Alarm receiving centers: DIN EN 50518 certification

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Highest level of security: With certification of your alarm receiving center or technical control centers in accordance with TSA (Trusted Site Alarm Receiving Center) based on DIN EN 50518

In an emergency, just a few seconds are crucial: operators of technical control centres must therefore ensure that emergency calls, alarm signals and other safety-relevant messages are reliably received, monitored and processed quickly at all times (24/7).

With certification based on the TÜV NORD TSA.STANDARD criteria catalogue, you can objectively demonstrate that you effectively implement the technical, operational and organisational requirements for technical control centres, alarm receiving centres (AES) and service control centres required by the TSA.

This includes control centres that handle messages as well as switching and control functions of subsystems and equipment that do not fall under category I or II according to EN 50518, or object-related control centres without external connections. These include

Object-related control centres without safety applications with fixed assignment (e.g. control centre with responsibility within a site/campus/company)
Control centres for the control/regulation of processes without safety applications (e.g. BMS/MSR)
Control centres for control/regulation without safety applications (e.g. traffic control centre, traffic service control centre, tunnel control centre)
Control centres for monitoring systems without safety applications (e.g. sewage treatment plants, water supply, gas supply, power supply, wind power)
Combinations of the aforementioned systems

Service control centres for the technical operation or monitoring of hazard detection systems or alarm systems can also be included. Technical control centres are tested and certified according to category T (KAT T) in accordance with TSA.STANDARD. Operators of technical control centres are, for example, municipal utilities, transport companies or industrial companies.

Target groups for the certification of technical control centers and alarm receiving centers according to TSA

Our certification services are aimed at companies and organisations that want to prove the high reliability and security of their technical control centre or alarm receiving centre (AES).

Our target group:

Planners of technical control centres and alarm receiving centres
Installers of technical control centres and alarm receiving centres
Operators of technical control centres and alarm receiving centres

Advantages of certifying alarm receiving centers according to EN 50518

High reliability:
Successful certification in accordance with TSA.STANDARD ensures a high level of reliability for your technical control centre.
Best possible protection:
You guarantee the protection of people and facilities by maximising functional security.
Verifiable proof of trust:
You can objectively demonstrate the physical security and reliability of your technical control centre to institutions and insurance companies.
Security when awarding planning contracts:
By fulfilling the requirements, you are one step ahead of your competitors when awarding planning contracts for new technical control centres.
Identification of optimisation potential:
With the help of the TSA.STANDARD, you can identify weak points and optimisation potential in your technical control centre at an early stage.
Positive risk assessment:
For insurers, a TSA certificate leads to a positive risk assessment & has an impact on the amount of the premium.
Competitive advantages through TSA certificate:
The certificate documents particularly extensive & systematic security measures of your technical control centre.
Continuous improvement:
Regular recertification enables you to maintain the high level of physical security and reliability of your technical control centre.

Overview of standards used

The TÜV NORD criteria catalogue TSA.STANDARD offers a comprehensive set of rules for ensuring the physical safety and reliability of alarm receiving centres and technical control centres. It fulfils all the requirements of DIN EN 50518 and supplements these with additional features for functional safety at the highest level. With continuous updates, it enables effective certification and conformity assessment based on over 20 years of experience.

Your path to TSA.STANDARD certification

1

Workshop (optional)

As part of our workshop, we will familiarise you with the requirements of an assessment & certification according to TSA.STANDARD.

2

Document review

Our experts check the documents you create in accordance with the requirements of the TSA.STANDARD criteria catalogue.

3

Certification audit

Following the document review, our experts check the TSA-compliant implementation of the security measures on site.

4

Preparation of the test report

Our experts record all the results of the document review & on-site audit in a comprehensive audit report.

5

Issue of certificate

If your service centre meets the required criteria, you will receive the desired TSA certificate from us. This is initially valid for one year.

FAQ on the certification of technical control centers according to TSA

A technical control centre is a facility for monitoring, controlling or regulating technical processes or infrastructures. Unlike traditional alarm receiving centres (AES), it does not receive external security messages from third parties, but manages defined systems within a defined area of responsibility - e.g. a company site, a city or technical facilities.

An alarm receiving centre (AES) in accordance with DIN EN 50518 receives alarms from external hazard detection systems (e.g. burglar or fire alarm systems) and initiates measures. A technical control centre, on the other hand, processes messages from internal subsystems (e.g. building management systems, supply systems), often without safety-critical activation of third-party systems. TSA therefore distinguishes between Category I/II (AES) and Category T (technical control centres).

DIN EN 50518 is the relevant standard for alarm receiving centres. The TSA.STANDARD transfers the requirements into testable criteria and also - where appropriate - to technical control centres (category T). For AES of category I or II, DIN EN 50518 must be completely fulfilled. The TSA.STANDARD offers adapted test criteria for technical control centres.

No, certification is voluntary. However, it serves as objective proof of safety, reliability and organisational quality - and can be a clear competitive advantage in tenders, with insurance companies or vis-à-vis supervisory authorities.

Test area Environment:

Risk assessment
Environment analysis

Test area building construction:

Structural requirements against attacks with mechanical means
Structural requirements against attacks with firearms
Structural requirements against fire
Structural requirements against lightning
Social facilities
Openings
Personnel airlock
Locking devices Personnel airlock
Emergency exit
Privacy screen inside the AES
Ventilation
Supply access points
Pass-throughs/locks
Location of data processing equipment
Power supply locations

Security systems test area:

Intruder alarm system
Fire alarm system
Door/window opening monitoring
Gas detection system
Protection of communication connections
Hold-up detector
Monitoring for the protection of personnel
Messages from the security systems
Access and video monitoring

Energy supply test area:

Primary supply
Emergency power supply
UPS
Emergency power generator (NEA)

Organisation test area:

Requirements for the alarm management system
Operating procedures of the AES
Emergency plan and evacuation procedures
Requirements for AES management
Test specifications and troubleshooting
Staffing requirements
Staffing requirements
Conformity audits

Our experts document all deviations in an inspection report. You then have the opportunity to make any necessary corrections. Depending on the type and number of deviations, a certificate may already be issued. The rectification of the deviations is checked as part of a follow-up audit procedure.

This depends on the scope of the project. As a rule, the entire process - from workshop and document review to on-site inspection and report preparation - takes between 8 and 18 weeks.

The certificate (category 1 and 2 in accordance with DIN EN 50518) is generally valid for 12 months and can be extended twice by 12 months by means of a surveillance audit. After this, re-certification takes place.

The certificate (category T) is valid for 24 months and can then be extended by 24 months by means of re-certification.