CLC/TC 79/WG 04 - Social alarm systems

This document specifies the minimum requirements for the performance, reliability and security characteristics of interconnections, alarm transmission systems and communications within a social alarm system.

This European Standard specifies the requirements for manually and automatically activated trigger devices transmitting a triggering signal. This European Standard specifies the requirements and tests for trigger devices forming part of a social alarm system. This European Standard applies to all trigger devices that transmit a triggering signal to a local unit or controller using wired or wire-free interconnections methods.

This Technical Specification specifies a protocol for point-to-point transmission of alarms, faults, control signals and communications monitoring, between a Local Unit and Controller and an Alarm Receiving Centre using the Internet protocol (IP). The protocol is intended for use over any network that supports the transmission of IP data with sufficient quality of service to support VoIP or a separate voice channel. The Alarm Protocol is defined as an XML scheme including the alarm types, codes and necessary additional information. The alarm protocol is an application layer protocol using another Internet Protocol as a transport protocol to handle addressing and transport functions. The transport protocol initially defined in this Technical Specification is SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). The system performance characteristics for alarm transmission are specified in EN 50134-5. The performance characteristics of the Local Unit and Controller are expected to comply with the requirements of its associated alarm system standard and to apply for the transmission of social alarms. The protocols described in this standard are based on the SS 91100:2014 SCAIP standard [7] and defined to enable backwards compatibility with existing products based on the SCAIP standard.

This standard applies to the delivery of social alarms services by organisations, whether through the use of paid or voluntary staff. It does not apply to the use of social alarm systems to enhance informal arrangements between an individual and their close friends and family for the provision of assistance, although it may provide advice on the issues that such individuals may need to consider. This standard specifies requirements for social alarm service providers for effective and efficient management, policy and procedures for: a) general requirements; b) marketing; c) sale and referral; d) assessment; e) installation; f) alarm monitoring; g) response arrangement; h) operational records; i) service and maintenance; j) risk management; k) service development and improvement; l) workforce. NOTE The effectiveness of a social alarm service is largely dependent upon the management of the system and its integration with other services.