EN 50131-compliant intruder alarm and intrusion detection design for commercial, industrial and residential buildings — Grade 1–4, perimeter PIDS, hold-up alarms, dual-path ARC communication and full CCTV/access control integration.
Every building type has a unique threat profile — ASDV engineers the right detection grade and technology for each environment.
Grade 2/3 systems with after-hours perimeter detection, ARC monitoring and access control interlock.
Grade 3/4 perimeter beam and seismic detection for high-value asset and controlled substance protection.
Grade 4 hold-up, safe-attack and dual-path ARC with encrypted signalling to Central Monitoring Station.
Restricted zone protection for pharmacy, server rooms, medical records and controlled drug stores.
Grade 1/2 PIR, magnetic contact and perimeter beam protection with app-based remote arming.
Perimeter PIDS with fence-disturbance sensors, active infrared beams and microwave barriers.
Campus perimeter PIDS, laboratory, server room and administrative office intrusion zones.
Back-of-house, safe-deposit room and restricted staff area intrusion detection with CCTV trigger.
Selecting the correct EN 50131 grade is the fundamental design decision — it determines detector types, panel specification, ARC signalling and tamper protection requirements.
| Parameter | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risk Level | Low | Low–Medium | Medium–High | High |
| Typical Application | Domestic DIY | Small commercial, residential | Commercial, industrial | Banks, critical infrastructure |
| Detector Types | Basic PIR | PIR, magnetic contacts | Dual-tech, glass-break, vibration | Dual-tech + seismic, active beams |
| Tamper Protection | Case tamper only | Full tamper | Full tamper + anti-masking | Full tamper + anti-masking + anti-substitution |
| ARC Communication | Not required | Dual path recommended | Dual path required (EN 50136) | Dual path mandatory + encryption |
| Panel SPT Class | SPT1 | SPT2 | SPT3 | SPT4 |
| Hold-Up / Panic | Optional | Optional | Required | Required — silent & audible |
| CCTV Integration | Optional | Recommended | Required | Mandatory |
| Applicable Standard | EN 50131 G1 | EN 50131 G2 | EN 50131 G3 + PD 6662 | EN 50131 G4 + LPS 1214 |
ASDV specifies the right detector technology for each zone — matched to the threat profile, environment and EN 50131 grade requirement.
Detects change in infrared energy from human body movement across the detection field. Standard first-choice for internal rooms and corridors.
Requires both PIR and microwave to trigger simultaneously — dramatically reduces false alarms in environments with temperature changes or vibration.
Acoustic sensor tuned to detect the specific frequency signature of breaking glass (6–8 kHz flex + 8 kHz shatter). Ideal for glazed facades and showrooms.
Magnetic reed switch opens circuit when the door or window is separated from the frame. Surface-mount and flush-recessed types; essential for all access points.
Piezoelectric sensor detects physical attack or drilling on walls, safes, ATMs or vaults. Adjustable sensitivity to reject environmental noise. EN 50131-2-8 rated.
Continuous IR beam between transmitter and receiver triggers alarm on interruption. Single, dual and quad-beam types for perimeter, corridors and open areas.
Bi-static microwave field detects passage between transmitter and receiver. Outdoor-rated, immune to light and temperature changes. Ideal for wide perimeter areas.
Manually-triggered silent or audible alarm direct to ARC. Fixed desk-mounted, concealed foot-operated and wireless portable types. Mandatory at Grade 3 and above.
A rigorous, standards-driven process from risk assessment to Grade compliance statement — delivered in AutoCAD and Revit.
Building type, occupancy, asset value, historical incidents, insurance/underwriter requirements and Police/ARC grading requirements review.
Zone numbering plan, detector technology selection per zone, EN 50131 Grade determination, anti-masking requirements and dual-tech justification.
AutoCAD/Revit detector layout drawings, coverage field-of-view analysis, overlap review, tamper zone and sabotage protection design.
Panel grade selection, zone capacity, standby battery sizing (minimum 12-hour per EN 50131), mains fail, tamper and fault output specification.
Dual-path signalling selection (IP + GSM/GPRS), EN 50136 SPT/DP class, encryption, polling interval and false alarm management design.
CCTV relay-trigger, access control interlock and BMS fire-interface design. Full AutoCAD drawings, zone schedule, BoQ and Grade compliance statement.
Performance benchmarks that guide every ASDV intrusion detection design — verified against EN 50131, EN 50136 and IEC 60839.
Effective zone design is the foundation of a reliable intrusion detection system — it determines how quickly a breach is located and how false alarms are minimised.
Each zone maps to a discrete area of the building. ASDV separates entry/exit zones from instant zones and perimeter zones from interior zones for precise alarm location.
