EN 50136-3:2013/A1:2021

Alarm systems - Alarm transmission systems and equipment - Part 3: Requirements for Receiving Centre Transceiver (RCT)

This European Standard specifies the minimum equipment requirements for the performance, reliability, resilience, security and safety characteristics of the receiving centre transceiver (RCT) installed in ARC and used in alarm transmission systems. The alarm transmission system requirements and classifications are defined within EN 50136 1. Different types of alarm systems may in addition to alarm messages also send other types of messages, e.g. fault messages and status messages. These messages are also considered to be alarm messages. The term alarm message is used in this broad sense throughout the document. Where application specific standards exist, the RCT should comply with relevant standards called up by that application. The RCT can be either an integrated element of any receiving/annunciation equipment, or a stand-alone device. In either case, the requirements of this European Standard should apply. The function of the RCT is to monitor the ATPs, receive alarm messages, forward alarm messages to one or more AEs and send acknowledgements to the SPTs. Management of the transmission network is not in the scope of this European Standard.

Alarmanlagen - Alarmübertragungsanlagen und -einrichtungen - Teil 3: Anforderungen an Übertragungszentralen (ÜZ)

Systèmes d'alarme - Systèmes et équipements de transmission d'alarme - Partie 3: Exigences pour les transmetteurs du centre de réception (RCT)

La présente Norme Européenne spécifie les exigences matérielles minimales relatives au fonctionnement, à la fiabilité, à la résilience, à la sécurité et à la sûreté des transmetteurs du centre de réception (RCT) installés dans l'ARC et utilisés dans les systèmes de transmission d’alarme. Les exigences et les classifications des systèmes de transmission d’alarme sont définies dans la EN 50136-1. Différents types de systèmes d’alarme peuvent, outre des messages d’alarme, envoyer d’autres types de messages, par exemple des messages de défaut et des messages d’état. Ces messages sont également considérés comme des messages d'alarme. Le terme message d'alarme est utilisé dans ce sens large dans le document. Si des normes spécifiques à l'application existent, il convient que le RCT satisfasse aux normes correspondantes mentionnées par cette application. Le RCT peut être soit un élément intégré d'équipement de réception/d'annonce, soit un dispositif autonome. Dans les deux cas, il convient que les exigences de la présente Norme Européenne s'appliquent. Le RCT a pour fonction de surveiller les ATP, de recevoir les messages d'alarme, de transmettre les messages d'alarme vers un ou plusieurs AE et d'envoyer des accusés de réception aux SPT. La gestion du réseau de transmission ne fait pas partie du domaine d’application de la présente Norme Européenne.

Alarmni sistemi - Sistemi in oprema za prenos alarma - 3. del: Zahteve za oddajnik sprejemnega centra (RCT) - Dopolnilo A1

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 06-May-2021
• ICS: 13.320 - Alarm and warning systems
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 79 - Alarm systems
• Drafting Committee: CLC/TC 79/WG 05 - Alarm transmission systems (annunciation equipment)
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 07-May-2021
• Due Date: 12-Aug-2021
• Completion Date: 07-May-2021
• Ref Project: SIST EN 50136-3:2014/A1:2021 - Alarm systems - Alarm transmission systems and equipment - Part 3: Requirements for Receiving Centre Transceiver (RCT)

Relations

• Amends: EN 50136-3:2013 - Alarm systems - Alarm transmission systems and equipment - Part 3: Requirements for Receiving Centre Transceiver (RCT)
• Effective Date: 05-Feb-2019

