A thorough inspection carried out by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) has resulted in the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB)’s Scope of Accreditation being extended to cover static manned guarding and mobile patrol services (BS 7499), keyholding and response services (BS 7984) and CCTV management and operation (BS 7958).
The SSAIB now holds accreditation in the areas of intruder alarms, access control, CCTV, Alarm Receiving Centres, manned security and keyholding and response services. For these particular activities, the organisation states that its Scope of Accreditation is now wider than any other similar certification body in the UK security sector, thus enabling the organisation to offer a fully comprehensive service package.
Commenting on the news, SSAIB chief executive Geoff Tate told Security Management Today: “Our intention was always to build upon the success of our existing UKAS-recognised certification schemes for electronic security systems, CCTV and Alarm Receiving Centres, thus extending the range of services we can offer the security industry. The extension to our Scope of Accreditation demonstrates our commitment to provide certification schemes for a broad range of manned security services. We can now offer certification schemes complimented by ISO 9001:2000 quality management systems.”
Companies can apply for approval to any individual or combination of the SSAIB’s schemes provided they are able to demonstrate they can install the system(s) and/or provide services in compliance with the relevant standard(s) and, as appropriate, in accordance with ISO 9001:2000.
A fundamental aspect of the SSAIB certification process is the quality of the inspection personnel. SSAIB inspectors boast many years of experience in the installation and maintenance of security systems.
The inspectors’ existing security systems certification regime comprises a company audit (to check procedures, documentation and records, screening or personnel), a systems audit (to check that systems are indeed installed to the relevant standards) and a maintenance audit (to make certain that routine and preventative maintenance regimes are observed).
