Security and fire safety guides
Straight answers to the questions we hear most often from businesses and homeowners across London and the Home Counties.
All guides
Business CCTV and the law: signs, GDPR, ICO fees and how long you can keep footage
A plain English guide to UK business CCTV rules: signs, the ICO fee, how long to keep footage and what to do when someone asks for their recording.
Read the guide CCTV & SurveillanceHow much does CCTV installation cost for a business in the UK?
What a business CCTV system really costs in the UK: what drives the price, typical ranges, running costs and the questions to ask before you accept a quote.
Read the guide Intruder AlarmsHow much does a business intruder alarm cost in the UK?
What affects the price of a commercial intruder alarm: grading, wired or wireless, monitoring and maintenance, with realistic ranges and what to ask for in a quote.
Read the guide Intruder AlarmsWill the police respond to my intruder alarm?
How police response to intruder alarms works in the UK: approved installers, monitoring, police reference numbers and false alarms.
Read the guide Access Control SystemsHow much does an access control system cost for a business?
Typical per-door costs for business access control in the UK, what is included, ongoing software and maintenance costs, and how to budget for a new system.
Read the guide Access Control SystemsKey fob, keypad or cloud access control: which is right for your business?
Fobs and cards, keypads, mobile credentials and cloud-managed systems compared in plain English, with the pros, cons and best uses of each.
Read the guide Turnstiles & Speed LanesDo speed gates stop tailgating, and what happens to them in a fire?
How speed lanes and turnstiles detect or prevent tailgating, and how entry control should release in a fire alarm or power failure.
Read the guide Turnstiles & Speed LanesTurnstile or speed lane: which is right for your building?
Tripod turnstiles, full height turnstiles and speed lanes compared: security level, throughput, appearance, accessibility and cost drivers.
Read the guide Perimeter SecurityLayered perimeter security: where should a business start?
How layered perimeter security works for UK commercial sites: fencing, gates, lighting, CCTV and detection working together.
Read the guide Fire AlarmsFire alarm categories explained: what L1, L2, L3, P1 and M mean
A plain English guide to fire alarm categories under BS 5839-1: manual, life protection (L) and property protection (P), and how to choose.
Read the guide Fire AlarmsHow often should a fire alarm be tested in a business?
The weekly test, six-monthly service and record keeping that UK businesses need for a fire alarm system, and who is responsible for them.
Read the guide Emergency LightingDo I legally need emergency lighting in my business premises?
When emergency lighting is required in UK non-domestic buildings, what it must cover, and how your fire risk assessment decides the design.
Read the guide Emergency LightingHow often does emergency lighting need to be tested?
The monthly flick test and annual three-hour duration test explained, with what to record and what to do when a light fails.
Read the guide Fire ExtinguishersFire extinguisher types and colours explained, and how often they need servicing
What each fire extinguisher colour band means, which fires each type is for, and the monthly, annual and extended service routine for UK businesses.
Read the guide Fire ExtinguishersHow many fire extinguishers does my business need?
There is no fixed legal number of fire extinguishers. Here is how UK businesses work out how many they need, which types, and where to put them.
Read the guide Gates & BollardsHow much do electric gates cost, and how often do they need servicing?
What electric gates cost in the UK, what affects the price, the safety standard they must meet and how often they should be serviced.
Read the guide Gates & BollardsDo I need planning permission for electric gates?
The height limits, highway rules and exceptions that decide whether electric gates need planning permission in England, for homes and businesses.
Read the guide Gates & BollardsSecurity bollards: types, crash ratings, planning and cost
Choosing security bollards in the UK: fixed, removable and retractable types, crash ratings, planning rules and typical costs.
Read the guide Security FencingPalisade, Paladin or weld mesh fencing: which is right for your site?
Palisade, Paladin, weld mesh, roll top, chain link and expanded metal fencing compared, with typical uses and what to ask about security ratings.
Read the guide Security FencingDo I need planning permission for a security fence?
The two metre and one metre height rules, the exceptions, and how to check whether your boundary fence or security fencing needs planning permission in England.
Read the guideWant advice for your own premises?
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