Your home FAQs

NSI conducts due diligence checks on companies to which it awards approval, to ensure the Directors of the Company have sufficient experience and are of good repute. Under all of NSI’s security schemes, all relevant personnel, including directors, within approved companies, are security screened to British Standard 7858.

As a homeowner we recommend this document for your fire safety needs within your home.

There are many different cameras each designed for different applications, for example black and white, colour, day and night, wide angled, high and medium resolution. The costs vary depending on the camera’s capability and the quality of the equipment often depends on the grade of image resolution you require. The specification should always be based on your needs. All NSI approved companies are audited to the NSI Code of Practice NCP 104 that includes guidance on defining customer needs.

Ask for a system that complies with NSI Code of Practice NCP 104 or alternatively BS 8418, which is more specialised.

A URN is a unique reference number assigned by the police to a security system. It flags to the police properties that will receive immediate Police response should a verified alarm signal be triggered.

A URN can be awarded to security systems that are installed, maintained and monitored by NSI approved companies, and meet the rigorous requirements of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), these requirements demand amongst others that each system must be certificated to professional industry standards (PD 6662 & BS 8243 or BS 8418) and that each system must be regularly professionally maintained to ensure their reliability and keep false alarms to a minimum.

Any signalling faults are reported to the alarm receiving centre (ARC) who will inform you either directly or via your installer. Your installer can clarify this.

Should a fault be found on your landline or broadband service, your installer will notify you and may be able to offer suggestions, however since you and not the alarm installer hold the contract with the communications provider, you will need to contact your communications provider to directly to resolve the problem.

Your installer may refer to the signalling fault as an ATS fault or Alarm Transmission System fault).

Every Security Officer must be licenced for manned guarding activities which are defined as: Security Guarding, Keyholding, Cash and Valuables in Transit, Close Protection, Door Supervision, Public Space CCTV Surveillance. In Northern Ireland it also includes Immobilisation, Restriction and Removal of Vehicles (Vehicle Immobilisation).

Licensing requires private security operatives are properly trained and qualified. You can ask any operative from an NSI approved company (providing a service listed above) to show you their licence if it is not clearly visible when they are working at your home.
Note: Alarm system installers are not required to hold an SIA licence.

As a minimum requirement the NCP 115 code stipulates that the entire first level of scaffolding is fully supervised by detectors, this includes the ends of the scaffolding. Depending on the size, shape and other factors including for example a flat roof or neighbour’s walls, additional detectors may be required for complete perimeter protection.

Digital recorders have video management software, that can be used on a local monitor, a PC and/or smart phone, which will provide tools for you to be able to view live images, search for and export recorded images. using these tools should not affect the system’s ability to continue to record as normal.
Some installers may offer cloud based storage for CCTV recording.

 

A maintenance contract is important to maintain proper functioning of your alarm system. Audible alarm systems should be checked once a year.  A system that signals to an approved Alarm Receiving Centre needs to be serviced or maintained twice a year.  Replacement of batteries before they degrade ensures alarm signalling functions correctly without false alarms or signalling failure due to power interruption. An NSI approved installer will also provide a 24/7 emergency number to contact the duty engineer in the event of a problem.

Using an NSI approved installer ensures your security system will be eligible for police response.

The installer will connect your system to an NSI approved Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC), which will provide 24/7 monitoring of your system and contact the police when they believe security has been breached at your premises. You will need to set up a service agreement and maintenance contract to cover all these services.

It is always advisable to check with your insurance company as policies differ.  Many insurance companies do offer discounts for alarms installed by NSI approved companies

Getting at least three quotations from approved companies will help you assess the market rate.

Things to consider/ask about;

• Do you require a “system installation” only or are you looking for an installation with ongoing maintenance and servicing?
• Do you want a police response to an alarm?
• Will the equipment be leased to you or are you purchasing it?
• What is the cost of routine maintenance and service visits (and how is booking handled)?
• What is the cost of emergency call-outs?

NSI approved companies will conduct security risk assessment and needs analysis, and offer solutions that meet your needs and are inherently secure.

From the initial site security survey and risk assessment your security provider will formulate ‘assignment instructions’ for the security personnel outlining the duties to be performed. ‘assignment instructions’ should be presented to you for your approval and signature.

 

NSI approved companies are required to ensure that training has been completed by all officers.

To meet requirements of the standard the NSI approved company will carry out an initial site security survey and risk assessment, the results of which will form part of their specification to you, and be reflected in assignment instructions you should be asked to approve.

 

As a minimum the provider should have employers and public liability insurance.  

