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An electronic access control system enables you to control who can enter your premises or specific areas within your building. It stops unwanted intruders and also prevents staff from entering areas that they don’t need to be in. There are many options to choose from, and your entry control may operate via a keycard, fob, biometric scanner, or another type of device. When someone uses their device for access, some systems can record the entry, allowing you to keep track of everyone’s movements. Your access control can be as simple or as sophisticated as your business needs it to be. It’s possible to manage many levels of access, including:

• Who has access.
• Which doors they can enter.
• What times they can gain access.
• Under which conditions they’re allowed access.

Depending on the system, you can set parameters for each individual and these can be quickly and easily updated as necessary.

Benefits of implementing an access control system in your business:

• You don’t have to worry about keys being lost, stolen or duplicated.
• You always have a record of who is in the building and when.
• It’s harder for unwanted visitors to access your building. If your business is large and you have many employees managing visitors is much harder.
• It’s easier to secure sensitive areas within the building.
• If you have multiple premises, you can allow access to those employees who need to enter all buildings.
• In an unusual situation or an emergency, you can remotely lock off areas of the building.

Are you thinking of access control for your business? Please get in touch, and we’ll carry out a free onsite consultation to assess your building and discuss your requirements. Following our site survey, we can recommend the system that will most effectively meet your needs and suit your budget. Please call us on 01392 368830 or complete our contact form.

Like all technology, home alarm systems deteriorate and become outdated over time. But how often do you need to update your home alarm system? With proper maintenance, a good alarm system could still be effective after 15 years. However, after about 10 years from installation, it will be harder to maintain and obtaining spare parts may be tricky. Also, burglars are generally more familiar with and less put off by older systems, so dated systems are less of a deterrent. Additionally, technology will have moved on so much that you’ll be missing out on a whole host of useful features if you stick with your old alarm system. So, as a general rule of thumb, we recommend an alarm update after 10 years, or sooner if it has deteriorated and is no longer working correctly.

Other circumstances where we would recommend a home alarm upgrade include:

Moving house

If you’ve just bought a property with an alarm it’s unlikely that you’ll know the maintenance history. In this case, an upgrade might be necessary. The best way to find out is to have the alarm assessed by an alarm specialist.

Access to new features

Modern alarm systems offer many benefits, for example linking to police monitoring systems or a smart device. If you’d like to benefit from these features, you’ll need to upgrade or even replace your existing alarm system.

Making home improvements

If you make substantial changes to your home, such as adding an extension or conservatory, your alarm system may not be as effective. Always consult an alarm specialist to see if an upgrade is necessary. The good news, if you do need to upgrade your home alarm system, is that the newer technologies support home automation products and services, offer remote control and provide smartphone accessibility. These new features make alarms so much easier to use and control. If you'd like to update your home alarm system and would like a no-obligation survey and quote, please give us a call on 01392 368830 or email us.

Having the right types of fire extinguisher at your business premises is essential to meet your health and safety obligations (The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005). However, with several categories of extinguisher, it can be confusing knowing which ones you need. The reason for the complexity is that there are six different types of fire:

• Class A - fires involving flammable solids (e.g. wood, paper, and fabric).
• Class B - fires involving flammable liquids (e.g. petrol, diesel, paint or oils).
• Class C - fires involving flammable gases (e.g. hydrogen, butane or methane).
• Class D - fires involving combustible metals (e.g. magnesium, aluminium or potassium).
• Electrical - fires involving electrical equipment. Following removal of the electrical item, the fire changes class according to the combustible material involved.
• Class F - fires involving cooking oils (e.g. chip-pans).

Unfortunately, there is not one fire extinguisher which works on all classes of fire hence five different types. These are:

1. Water
2. Foam
3. Dry powder
4. CO2
5. Wet chemical

Let’s look at each of them in a little more detail.

Types of fire extinguishers

1. Water

Water extinguishers are the most common and cost-effective extinguisher type for class A fires. They have a red label and can be a jet, spray or mist extinguisher. You mustn't use a water extinguisher on fires involving electrical equipment or flammable gas and liquids, or kitchen fires.

2. Foam

Foam extinguishers are the most common type of fire extinguisher for Class B fires. However, being water-based, they also work on Class A fires. Foam extinguishers have a cream label. They’re not suitable for use on kitchen fires and fires involving electrical equipment or flammable metals.

3. Dry powder

Powder extinguishers are suitable for Class A, B and C fires.  However, they’re not recommended for use in enclosed spaces as they can reduce visibility and cause breathing problems from inhalation. Powder extinguishers have a blue label and must not be used on fires involving cooking oil or electrical equipment over 1000v.

4. CO2

The primary use of carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguishers is for electrical fire risks. They can also be used on Class B fires involving flammable liquids such as paraffin or petrol. CO2 extinguishers have a black label and are not suitable for kitchen fires (especially chip-pan fires), and fires involving combustible materials or flammable metals.

