What are the legal regulations for home alarms in Spain? It is a very good question that few users ask when it comes to hire one of these devices security to protect your home.
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Today we are going to simplify the legal regulations for home alarms . The goal? That we can all understand what to take into account before hiring a security system.
What are the regulations on alarms?
The regulations on alarms in Spain is mainly governed by Law 5/2014, on Private Security, and its regulations, which establish the general framework for the private security in Spain (including the installation and operation of alarm systems).
The regulations are also governed by the Order INT/316/2011, detailing the operation of alarm systems in the area of private security, including the obligation to connect the systems to a CRA and the requirements for the verification of weapons.
Furthermore, the standard UNE-EN 50131-1 establishes the security degrees of alarm systems, we previously talked about it, and now we will explain its most important points again.
Current regulations in Europe
The current European regulations regarding alarm systems is based on the EN 54 series of standards, that regulates the detection systems y fire alarms, as well as in the principles of EN 50131 (such as UNE-EN 50131-1, already mentioned above) focused on the security and anti-theft alarm systems.
These standards mark the technical requirements, tests and necessary procedures to ensure the quality and reliability of alarm systems.
How many degrees of alarm are there?
No, not all devices are the same . The Spanish alarm regulations need to make a distinction because the technology differs depending on the need for security that covers each device. Here the reference is UNE-EN 5013-1 Standard .
According to this there is four degrees of security depending on the risk , “the nature and characteristics of the place where the installation is going to be carried out and the obligation, or not, to be connected to an alarm center or control center”.
Grade 1 alarms
They are also considered low risk . They are the alarm systems “endowed with acoustic signaling , that are not going to be connected to an alarm center or a control center". It is the type of device simpler and that is why he is the one who is surrounded by fewer restrictions.
It does not have a mandatory number of components nor does it include third parties in its operation. come on what the owner is the only one responsible , and the one who must notify the police if necessary. Of course, the repeated false alarms they can result in fines and sanctions.
Grade 2 alarms
They are known as “ low to medium risk ". In the legal regulations for domestic alarms they comply with homes and small establishments , shops and industries in general. As you can guess, all of them are connected to AVE .
Starting from that, the alarms They must be approved and subscribed to the validation from the Ministry of the Interior (there is an intensive review process that requires certain components and functions).
And it's not just the device itself. Regarding grade II alarms, both workers of the company that provides the service, installation technicians, specialists and even security guards, must have approval .
Grade 3 alarms
De medium/high risk . Here already We are not talking about normal places, but of establishments that, due to their activity or any other circumstance, have the need, no matter what, to have connection to alarm center. Obviously, these devices are more advanced.
What type of companies do they fit into? Well, for example in jewelry stores or banks . If your business is thieves' target For whatever reason, then you should go for one of these alarms. These devices They must necessarily have:
- Video surveillance cameras : the installation and model are open to choice, but its presence is not. They are usually equipped with motion sensors and other related technologies.
- Safe : to be arranged in the place that the owner considers safest.
- seismic detector : This device is located inside the safe and allows any intrusion into the storage space to be instantly detected.
Grade 4 alarms
Considered high risk. They are reserved “to the so-called critical infrastructure , military installations, establishments that store regulated explosive material, and security companies for the deposit of cash, securities, precious metals, dangerous materials or explosives”.
These alarms They may or may not be connected to the central unit. They maintain the mandatory components of the previous level, while increasing the level of security with wireless systems and others synchronization and detection technologies .
If you think that you adjust to this level of danger, We recommend that before hiring anything Go to an expert to assess the situation . Installing one of these systems involves a great investment that only finds profitability when it has justified meaning.
You should know that the Secretary of State for the Interior or the Civil Governor on duty can include your business on the list of obligated companies to adopt grade 3 or 4 alarms. Therefore, in these cases You won't have much to decide.
What are the main requirements to install an alarm at home?
It's not just calling to the company and wait for a technician to arrive to install the alarm. The legal regulations for home alarms set out a detailed process to be followed by the supplier. If you don't follow it, distrust the legality it offers you .
Is it a device for home? In this case, the only thing to monitor will be that the alarm in question complies with everything that we have previously explained and that is certified . Things change when we talk about a business.
Companies that do not have a Security Department own or who want to be connected to the central, have the right to receive in advance a custom installation project .
This will count “ with coverage levels appropriate to the architectural characteristics of the premises and the risk to be covered , in accordance with the technical criteria of the installation company itself and, eventually, those of the competent police department”.
But the company's responsibility does not end there. After installation you will be required to do a general system check and to deliver the certificate corresponding to the positive result of the project.
There is content referring to the verification, review and communication of the alarms connected to CRA that are for a separate article. In any case, with all this you already know what you need to know about home alarm regulations.
Frequently asked questions
Is the external siren mandatory in an alarm?
No, the external siren is not mandatory in Spain. Although it is a common and useful deterrent, Spanish regulations do not require it to be installed.
Remember that the internal siren is mandatory for alarm systems according to European regulations, but does not apply to outdoor alarms.
How many grades are there according to UNE-EN 50131 regulations?
As we have seen before in detail, according to the regulations UNE-EN 0131 there are four degrees of security for alarm systems. The grades are marked based on the risk level of the installation and go from grade 1 (low risk) up to grade 4 (high risk).
How long are images from a dome camera kept?
In Spain, the images captured by a dome camera (and by any other type of video surveillance camera) are kept for a maximum period of 30 days. This will be established by the data protection regulations .
This may vary r whether the images captured are relevant or necessary for a investigation or judicial procedure. In this case they could be kept for longer.
What is the EN50131 standard?
The norm EN50131 It is a European regulation that sets the requirements for alarm systems intrusion and theft security (I&HAS). It applies to the design, installation, performance, reliability, and degree of security of these systems.
The norm is divided into several parts, each focused on different aspects of the system, such as detectors, communication, and component requirements.
