Short answer
TS EN 50131 is the version of the European standard family for burglar alarm systems adopted in Türkiye. It divides systems into four security grades, from Grade 1 to Grade 4, according to the knowledge and equipment of the intruder they can withstand. A system's grade is the grade of its lowest-graded component; Grade 2 is generally considered for homes and small businesses, and Grade 3 for businesses with valuable goods.
What does a security grade measure?
On paper, alarm systems look alike: panel, sensors, siren, keypad. What sets them apart is how the system behaves when it is tampered with. What happens when the front of a sensor is covered? Does the panel notice when the siren cable is cut? If the phone line or GSM signal is cut, does the alert still get through?
TS EN 50131 groups these questions according to the intruder profile. The standard defines what knowledge and equipment the system must hold up against, and sets four grades accordingly. As the grade goes up, the sensors, panel and communication path are expected to include more measures against sabotage.
The standard family also has environmental classes. These indicate whether the device will operate in a dry indoor space, an unheated warehouse, or a sheltered or exposed outdoor location. An outdoor siren left in the sun in the Şanlıurfa summer and a keypad inside an office are not in the same environmental class.
The four grades in brief
The definitions below summarize the general approach of the standard. The detailed technical requirements for each grade are in the text of the standard.
- Grade 1: low risk. Assumes an intruder with little knowledge of alarm systems and limited tools.
- Grade 2: low to medium risk. Assumes an intruder with limited knowledge of alarm systems who uses simple tools. Commonly chosen for homes and small businesses.
- Grade 3: medium to high risk. Assumes an intruder who is familiar with alarm systems and can use a variety of tools and portable electronic devices. Considered for commercial premises with valuable goods.
- Grade 4: high risk. Assumes intruders who act according to a plan and have advanced means to defeat the system. Used at high-value and critical facilities.
The weakest component determines the system's grade
If an alarm system is installed with a Grade 3 panel and Grade 2 sensors, the system's grade is Grade 2. This rule is very important when reading quotes. A company may say the panel is high-grade and present the whole system at that grade, but if the sensors, siren or communication module are of a lower grade, the system stays at that level.
In the quote, ask about the grade of each component separately. Manufacturers usually state on their data sheets which grade and environmental class they were tested to. If this information is not in writing, ask for a certificate.
Installation is also part of the grade. If correctly graded devices are installed in the wrong place, with unprotected cabling or without the tamper contact connected, the grade on paper does not hold up on site.
Expert note: If your insurance company requires a certain alarm grade for your business, show the wording in the policy to your installer. Ask for the handover document to state which grade the system was installed to.
What changes as the grade goes up?
At Grade 2, opening the cover of a sensor, the panel or the siren, or removing it from the wall, is detected by the panel. This is known as sabotage or tamper protection. In wired systems, cutting the cable is also detected.
At Grade 3, in addition to these, an anti-masking feature is expected that detects when the front of a motion sensor is covered with an object or spray. Continuous supervision of the communication path also becomes important at this level, meaning the panel sends a signal to the monitoring center at regular intervals and the center notices when this signal is lost. Two separate communication paths are often used: for example, internet and GSM.
In wireless systems, as the grade goes up, protection of the signal against interference, encryption and jamming detection come to the fore. A wireless system can be classified as Grade 2 or Grade 3; what matters is that the devices have been tested to that grade.
Which one for a home, shop or warehouse?
For most homes and apartments, Grade 2 is a sufficient level. What matters here is putting sensors in the right places, mounting the siren where it is hard to reach, and making sure the notification chain works when the alarm goes off.
Grade 3 is considered for places such as jewelers, pharmacies, electronics stores, and weapons or precious metal storage. In these businesses, it is assumed that an intruder may have studied the alarm in advance; that is why anti-masking sensors and a supervised dual communication path make sense.
Grade 4 comes into play for places such as banks, valuables vaults or critical infrastructure. At this level, the alarm is handled as a separate project together with physical protection and security guards.
One building can also have different risks. A shop on the ground floor of an apartment building and an apartment on an upper floor may call for different grades. Or, in a business, the sales area may be protected at Grade 2 while a separate Grade 3 section is planned for the room holding valuable goods. In that case, each section needs to be assessed according to its own grade.
Questions to ask about the quote
When choosing between alarm quotes, ask clearly about the grade. If the company cannot give you clear information on this, you end up buying the system without knowing what level it is.
Ask for written answers to these questions: To which grade have the panel, sensors, sounder and communication module been tested? What is the overall grade of the system? Do the sensors have an anti-masking feature? Is there a single or dual communication path, and what happens if it is cut? Have the tamper contacts been connected? Will every zone be tested after installation and recorded in a signed report?
The grade also affects the price. Higher-grade devices cost more, but not every place needs Grade 3. Choosing a grade that does not match your risk either wastes money or leaves protection inadequate.
Certification and compliance
Compliance with the TS EN 50131 standards is shown by tests the manufacturer has carried out by an independent testing body. The installer also needs to prepare a handover document showing that the products were installed correctly: the zone list, sensor locations, test results and the handover of user codes.
In alarm projects, Desa Bilişim assesses the risk level on site and states the appropriate grade clearly in the quote. To make sure the grade holds up in practice, we test every zone together with you after installation.
Frequently asked
Can a wireless alarm be Grade 3?
Yes. The grade does not depend on being wired or wireless, but on the conditions the devices were tested against. For a wireless system to be Grade 3, the sensors, panel and communication components must have been tested to that grade.
Do I need a Grade 3 alarm for my home?
For most homes, Grade 2 is enough. If the home has a valuable collection, a large amount of cash or the insurance company has a specific requirement, Grade 3 can be considered. The decision should be based on a risk assessment.
Is an alarm with no stated grade bad?
Not necessarily, but you cannot know how robust it is. Especially for businesses and where there are insurance requirements, working with products whose grade is documented prevents disputes that may arise later.
Let's determine the right grade for your risk together
Let us inspect your premises on site and prepare a quote that clearly states the alarm grade and the parts list.