5. Wet chemical

The final type of fire extinguisher, wet chemical, are designed for use on Class F fires, involving cooking oils and fats.  They can also be used on Class A fires if necessary. Wet chemical extinguishers have a yellow label. They’re not to be used on flammable liquid or gas fires, electrical fires and fires involving flammable metals.

Which fire extinguishers?

Current UK fire extinguisher regulations (August 2020) state that you should have a minimum of two Class A extinguishers on every storey of your building. Whether you need any other type of fire extinguisher will depend on the fire risk from the different classes of fire at your premises. As well as having the right kind of extinguishers, you must also ensure that you have the right size and weight of fire extinguisher. If you’re unsure which fire extinguishers you need, please give us a call on 01392 368830 or drop us an email. We’ll complete a survey of your premises and provide an assessment of your fire extinguisher requirements.

Following the government's latest guidance (issued on 11 May), we are now able to undertake new surveys and quotes provided no one in the building is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, is self-isolating or is vulnerable. The health and safety of all our staff and customers is paramount so we will follow all social distancing guidance and take adequate safety precautions. We are continuing to support our existing customers. If you need assistance, please call us on 01392 368830. Several of our staff are still working from home so we apologise if our response times are slower at present. Please see our COVID-19 statement which provides further details on what work we are able to do during this time and our operating procedures. From all of us at 'Team Tamar' we wish you well and thank you for your patience at this time.

If your business premises are currently closed due to Covid-19, you might have concerns over how to keep your building safe from intruders. An empty building is a target for thieves, and if no one is going into the property regularly, a break-in could go unnoticed for a long time. Here are nine tips on how to keep your business premises safe during lockdown.

Nine tips to keep your business premises safe

1. Check your premises regularly

Visit your premises at least weekly to check for any signs of an attempted break-in or damage to your building. While you're there clear any litter and carry out light maintenance, so the property doesn't look neglected. Trees and bushes are growing ferociously at the moment, so make sure that new growth isn't obscuring your CCTV system.

2. Maintain your alarm systems

Test your burglar and fire alarm system to make sure it's working correctly and keep up the routine maintenance.

3. Maintain your CCTV system

If you have CCTV, make sure it's in good working order and as with your burglar alarm, regularly maintained.

4. Lock all doors and windows

Locking doors is a given but don't forget the windows. Lock all windows and remove the key from the window.

5. Screen windows

Keep blinds and curtains closed so outsiders and opportunist thieves can't see in.

6. Use lighting

External lighting acts as a good deterrent so if you have external lights, use them. Check the lights are working correctly on your regular visit.

7. Store away wheelie bins

Lock away your wheelie bins.  Burglars may use them to assist with a break-in.

8. Remove all valuables

If possible, remove high-value items from your building and secure them safely off-site. If removal isn't practical, store your valuables in a secure room. Whatever you do, keep them out of sight.

9. Switch off electrical equipment

To prevent electrical fires, switch off and unplug non-critical electrical devices. If you have any concerns about your alarm and CCTV systems during this time, please call us. We're able to attend emergency callouts and carry out essential works for our contracted customers.  You can contact us on our usual number: 01392 368830.  

As the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions gradually lift the onus is now on businesses to take adequate precautions and help prevent further spread of the virus. With that in mind, we can assist you with access control solutions to control who visits your premises and help keep your staff and customers safe. The easy to install technical devices include the following.

Temperature monitoring

Taking the temperature of visitors before they enter your building enables you to block access to those who may be carrying the virus. We have two options available for temperature monitoring:

Temperature monitoring access control

The temperature monitoring access control terminal monitors the temperature of people as they enter a room a building. A sound alert warns if it detects an abnormal temperature or if the person is not wearing a mask. It takes just 0.2 seconds to read each person’s forehead temperature (with accuracy within 0.3oC ) so is suitable for high traffic areas. Watch the demonstration video here.

Thermal body temp measurement solution

The thermal body temp measurement solution is a non-contact monitoring camera which triggers an alert when it detects an abnormal temperature. It’s accurate even when people are wearing face coverings or carrying hot drinks. Watch the demonstration video here.

Restricting access

An access control solution will help you manage the number of people in your building so you can meet the social distancing guidelines.

People counting and flow control solution

The people counting and flow control solution can be used to manage the number of people within a shop or building. It monitors the number of people entering and leaving and uses a traffic light system to let people know when they can enter. Watch the demonstration video here. If you’d like to know more about these access control solutions or receive an installation quote, please call us on 01392 368830 or email us.   Image credit: Pixabay

Despite the easing of the coronavirus restrictions, many offices are still empty or occupied with fewer staff members which presents a challenge for maintaining office security. While office security should always be a concern, it’s more pertinent than ever to take extra care. Here are our 10 tips to help you keep your office secure.

