Standards Development

Scope

The design, installation and maintenance of social alarm or technology enabled care systems and services provided to an individual user including:

- person centred assessment of risks and needs;

- the design and selection of appropriate devices to mitigate the risks and manage the needs;

- the correct installation and commissioning of selected equipment;

- the maintenance of the installed equipment;

- the removal and decommissioning of equipment.

This CoP only covers equipment capable of generating an alarm triggering signal within a social alarm system Local Unit & Controller (Lu&C).

Purpose

This standard is needed to support the existing EN 50134 series of technical standards which are product focussed.

Creation of a code of practice at UK level would allow for the standardisation of service focussed and risk-based approach to the design of a social alarm installation used in the provision of technology enabled care.

This standard would address the provision of technology enabled care specific to the needs of the UK sector and is unlikely to command a consensus if addressed at a European level.

It is however intended that this standard will not conflict with existing European and UK standards but will reference content within those standards as appropriate, to better utilise and integrate the existing suite of standards.

The need for such a code of practice covering user assessment, installation design, and installation and commissioning of telecare systems has been identified directly by the UK Technology Enabled Care sector, the Fire and Rescue Services, by Coroners in Regulation 28 Reports (prevention of Future Deaths Report) and indirectly by the Grenfell Inquiry, The Hackitt Report and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives initiative on unwanted conveyances.