Standards
Security providers are licensed and certified. Quite right too - no one should entrust their security to a company that can't meet minimum standards of performance. But who wants minimum standards? When your security is at stake, you want excellent standards.
Speed of response
The key figure for a remote video monitoring station is speed of response. In this respect our performance is exceptional.
| Percentage of alarms responded to within… | Farsight | Industry average | BS8418 minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 seconds | 96% | [75%] | 80% |
| 180 seconds | 99.5% | [77%] | 98.5% |
Insurers expect BS8418-approved monitoring stations
The overall standard for a remote video monitoring station is governed by BS8418. These days most insurers insist on a BS8418-approved station.
In 2005 we became the first remote CCTV monitoring station in the UK to become BS8418-compliant. We've not stopped setting the standard since.
Choose a Category II station for peace of mind
We're what's known in the trade as a Category II Alarm Receiving Centre. The are only two categories - and Category II is the higher grade with the tougher standards.
Twice-yearly inspections
Representatives from the BSI and the SSAIB each visit twice a year to inspect our systems and our performance. If they're not satisfied with what they find, they can withdraw our accreditations.
Technical support for installers
Our IT team are fully accredited by Microsoft. They have the skills and the resources to help any installer set up a security system with remote monitoring.
| Our standards at a glance | |
|---|---|
| BSI British Standards Institution |
Category II Alarm Receiving Centre Quality management certified to ISO9001:2000 BS7858:2006 (security screening of individuals employed in a security environment) BS5979:2000 (remote centres receiving signals from security systems) |
| SSAIB Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board |
BS8418:2003 (installation and remote monitoring of detector-activated CCTV systems) BS5979:2000 (remote centres receiving signals from security systems) |
| SIA Security Industry Authority |
All operational staff licensed or in the process of being licensed |
| Microsoft | Microsoft-certified IT support team |