10 tips for office security

1. Educate your staff – ensure all employees are familiar with your office security procedures and provide regular reminders. Include security awareness within your staff induction process.
2. Set up an alarm system – install an intruder alarm system to deter break-ins when your office is unoccupied. If you already have an alarm system, but your trained alarm users are currently working from home or on furlough, train those staff members that are coming into the office on its operation.
3. Fit CCTV – install CCTV cameras to keep watch over the main entrances, exits and other key areas of your office building.
4. Introduce access control – implement an access control management system to control who enters the building and which parts they can access. With less staff in the building to monitor visitors in and out an electronic access control system will dramatically increase your level of office security.
5. Keep a record – maintain an up to date list of all office keyholders. When staff members leave your employment ensure that they immediately return all keys, fobs, ID badges and security cards.
6. Lock car doors and windows - opportunist thieves will check car doors so encourage all staff to makes sure they lock their cars before entering the building.
7. Keep external doors and windows locked – encourage your staff to check that the windows by their desk are closed and locked before they leave the building.
8. Implement a clear desk policy – ensure staff put paperwork and other items out of sight before leaving the office to prevent opportunistic thieves. Lock away valuable or sensitive items.
9. Use external lighting – lighting the outside of your office building and car park overnight will discourage thieves from breaking in.
10. Protect your car park – introduce a car park barrier and keep it locked overnight to deter unwanted criminal activity.

If you’d like to implement additional security measures at your office and would like to receive a free security consultation, please call us on 01392 368830 or email us at info@tamarsecuity.co.uk.

If you have commercial premises, you’re legally required to have an appropriate fire safety system and to test your fire alarm regularly. But, how often is regularly? Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO), states that fire alarm tests should be weekly.

What happens during a weekly fire alarm test?

Once a week, your ‘responsible individual’ must carry out a test by activating at least one fire alarm call-point to check that the alarm sounds and the panel receives the signal. Each week you should test a different call-point and take appropriate action immediately if any part of the alarm system doesn’t work. You should record the date and time of every fire alarm test in a logbook as well as details of:

• The dates, time, cause and duration whenever the fire alarm has been triggered.
• Any faults found and what action was taken to repair them.
• The date and time of any instances where the fire alarm was disconnected, irrespective of the reason.
• The date and time of any alterations to the alarm system.

Your fire alarm test logbook demonstrates your compliance with the RRO, so it’s essential to keep it accurate and up to date. It could be called upon by an enforcing authority at any time.

How often should you service your fire alarm?

As well as weekly testing of your fire alarm system, regular servicing is also necessary. The British Standard BS 5839, under which fire alarm systems must be compliant, recommends six-monthly inspections or quarterly if you have larger premises, with several alarms and a complex system. During an inspection, a competent professional will check that the fire system is in full working order and carry out any necessary maintenance. Regular servicing will help ensure that your fire alarm will work and also avoid false alarms. If you have concerns regarding your fire alarm system, we can help. Our specialist engineers are fully qualified to British Standard BS 5839 so can inspect and maintain your alarm set-up as well as advise on any upgrade or new installation. To find out more, please call us on 01392 368830 or email us at info@tamarsecuity.co.uk.

A question we're often asked by customers wanting to install a new security system is, "Are wireless burglar alarms reliable and secure?". Historically wireless alarm systems had a reputation for poor reliability so it's not a surprise that some people are concerned. The problem with many of the older wireless models was that they had an insufficient receiving range and monitoring capabilities so weren't able to pick up signals from every area they were meant to cover or notify of potential failures. As a result, not all breaches may have registered on the main system thereby rendering the alarm unreliable. However, we're pleased to confirm that the wireless technology has vastly improved. Wireless systems can be subject to interference which can cause sensors to respond unpredictably, but that's rare. So long as they're maintained properly wireless burglar alarms are now as reliable as their hardwired counterparts. If you're still unsure whether a wireless burglar alarm is a good option, take a look at the benefits.

Benefits of wireless burglar alarms

• Wireless burglar alarms are quicker and easier to install than wired systems.
• Wireless alarms are generally cheaper to install as less time is involved.
• Because less wiring is involved, a wireless system often looks much neater than a wired one.
• Wireless systems are very flexible. You can easily add door or window sensors and motion detectors to expand your system.
• Wireless security options allow you to connect your alarm to your smart devices (network connection required). That means you can receive alarm notifications and activate or deactivate your wireless alarm from your smartphone.
• Some systems have other wireless-enabled features, like a key fob, which enables you to switch off your wireless alarm as you approach your property to avoid accidentally triggering the alarm.
• Wireless burglar alarms are portable so if you move house or premises you could take the alarm with you.

If you'd like to receive a no-obligation quote to install a wireless burglar alarm in your home or business premises, please call us on 01392 368830 or complete our contact form.