Overview

EN 50136-3:2013/A1:2021 (CLC) specifies minimum equipment requirements for the Receiving Centre Transceiver (RCT) used in alarm receiving centres (ARC) and secure locations. This amendment (A1, approved 2021) updates EN 50136-3:2013 to define performance, reliability, resilience, security and safety characteristics of the RCT and the parameters to be tested for compatibility with Alarm Transmission System (ATS) categories. Management of the transmission network itself is out of scope.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & role: The RCT monitors Secure Peripheral Transmitters (SPTs), receives alarm messages (including fault and status messages), forwards messages to Alarm Management Systems (AMS) / Alarm Receiving Equipment, and sends acknowledgements to SPTs. RCTs may be integrated into receiving/annunciation equipment or be stand-alone.
• Performance & reliability: Requirements ensure the RCT processes, forwards and logs alarm messages reliably and complies with ATS categories defined in EN 50136-1.
• Security & resilience:
  • Access control: defined access levels must exist and be testable.
  • Brute-force mitigation: if more than 3 access attempts occur in 60 s, further attempts are delayed and after the third attempt each additional attempt is prevented for a minimum of 90 s, logged and reported as potential hacking.
  • Information and substitution security declarations are required from the manufacturer.
• Fault signalling & monitoring:
  • RCT must signal transmission link failures between RCT and AMS, link failures in hosted solutions (RCT-H / RCT-A), transmission network interface issues (e.g., encryption problems), and internal system failures (including clock deviation).
  • Event logs (archives may be stored outside the RCT) with timestamp resolution and 3‑year endurance requirements are specified.
• Redundancy & dual-path ATS: RCT redundancy tests demonstrate that failure of one RCT does not compromise a Dual Path ATS configuration.
• Testing & documentation: The standard defines a comprehensive test matrix (functional tests) covering alarm processing, software upload recovery, parameter persistence, ATS failure notification (single and dual path), AMS interfaces, fault signalling, event recording, clock synchronization, denial-of-service, information security, and marking/documentation.

Applications and users

Who uses EN 50136-3:2013/A1:2021:

• Manufacturers of RCT hardware/software for ARCs
• Alarm receiving centres (ARCs) and Alarm Transport Service Providers (ATSPs)
• Security integrators and installers specifying compliant equipment
• Test laboratories and certification bodies performing compliance testing
• System architects designing resilient alarm transmission solutions

Practical uses:

• Specifying RCT requirements in procurement and tenders
• Validating RCT performance, fault reporting and cybersecurity controls
• Demonstrating compliance with ATS categories when integrating with AMS

Related standards

• EN 50136-1:2012 (Alarm transmission systems - Part 1: General requirements) - referenced for ATS categories and reporting times
• Application-specific standards that may call up additional RCT requirements

Keywords: EN 50136-3:2013/A1:2021, Receiving Centre Transceiver, RCT, alarm transmission systems, alarm receiving centre, ATS, AMS, redundancy, fault signalling, event log, information security.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2021
Alarmni sistemi - Sistemi in oprema za prenos alarma - 3. del: Zahteve za oddajnik
sprejemnega centra (RCT) - Dopolnilo A1
Alarm systems - Alarm transmission systems and equipment - Part 3: Requirements for
Receiving Centre Transceiver (RCT)
Alarmanlagen - Alarmübertragungsanlagen und -einrichtungen - Teil 3: Anforderungen
an Übertragungszentralen (ÜZ)
Systèmes d'alarme - Systèmes et équipements de transmission d'alarme - Partie 3:
Exigences pour les transmetteurs du centre de réception (RCT)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50136-3:2013/A1:2021
ICS:
13.320 Alarmni in opozorilni sistemi Alarm and warning systems
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 50136-3:2013/A1

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
May 2021
ICS 13.320
English Version
Alarm systems - Alarm transmission systems and equipment -
Part 3: Requirements for Receiving Centre Transceiver (RCT)
Systèmes d'alarme - Systèmes et équipements de Alarmanlagen - Alarmübertragungsanlagen und -
transmission d'alarme - Partie 3: Exigences pour les einrichtungen - Teil 3: Anforderungen an
transmetteurs du centre de réception (RCT) Übertragungszentralen (ÜZ)
This amendment A1 modifies the European Standard EN 50136-3:2013; it was approved by CENELEC on 2021-04-12. CENELEC
members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this amendment the
status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This amendment exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the
responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as
the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 50136-3:2013/A1:2021 E

Contents
1 Modification to Clause 2, “Normative references” . 4
2 Modification to Clause 4, “Object” . 4
3 Modifications to Clause 6, “Functional requirement” . 4
4 Modifications to Clause 7, “Tests” . 5