ASDV delivers a full zone schedule with every project — standardised naming that maps directly to the alarm panel keypad and ARC monitoring display.
Grade 3 and above requires anti-masking on all detectors — the panel must detect and report attempts to blind or cover sensors before a break-in.
Reliable ARC communication is as critical as the detector design itself. ASDV engineers dual-path signalling that meets EN 50136 requirements for every alarm grade.
PIDS provides the first line of defence — detecting intruders before they reach the building. ASDV designs zoned perimeter systems that detect, locate and verify with minimal nuisance alarms.
A perimeter system gives security staff maximum response time — an intruder is detected at the boundary, not inside the building. PIDS reduces risk of confrontation and asset loss versus detection-only interior systems.
Perimeter is divided into discrete alarm zones — each 50–100 m — enabling the ARC to identify precise breach location. Each zone is independently monitored with environmental compensation for rain, wind and small animals.
PIDS alarm triggers PTZ camera presets to the breached zone, starts recording and sends a verified clip to the ARC — enabling rapid visual verification before police dispatch and avoiding false-alarm URN withdrawal.
| Technology | Operating Principle | Range | Best For | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Infrared Beam | IR beam interruption between Tx and Rx | 5–200 m | Gates, boundaries, open perimeter | G2–G4 |
| Microwave Barrier | Bi-static microwave field — detects passage | 10–300 m | Wide outdoor boundaries, rooftops | G3–G4 |
| Fence Disturbance (FDS) | Vibration sensor on fence fabric / cable | Full fence run | Chain-link, palisade, mesh fencing | G2–G4 |
| Ground Seismic Cable | Buried coaxial or fibre — detects footstep vibration | 100–500 m | Critical perimeter, covert detection | G3–G4 |
| Videoanalytic PIDS | AI-based video motion / classification | 30–100 m per camera | Visible deterrent + integrated CCTV | G2–G4 |
Every ASDV intrusion detection design is engineered to comply with applicable Indian and international standards.
Defines security grades, environmental classes, power supply, tamper and notification requirements for all intruder and hold-up alarm systems.
PIR (-2-2), Microwave (-2-3), Dual-tech (-2-4), Active IR (-2-5), Magnetic contacts (-2-6), Glass-break (-2-7), Seismic (-2-8).
UK application guide for European intruder alarm standards — defines how EN 50131 grades map to NSI/SSAIB certification and Police URN eligibility.
Defines ATS performance classes (SP1–SP6, DP1–DP4), polling intervals, transmission time and availability requirements for ARC signalling.
Electronic alarm systems standard for wire-free (wireless/RF) intrusion detection — frequency hopping, jamming detection and supervision requirements.
Legacy BS 4737 intruder alarm standard and DD 243 installation code of practice — still referenced in older UK specifications and some insurance schedules.
US standard defining panel features that reduce false alarms — entry delay, exit error cancel, cross-zone verification and abort windows.
National Building Code provisions for security alarm systems in commercial and public buildings, and BIS standards for detector and cable installation practices.
Representative projects illustrating ASDV's design approach across banking, industrial and corporate environments.
Each branch required Grade 4 EN 50131-compliant system with hold-up buttons, safe-attack seismic detection, dual-path ARC and mandatory CCTV integration — all under strict bank IT security policy.
Grade 4 alarm panels with 48-zone capacity, seismic safe-attack detectors, hold-up buttons at every teller position, dual-path IP+GSM ARC to Central Monitoring Station with encrypted polling; relay-triggered CCTV clip upload on every alarm.
Zero false-alarm police dispatches in first year; all branches passed bank security audit; ARC response within 18 seconds average.
High-value controlled substance storage requiring perimeter PIDS, multiple security grades across zones and 24/7 ARC monitoring with minimal false alarms in a dusty, outdoor environment.
Microwave barrier PIDS on outer perimeter (300 m runs), Grade 3 dual-tech internal detectors throughout production and storage, seismic sensors on controlled substance vault, EN 50136 DP2 dual-path ARC with encrypted polling.
Perimeter breach detection time under 3 seconds; <2 false alarm dispatches per year; NDPS controlled substance vault fully secured to insurance requirements.
Mixed-grade requirements across data centre (Grade 4), server rooms (Grade 3), open offices (Grade 2) and car park perimeter (IR beams) — all integrated on one alarm management platform.
Tiered EN 50131 design per zone type, single Alarm Management System (AMS) with graphical floor plans, CCTV integration at all Grade 3/4 zones, access control door-lock release on alarm in server and data centre areas.
Security operations centre managing 320 zones from single AMS workstation; ISO 27001 physical security requirements met across all data centre zones.
