What is BS EN 50131 and which intruder alarm grade do I need?

BS EN 50131 is the European standard for intruder and hold-up alarm systems, adopted across the UK as the commercial baseline. The standard defines four grades of risk: Grade 1 (low risk, domestic only), Grade 2 (most commercial premises — offices, retail, hospitality), Grade 3 (higher-value stock, jewellery, electronics, solicitor branches holding completion funds, city-centre sites with elevated forced-entry risk), and Grade 4 (high-value or high-risk specialist applications). Most commercial insurers specify Grade 2 minimum, with Grade 3 required for specific risk profiles. Flextec Limited designs every system to the grade your insurer requires and supplies the system certificate at commissioning so the broker has evidence on file.

How to pick the right grade

Always start with the insurance policy. The schedule will reference the BS EN 50131 grade required, often alongside specific signalling requirements (e.g. dual-path IP plus GSM). Specify the system to that grade — never under, never paying for unnecessary over-spec.

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By Sam Davis, Founder — 40+ years combined Yorkshire commercial security experience. Read more about Sam.