Security Definitions

Some important security definitions follow:

action: (relating to setting and unsetting) deliberate operation or act by the user which is part of the setting or unsetting procedure.
access level: level of access to particular functions of the I&HAS.
active: state of a detector in the presence of a hazard.
active period: period during which an alarm signal is present.
alarm: warning of the presence of a hazard to life, property or the environment.
alarm receiving centre: continuously manned centre to which information concerning the status of one or more alarm systems is reported.
alarm company: organisation which provides services for alarm systems.
alarm condition: condition of an alarm system, or part thereof, which results from the response of the system to the presence of a hazard.
alarm notification: passing of an alarm condition to warning devices and/or alarm transmission systems.
alarm system: An electrical installation which responds to the manual or automatic detection of the presence of a hazard.
alarm transmission system: equipment and network used to transfer information concerned with the state of one or more alarm systems to one or more alarm receiving centre. Note: Transmission systems exclude local direct connections, i.e. interconnections between parts of an alarm system which do not require an interface to transform the alarm system information into a form suitable for transmission.
alert indication: an indication, available at access level 1, when an I&HAS is in the unset state, that further indication(s) are available to users at access levels 2, 3, or 4.
alternative power source: power source capable of powering the system for a predetermined time when a prime power source is unavailable
ancillary control equipment: equipment used for supplementary control purposes.
application: alarm system (intrusion & hold-up, social alarm, CCTV, access control, fire or another TC79's application) or any other system outside of this TC79 scope (heating, air cooling, lighting..)
authorisation: permission to gain access to the various functions of an I&HAS.
authorisation codes: physical or logical keys which permit access to I&HAS functions
availability of interconnection: condition when an interconnection is capable of conveying a signal or message
component substitution: The replacement of I&HAS components with alternative devices which prevent the I&HAS operating as designed.
communication: transmission of messages and/or signals between I&HAS components. Note: The transmission of a signal may include the continual passing of an electrical current through a switch or relay forming the interface between I&HAS components. It is not necessary to change the status of any such switch or relay. Due to the nature of data communication the transmission of a message may require deliberate initiation, e.g. in response to a poll or at specified time intervals, this initiation may or may not require the change of status of a switch or relay.
continually: recurring frequently at regular intervals
control and indicating equipment: equipment for receiving, processing, controlling, indicating and initiating the onward transmission of information. Page 23 pr PD 6662:2003 draft 3: 24 July 2003
Intrusion detector: device designed to generate an intruder signal or message in response to the sensing of an abnormal condition indicating the presence of a hazard.
entry/exit route: route by which authorised entry or exit to the supervised premises or part thereof may be achieved.
event: conditions arising from the operation of the I&HAS e.g. setting/unsetting, alarm
event recording: storage of events arising from the operation of the I&HAS e.g. for analysis
fault condition: condition of an alarm system which prevents the I&HAS or parts thereof from functioning normally.
fault signal/message: information generated due to the presence of a fault.
hold-up alarm system: alarm system providing the means for a user to deliberately generate a hold-up alarm condition.
hold-up device: device which when triggered causes a hold-up alarm signal or message to be generated.
indication: information (in audible, visual or any other form) provided to assist the user in the operation of an I&HAS.
inhibit: status of a part of an alarm system in which an alarm condition cannot be notified, such status remaining until the I&HS or part thereof is unset
intruder alarm system: alarm system to detect and indicate the presence, entry or attempted entry of an intruder into supervised premises.
intrusion and hold-up alarm system: an integrated intruder and hold-up alarm system.
interconnection: means by which messages and/or signals are transmitted between I&HAS components.
Interconnection media: medium by which signals or messages are conveyed
interference: corruption of signals and/or messages passing between I&HAS components.
intruder alarm condition: condition of an alarm system, or part thereof, which results from the response of the I&HAS to the presence of an intruder.
intruder signal or message: information generated by an intruder detector
intrusion and hold-up alarm system: combined intruder and hold-up alarm system.
isolation: status of a part of an alarm system in which an alarm condition cannot be notified, such status remaining until manually cancelled.
masked: condition whereby the field of view of a movement detector is blocked .
message: series of signals routed by a network which include identification, function data and the various means for providing its own integrity, immunity and proper reception.
message substitution: intentional or unintentional creation of alternative message between I&HAS components which prevent the correct operation of the I&HAS.
monitoring: process of verifying that interconnections and equipment are functioning correctly.
non-specific wired interconnection: interconnection conveying information pertaining to two or more applications.
normal condition: state of an I&HAS where no conditions exist which would prevent the setting of the I&HAS.
notification: passing of an alarm, tamper or fault condition to warning devices and/or alarm transmission systems.
operator: individual using an I&HS for its intended purpose
override: intervention, by a user, to permit setting when a fault condition exists. Page 24 pr PD 6662:2003 draft 3: 24 July 2003
part set: status a zone of an alarm system in which an alarm condition can be notified.
pending indication: means of indicating that further information is available for display when all information cannot be displayed simultaneously.
periodic communication: any valid signal or message
power supply: part of an alarm system which provides power for the I&HAS or any part thereof.
prime power source: power source used to support the I&HAS or part thereof under normal operating conditions.
restore: procedure of cancelling an alarm, tamper, fault or other condition and returning the I&HAS to a previous condition.
sensor: part of a detector which senses a change in condition.
self powered device: device incorporating its own power sources.
set: status of an alarm system or part thereof in which an alarm condition can be notified.
signal: variable parameters by which information is conveyed,
significant reduction of range: reduction of the range, of a movement detector, exceeding 50% of specified range, measured on the central axis of the detector
site specific data: information relating to the configuration of a CIE EXAMPLE: processing parameters.
specific wired interconnection: interconnection conveying information pertaining to one application.
specified range: range as specified in the System Design Proposal (see TS 50131-7 Annex F, F5)
standby period: period during which the alternative power source is capable of supporting the I&HAS.
subsystem : That part of an I&HAS located in a clearly defined part of the supervised premises capable of independent operation.
supervised premises: That part of a building and/or area in which a hazard may be detected by an alarm system.
supplementary prime power source: An energy source capable of supporting the I&HAS for extended periods, without affecting the standby period of the alternate power source.
system attributes: The characteristics of an I&HAS arising out of its design and configuration.
system components: The individual items of equipment which make an I&HAS when configured together.
tamper: Deliberate interference with an I&HAS or part thereof.
tamper alarm: An alarm generated by tamper detection.
tamper condition: A condition of an alarm system in which tampering has been detected.
tamper detection: The detection of deliberate interference with an alarm system or part thereof.
tamper protection: Methods or means used to protect an alarm system or part thereof against deliberate interference.
tamper security : Methods or means used to protect an alarm system or part thereof against deliberate interference and the detection of deliberate interference with an alarm system or part thereof.
tamper signal or message : Information generated by a tamper detector.
transmission path: A communication route used to convey notification information. Page 25 pr PD 6662:2003 draft 3: 24 July 2003
triggering: deliberate operation of a hold-up device
unset: The status of an I&HAS or part thereof in which an intruder alarm condition cannot be notified.
user: A person authorised to operate an alarm system.
user interface: means by which a user operates an I&HAS
verification message: any valid signal or message
warning device: A device that gives an alarm or an alert.
wire-free interconnection: An interconnection conveying information between I&HAS components without physical media. The interconnection may convey information pertaining to two or more applications.
zone: An assessed area where abnormal conditions may be detected.