TSA.STANDARD for alarm receiving centers

Ein modernes Kontrollzentrum mit zahlreichen Bildschirmen, die Überwachungsbilder und Daten anzeigen.

The TSA.STANDARD as a basis for testing and certification of alarm receiving centers and technical control centers, including EN 50518

TÜV NORD's own criteria catalogue TSA.STANDARD forms the basis for a conformity and planning assessment as well as for the certification itself. With this catalogue, we provide you with an effective and sophisticated tool with which you can effectively ensure the physical safety and reliability of your AES or technical control centre. As the TSA.STANDARD criteria catalogue is continuously developed further, you can also prove that your AES or technical control centre corresponds to the current state of the art.

TÜV NORD's own set of rules includes all the requirements of DIN EN 50518, but supplements them with additional useful features that contribute to the functional safety of AES at the level of categories 1 and 2. The catalogue also contains additional criteria for technical control centres with category T. Version 2.1 from 28 March 2023 already takes into account the amended requirements of DIN EN 50518, translates them into testable criteria and thus makes them certifiable.

TSA stands for "Trusted Site Alarm Receiving Center" and is thus a synonym for an established procedure that TÜV NORD has been successfully applying for more than 20 years in the data centre environment with TSI certification (DUMMY).

The criteria catalog

The TSA.STANDARD is a comprehensive set of rules that summarises and structures the requirements of DIN EN 50518 for alarm receiving centres (AES). This standard forms the basis for the certification, conformity and planning assessment of security control centres. The TSA.STANDARD criteria catalogue covers all relevant requirements and is divided into various categories, including environment, building design, security systems, power supply and organisation.

Objectives of the criteria catalogue:

Clear identification and compact summary of the standard requirements.
Structuring and interpretation of the requirements.
Definition of the agreed scope of testing between the tester and the tested party.
Extension of the scope and definition of testing activities.

The EN 50518 standard describes specific requirements that must be met for successful certification. These include securing the AES with intrusion and hold-up detection systems in accordance with EN 50131-1, security level 3, as well as the positioning of the control and display units within the AES outer skin.

The TSA.STANDARD covers various areas of application, including intrusion and hold-up alarm systems, access control systems, video surveillance systems for security applications, as well as systems for personal monitoring and object tracking systems. Non-security applications such as traffic flow monitoring are also included.

The TSA.STANDARD is an indispensable tool for the planning, implementation and certification of security control centres, ensuring a high level of compliance with international security standards thanks to its comprehensive and structured approach.

Target groups of the TSA.STANDARD

Our certification services are aimed at companies and organisations that want to bring their AES and technical control centres up to the highest security and availability standards.

Our target group

Planners, operators and installers of alarm receiving centres
Planners, operators and installers of technical control centres

Advantages of the TSA.STANDARD

Clear identification of the requirements of the standard.
Compact summary of the standard requirements.
Structuring of the requirements for better clarity.
Interpretation of the standard requirements.
Agreement on the scope of testing between the tester and the tested party.
Possibility to extend the scope.
Definition of the testing activity.

The test areas of the TSA.STANDARD criteria catalog

The TSA.STANDARD Version 2.1 comprises 37 criteria areas with specific requirements in the following categories:

ENV: Environment
SEC: Security Systems
ORG: Organisation
CON: Construction
POW: Power Supply

Categories of TSA.STANDARD

The TSA.STANDARD comprises specific categories that cover different security requirements and areas of application for alarm receiving centres and technical control centres:

Category l

Areas of application: Intrusion alarm systems (IAS), hold-up alarm systems (ASAS), access control systems, video surveillance systems (VSS) for security applications.

Certification requirements: This category focuses on the basic requirements for alarm receiving centres (AES) and is specifically geared towards security applications.

Category ll

Areas of application: In addition to Category I systems, Category II also includes systems for personnel monitoring, lone worker tracking and property tracking systems for security applications.

Certification requirements: This category addresses alarms handled by Category II AES and includes combinations of the previously mentioned systems.

Category T

Risk assessment: Corresponds to the risk assessment of categories I and II.

Scope of the intruder alarm system: Corresponds to the scope of Category I.

Additional requirements: Consideration of the remote technical and supply rooms of the control centre. There is a new requirement that extends burglary protection RC 2 to doors and windows compared to Category II.

Areas of application: This category includes object-related control centres with a fixed assignment, such as control centres with responsibility within a site, campus or company.

This category includes property-related control centres with a fixed assignment, e.g. control centres with responsibility within a site, campus or company.

These categories are structured to cover the different security requirements and areas of application, with category T representing an extension of the requirements, particularly in the area of physical security and the consideration of additional technical rooms.

Our services based on TSA.STANDARD

Überwachungsraum mit mehreren Bildschirmen, die Live-Feeds und Daten anzeigen.

Certification of alarm receiving centres according to EN 50518

With certification based on the TÜV NORD TSA.STANDARD criteria catalogue, you can objectively demonstrate that you are effectively implementing the technical, operational and organisational requirements for alarm receiving centres specified in the European standard DIN EN 50518.

Learn more

IT-Spezialisten überwachen globale Netzwerksysteme in einem Kontrollzentrum mit mehreren Bildschirmen.

Certification of technical control centres according to TSA

Ensure the reliability of your AES / control centre with certification based on the TSA.STANDARD from TÜV NORD.

Learn more

Person steht mit verschränkten Armen in einem Serverraum zwischen zwei Reihen von Server-Racks.

Conformity assessment / GAP analysis

Analysis of the security level of your AES/control centre and identification of potential vulnerabilities.

Learn more

Person arbeitet an einem Schreibtisch mit Laptop und Dokumenten in einem modernen Büro.

Planning assessment

Support in the planning process through independent assessment based on the TSA.STANDARD.

Learn more

Gruppe von Menschen bei einer Besprechung in einem modernen Büro mit großen Fenstern.

Workshops

Knowledge transfer for the evaluation/certification of an alarm receiving centre/control centre based on the TSA.STANDARD.

Learn more

FAQ about TSA.STANDARD

The TSA.STANDARD is a comprehensive set of rules that summarises the requirements of DIN EN 50518 for alarm receiving centres (AES) and technical control centres. It is used to ensure the conformity of these facilities with international security standards and provides a structured basis for certification, conformity and planning assessment.

The TSA.STANDARD comprises categories I, II and T, which cover different security requirements and areas of application. Category I focuses on basic security applications, Category II extends this to include people monitoring and object tracking systems, and Category T covers object-related control centres with additional requirements for physical security and technical rooms.

TSA.STANDARD certification offers several advantages, including clear identification and compact summarisation of the standard requirements, structured and interpreted requirements for better clarity, and the possibility to extend the scope of testing. This makes it easier to manage and fulfil the requirements of DIN EN 50518 and helps to ensure the physical security and reliability of your facility.

The TSA.STANDARD provides a structured basis for evaluating and implementing all relevant requirements for technical infrastructure, organisation and security measures. This enables planners to recognise weak points at an early stage and take targeted measures to comply with national and international standards.

Thanks to its modular design and clear structure, the TSA.STANDARD helps to systematically analyse existing facilities. It offers practical tips for optimising security systems, structural organisation, technology and monitoring processes - even during ongoing operations.