Dependant on the services provided, additional insurances for example efficacy, or loss of keys should be considered.

Maybe: some alarm systems may be affected.

You should contact your installer/maintenance company before your line is upgraded to check whether your alarm system requires adaptation or re-programming to ensure compatibility with the new IP network.

More information: The UK telephone service is going digital. It’s part of a Government programme to upgrade all services from PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) to IP voice services between now and 2025.

All good alarm systems have back-up battery power. It ensures they remain for at least 12 hours in the event of a power outage (power cut). When power is restored following an outage, the system is designed to start working normally and also recharge the battery.

All batteries have limited life. Installers will change batteries after a defined period of time, around 3 or 4 years, to minimize the chances of a failing battery causing alarm system malfunction. Your installer typically tests batteries as part of every routine maintenance visit and will change batteries earlier if it is necessary to do so. Replacement battery costs, as with other replacement parts, may be charged over and above your regular maintenance charge.

A ‘single path’ solution, which includes a digital communicator connected to your telephone line (PSTN or IP). The communicator contacts the ARC to report faults and alarms on the system and makes a test call to the ARC daily to confirm the system is working correctly. The individual test calls (and any call charges) should appear on your telephone bill. A ‘dual path’ solution is more robust since if one path were to develop a fault, the second can act as a back-up, since it is unlikely to fail at the same time.

Your installer should inform you of the likely call costs in writing as part of your contract.

Higher graded ATSs mean that any faults or alarms on the communications network and intruder alarm system should be reported faster. Although you might have a Grade 2 alarm system you may be advised to have a Grade 3 or 4 ATS installed. Your installer should be able to explain this to you.

Your installer can offer you a choice of alarm transmission systems (ATS) to pass alarm and fault signals to the ARC. Your installer can explain the available options to you.

‘Dual path’ signalling is more resilient than ‘single path’. Insurers generally prefer it since it is unlikely that both paths will fail at the same time.

Dual path ATS solutions usually have an all-inclusive package for transmitting data so there are no ‘pay-as-you-go’ individual call charges.

Typically a dual path system includes a cable connection to the PSTN or IP network and a radio connection to a mobile network.

The radio connection might use GSM (cellular phone technology) or GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) transmissions. Some radio solutions connect to a single provider whereas other solutions might include a roaming SIM to enable connection to the best available service.

Your installer maintenance and monitoring contract will include the ARC services arranged by your installer. The ARC service may be provided by the same company as provides your alarm installation, or an approved sub-contracted specialist ARC service provider.

You can choose an alternative ARC service if you prefer, however you would then need to arrange the monitoring contract yourself. If you wish to do so, the monitoring service provider will probably want evidence your alarm system is properly maintained (to prevent false alarms).

See the section on alarm systems for FAQs about maintenance contracts.

If your alarm is installed by an NSI approved installer, then the monitoring of your alarm will be handled by an NSI approved Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC).

ARCs are 24/7 highly secure, resilient, air-locked environments with their own standby power and back-up facilities to monitor your alarm signals. NSI expects NSI approved alarm installers to use ARCs that meet all NSI requirements, so you can be assured of NSI standards being applied to your security. For specific details refer to your installer’s Terms and Conditions.

NSI’s Gold certification of ARCs is unique in the market place and demands strict adherence to NSI’s criteria for approval. These include BS EN ISO 9001 – which is an internationally recognized standard for quality management systems, a bespoke NSI Quality Schedule, and all relevant industry standards and codes of practice applicable to ARCs. Like your NSI installer all NSI ARCs are subject to an ongoing audit programme that verifies they continue operating to the requisite standards.

NSI approval is based on the company having evidenced that they meet the relevant standards and criteria. Once a company is approved (following a thorough audit) it is then regularly audited to ensure it continues to meet the applicable standards, including any updates. NSI approval therefore provides confidence to homeowners that the company is professional and able to meet the desired standard.

British and European technical standards are copyrighted.  If you would like to buy a copy then please go to https://shop.bsigroup.com/ 

A security risk assessment is carried out to ensure, in the case of system installations such as alarms or CCTV, the design is suitable for your needs, taking into consideration of your property, the potential areas of risk, and your own individual requirements.

If you are contracting with a security personnel business (guarding), such as close protection or event stewarding, then the risk assessment is carried out to ensure risks to you and others are taken in to full consideration in resourcing the site.

Yes, once you have completed your search on our NSI Company Finder you can download the results in a PDF or save to your ‘Favourites’.

Check the NSI Approved Company Finder for details of the specific approvals held by each approved company.