As a manufacturer of external motion detectors using passive infrared, microwave, and active IR, we often get asked: “What Grade is our detector?” Usually, the person asking the question — be they installer, systems integrator, distributor, specifier, consultant, etc. — is looking for an answer of Grade 2 or Grade 3.
However, do they know that the Grade reference stems back to the EN standards, in particular the 50131-2-x suite of standards? In all cases, these standards are recommendations for indoor devices, not outdoor.
It may be surprising for our readers to learn that there is no formally approved Grading standard for outdoor detectors. A European working group was tasked with drafting a standard for external detectors, but that was subsequently withdrawn in favour of preparing one for external perimeter supervision systems. Work on this has not yet started over uncertainty as to which body will champion the drafts.
As we sit here today, there are no standards applicable for the grading of outdoor detectors.
Manufacturers of outdoor detectors are frequently asked to obtain grading certification, and the only standard that they can be tested to is, of course, the indoor standards. While designing an outdoor detector to comply with an indoor standard is indeed possible, I would question the wisdom of doing so. The environment in which an indoor detector has to perform is considerably more sterile and environmentally stable compared with the outside environment. For that reason alone, the various detector test criteria prescribed by 50131 may not all be suitable for external devices.
It is true that the requirement for an appropriate standard for external detectors and other perimeter protection/surveillance devices is becoming ever more important. There is a growing trend within our industry where end users recognize that it is preferable to be warned of a perimeter breach — a pre-alarm — rather than only being signaled when the property has been internally compromised and the damage has been done.
With the advent of digital/IP detection devices and the extended data set that they can provide, as well as the bi-directional communications, a standard for how such devices exchange data would also be very useful. The BSIA went a long way to promote such a standard with its CP249 protocol. However, to the best of my knowledge, only two companies have actually adopted and manufactured products that implement the CP249 protocol.
Food for thought in a dynamic industry where technology will not sit still. Trying to generate standards that remain relevant and anticipate future trends is never going to be easy.
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A standard would be essential, to any sensible person. This requirement would need to be pushed by manufacturers and end users, both of whom may not want this to actually occur as it will increase costs (i.e. a graded detector would potentially cost more in R&D and production, costs passed on to end users). In these days of reduced budgets, unfortunately the cheaper options are the ones that businesses tend to go for, especially when it comes to layered security solutions. However, just because it may prove unpopular, does not mean that a standard should not be sought.
It’s absolutely bonkers that there isn’t a standard for outdoor detectors. As in completely mad. I just don’t get it.
The sad thing is that there will probably have to be some kind of incident where the grade of outdoor detector is called into question before there is enough of an out cry to get these detectors graded at all. So I guess you can put me down as saying there has to be a push to get grading out there, whether that demand comes before some disaster by the consumers or after a disaster by the government thats another question entirely.
Yes, I suspect you’re right, but it’s a reasonable thing to request some kind of lobbying around this area. There are various different alliances and associations that could and should take this up.
As I read the topic “Outdoor Detectors: Why Aren’t They Graded” the first thing that clicks to my mind was that whether my outdoor camera has a motion sensor security lighting or not,, truly informative post.
Hi, yes defintely worth checking that the illumination is indeed sufficient for the camera. Is the camera’s field of view (FOV) adequately illuminated to be able to reliably record the would be intruder. Also important that the motion detector, that might be used for triggering the camera, also has a FOV that is inside that of the camera.
Does it need a light, or does it have IR is the other question.