European foreword
This document (EN 50136-3:2013/A1:2021) has been prepared by CLC/TC 79, “Alarm systems”.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which this document has (dop) 2022-04-12
to be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national (dow) 2024-04-12
standards conflicting with this document
have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
1 Modification to Clause 2, “Normative references”
Replace the normative reference EN 50136-1:2012 as follows:
"EN 50136-1:2012 , Alarm systems - Alarm transmission systems and equipment - Part 1: General
requirements for alarm transmission systems"
2 Modification to Clause 4, “Object”
Replace the existing text with the following:
“This document specifies the minimum equipment requirements for the performance, reliability,
resilience, security and safety characteristics of the Receiving Centre Transceiver (RCT) installed in
alarm receiving centres and/or in a secure location, and to define parameters that shall be tested to
ensure its compatibility with ATS categories.”
3 Modifications to Clause 6, “Functional requirement”
In 6.2, replace the 7th paragraph with:
“Where it is possible to attempt to gain access more than 3 times in a 60-s period the RCT shall have
the ability to delay repeated attempts. After the third attempt, each further attempt shall be prevented
for a minimum of 90 s. This should be recorded in the RCT and a notification should be sent to the
ATSP.
This kind of behaviour should be considered as an attempted hacking.”
In 6.5, replace the 1st paragraph with:
“For compliance to the relevant standards of the application, the RCT shall monitor ATP and ATS.
Failures shall be reported to the AMS as defined in EN 50136-1:2012 , 6.6, Table 4 and made available
to the ATSP.”
Replace the title of 6.6 from “Interface(s) to the AE(s)” to “Interface(s) to the AMS(s)”.
In 6.6, replace the 2nd paragraph with:
“The manufacturer shall state in their product documentation the specifications of the interface(s) to the
I (AMS) and how the fault signal is presented and logged.”
RCT
In 6.7, replace the entire subclause with the following:
“The RCT shall have a means to signal faults when any of the following faults occur:
— transmission link failure between RCT (or RCT-A for hosted solution) and AMS (I );
RCT
It may not be possible to signal this failure to the AMS over a failed link.
— in case of hosted solution, transmission link failure between RCT-H and RCT-A;
— transmission network interfaces between RCT (or for hosted solution RCT-H) and SPT (for example
encryption issue);
— internal RCT system failure including time deviation after the commissioning.
The manufacturer shall specify in the RCT documentation how these faults are signalled to the AMS
and to the ATSP. The manufacturer shall describe how this can be tested.”

As impacted by EN 50136-1:2012/A1:2018.
In 6.8, replace the 3rd paragraph:
“The event log may be stored outside of the RCT.” with: “The event log archives may be stored outside
of the RCT.”
4 Modifications to Clause 7, “Tests”
For every subclauses in 7.3, replace all the references of “AE” to “AMS”.
In 7.3.1, replace the 4th paragraph:
“All AE interfaces shall be tested.” with: “All AMS interfaces shall be tested.”
In 7.3.1, replace the entire Table 3 with the following:
“Table 3 — Summary of functional tests
Section Requirement to test Test/validation objective Validate or test
reference
6.1 Processing of alarm signals Demonstrate the ability of the Test (7.3.9)
RCT to receive, process and
forward a signal or message
from the ATS.
6.2 Access levels Demonstrate that all access Test (7.3.2)
levels exist.
6.3 Upload and download of Demonstrate that the RCT will Test (7.3.3)
software recover after an unsuccessful
software upload/download.
6.4 Storage of parameters and Demonstrate that the RCT will Test (7.3.4)
customer specific data not lose any parameters or
customer specific data after a
reset or power cycle.
6.5a Notification of an ATS failure Demonstrate that the RCT Test (7.3.5)
for a single path ATS signals an ATS failure to the
AMS as defined in
EN 50136-1:2012 , Table 4.
6.5b Notification of an ATS failure Demonstrate that the RCT Test (7.3.6)
for a dual path ATS signals an ATS failure to the
AMS as defined in
EN 50136-1:2012 , Table 4.
6.6 Interface(s) to the AMS(s) Demonstrate that the Test (7.3.7)
interface(s) to the AMS(s) are
monitored.
6.7 Fault signalling Demonstrate that faults are Test (7.3.8)
signalled according to the
manufacturer RCT
documentation.
6.8a Event recording Demonstrate that all Test (7.3.10)
mandatory events are
recorded as required in
Table 2.
6.8b Clock resolution and Demonstrate that the Test (7.3.11)
synchronisation accuracy of the timestamps as
attached to events in the log
complies with the
requirements of 6.9.
Section Requirement to test Test/validation objective Validate or test
reference
6.8c Endurance of the log Verify that the manu
...