Alarm Grades

[crossleymarko]

Hope someone can shed some light, im loooking round at alarm parts , panels etc. and i keep seeing that these items are Graded, Grade 2 , Grade 3 etc.
can anyone tell me why this is and can these be mix and matched. could you have a grade 3 panel with grade 2 Pir's for instance?
cheers in advance

 

[GalaxyGuy]

The system is graded at its lowest grade component overall. This only really matters for systems installed by an industry body approved installer normally in conjunction with an insurance requirement.

 

[Handymanjo]

Used for insurance approved systems.
Generally most door contacts movement sensors are grade2. Most commercial spec control panels are grade 3.
Grade 3 detectors have extra anti masking functions which you would not require in domestic DIY installation.
Grade 3 bell boxes have additional fault monitoring outputs.
You can mix graded equipment on a diy system.
The lowest graded piece of equipment will grade the system, so if you have a grade 3 control panel and grade 2 detectors are installed ,then system would come under the grade 2 category.
If you put in grade 1/ ungraded equipment then system would not be graded.
Just to recap graded is only required for insurance appovered systems.

 

[crossleymarko]

Thanks for the reply's. every day is a school day, so along with that..

normally in conjunction with an insurance requirement.

Just to recap graded is only required for insurance appovered systems.

Ill assume that with the Grade for insurance purposes it would also have to be installed by a Registered Engineer.

 

[secureiam]

SSAIB or NSI registered Yes

 

[secureiam]

wrt to insurance you are often better saying you don't have an alarm, because saying you have one wont save you any money on insurance usually, when you do save the extra costs of monitored services currently outstrip those savings considerably.

However worse than that if you say you have an alarm and it is not maintained or set day or night then they can refuse to pay out.