Every ASDV intrusion detection project includes a complete, construction-ready documentation package.
AutoCAD/Revit floor plans showing all detector positions, fields of view, zone boundaries, cable routes and riser diagrams.
Full zone listing: number, name, type (instant/delay/24hr/unset), detector type, EN 50131 grade, panel address and commissioning notes.
Single-line schematic: detectors → zones → panel → ARC dual-path signalling → CCTV integration → power supply and battery.
Itemised hardware BoQ with quantities, EN 50131 grade references, specifications and approved vendor alternatives for procurement.
Detector and panel specs, cable type and routing standards, installation requirements and commissioning test procedure for contractor guidance.
Formal document confirming EN 50131 Grade, SPT/DP ATS class, PD 6662 scheme applicability and insurance/underwriter compliance declaration.
Commercial buildings typically use a combination of: Passive Infrared (PIR) detectors for internal rooms and corridors; Dual-technology (PIR + microwave) detectors for high-value areas like server rooms and reception where false alarms must be minimised; Glass-break detectors for glazed facades and showrooms; Magnetic door/window contacts on all access points; Active infrared beams for corridors or loading bays; and Hold-up/panic buttons at reception desks and cashier positions. For Grade 3/4 systems, vibration/seismic detectors are added to safes, ATMs and vaults. ASDV selects the optimal combination for each zone based on the EN 50131 grade requirement.
EN 50131 Grade 3 is the Medium-to-High Risk security grade for intruder alarm systems — designed for commercial and industrial premises where intruders are expected to have some knowledge of alarm systems and basic tools. Grade 3 requires: dual-technology or anti-masking detectors (not basic PIR alone); full tamper protection on all components; dual-path ARC signalling (IP + GSM/GPRS) per EN 50136; mandatory hold-up/panic buttons; and CCTV integration. Grade 3 is typically required by commercial insurers for businesses storing high-value stock, by Police for URN eligibility, and by companies with ISO 27001 physical security obligations. ASDV designs to Grade 3 with a PD 6662 scheme compliance statement where required.
Dual-path ARC signalling means the alarm panel communicates with the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) via two independent communication paths simultaneously — typically IP/broadband as the primary path and GSM/GPRS or PSTN as the backup. If one path is cut or jammed, the other continues to report. EN 50136 defines Alarm Transmission System (ATS) performance classes: Grade 3 requires at minimum SPT3 (single path, polling every 3 minutes) or preferably DP2 (dual path); Grade 4 mandates DP4 with encrypted messaging. Dual-path is required at Grade 3 and above because a sophisticated intruder might attempt to cut the telephone line or jam the GSM signal before entering — dual-path defeats both attack vectors simultaneously.
Yes — integration is a core part of ASDV's design approach. CCTV integration: alarm panel relay outputs trigger PTZ camera presets to the alarmed zone, start recording and can send a verified video clip to the ARC for rapid verification before police dispatch. This is mandatory at Grade 3 and above. Access control integration: on an alarm condition, selected doors can be automatically locked (deny entry) or unlocked (emergency egress) via the access control system's relay input. BMS integration: a fire alarm can inhibit the intrusion system to allow evacuation; conversely, a confirmed intrusion alarm can trigger BMS outputs such as lighting or HVAC shutdown. All integration points are documented in the system architecture drawing.
PIDS stands for Perimeter Intrusion Detection System — a layer of detection at the boundary of a site (fence line, wall, open ground) that detects intruders before they reach the building. PIDS is recommended or required when: the site has a defined external boundary (fence, wall, compound); the risk level demands maximum response time (industrial, pharmaceutical, data centres); the insurer or police specify perimeter protection; or when Grade 3/4 protection is required for the entire site. PIDS technologies include active infrared beams, microwave barriers, fence disturbance sensors, buried seismic cables and video-analytic cameras. ASDV designs PIDS with segmented zones (typically 50–100 m each) so the ARC can pinpoint the exact breach location and verify via CCTV before dispatching a response.
A typical intrusion detection design takes 1–4 weeks depending on building size, system grade and scope. A small Grade 2 commercial office (10–20 zones) can be designed in 1–2 weeks. A large Grade 3/4 multi-zone campus or industrial site with PIDS, integrated ARC design and full AutoCAD drawings typically takes 3–4 weeks. ASDV issues preliminary zone layouts within 1 week of receiving building drawings; the final complete package — detector drawings, zone schedule, BoQ, specifications and Grade compliance statement — is delivered at project close. Contact us with your building plans and risk requirements for an accurate timeline.
Tell us your building type, security grade requirement and number of zones — we'll scope the right system and send you a free preliminary consultation.