other certificication body) is revoked then so would the license of the PSA. Certification is a requirement of the PSA

Another point to note is that I have read previously that it can take some considerable time for the PSA to update their published list of approved installers, so if anyone is considering an installer who says they are registered, but does not appear on the published list, a phone call to the PSA should clarify.
No harm, and Im sure that would work both ways. ie. An installer may also be on the list who is no longer registered.
 
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