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Minimum specs move very welcome

The South African Insurance Association's (SAIA) and the South African Intruder Detection Systems Association's (SAIDSA) joint initiative to introduce minimum specifications into the intruder detection industry and to monitor installations to ensure compliance is more than welcome.

Not only does this development reflect trends in the United Kingdom where a similar inspectorate is already operating, but I believe the introduction and enforcement of minimum specifications will dramatically reverse the declining level of service in the local industry - and eliminate cases of inappropriately specified detection systems.

Although SAIDSA has had a set of standards in place for many years, the Association has lacked the full support of the industry to enforce these regulations and guidelines. This material included specifications governing the creation of control rooms and equipment installations, as well as the standard of service to be provided by members of their organisation.

It would be pleasing to see a commitment from SAIA to enforce these standards. However, I believe an independent body should be appointed to manage the process of inspecting installations to protect the interest of all parties concerned. Such a body would have to have the right kind of expertise and, of course, must operate from an objective stance.

Quality service and value for money from the security industry has never been more needed in our industry. But more often than not, service elements I believe are basic to establishing a good business - such as training, product proficiency and technical support - are low level or completely lacking.

I would like to challenge all serious wholesalers in the South African intruder detection industry to become actively involved in raising standards of technical excellence and providing real value to their customers - whether installers or end users. It is, after all, the wholesalers who should set the pace for the industry.

Wholesalers should be in a sound position to provide every kind of backup to the products they sell - technical support and after hours emergency assistance, particularly for critical installations - while distributors should be in a position to stock back-up spares for all the products they sell. Installers must have access to spares and repairs whenever necessary, to be able to provide a good service to the end user.

It has been too easy for wholesalers to just sell products but now, being able to back up these products in every way is going to separate the men from the boys.

For further details contact Frank Fowles, TeqTrader on tel: (011) 403 3002.

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