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| The new section will consist of companies involved in manufacture, supply & installation of solutions |
The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has announced the creation of two new sections of membership, which aim to better align BSIA activity with recent developments within the wider security marketplace.
Resulting from the merger of the Access Control and Property and Asset Protection Sections, the new Access and Asset Protection Section will consist of companies involved in the manufacture, supply and installation of solutions that restrict, control and monitor the movement of people, assets or vehicles in, out and around a building or site. This will now include physical protection methods such as security doors, fencing, locks, barriers, safes and strong rooms as well as electronic access control systems.
Focus on security measures and services
Meanwhile, the creation of a new Vacant Property Protection Section will see an existing working group formally recognized as a section of BSIA membership, focusing on security measures and services introduced when a property is at increased risk of criminal attack because of a change of circumstances in its occupancy.
Commenting on the Access and Asset Protection Section, BSIA Technical Manager, Paul Phillips, said: “We have often seen that common issues arise when looking at the physical protection and the associated electronic systems, and by merging the two sections, member companies involved can benefit from getting involved in activity relating to both aspects.”
“We have often seen that common issues arise when looking at the physical protection and the associated electronic systems" |
New technical committee to handle physical protection matters
The former Access Control Section included a dedicated Technical Committee, which drafted technical guides and provided input into British and European Standards relating to the sector. The technical committee will continue to operate under the auspices of the new section, with proposals also including the creation of a new technical committee for the Access and Asset Protection Section, to handle matters requiring detailed work specific to the area of physical protection.
Chairing the new Access and Asset Protection Section is Mike Sussman of TDSi, previously Chair of the Access Control Section. Commenting on the section’s merge, Mike says: “The merger between Access Control and Asset Protection further strengthens the strengths of the two original sections. The merger will strengthen the section and technical meetings such that all areas of access control are now covered for all end-user markets. I look forward to the continued growth of this section throughout the year as we continue to educate the market.”
The initial focus of the Vacant Property Protection Section will be to see the completion of work at the British Standards Institute (BSI) on BS8584, the standard for Vacant Property Protection. This will provide a benchmark against which customers can compare providers to ensure they receive a high quality service. This British Standard will build upon the BSIA’s own Code of Practice for vacant property protection (Form 154).
