Understanding LPS 1175 Certifications and what it means for high security perimeter fencing

Perimeter security is the first line of defence against intrusion, protecting property, assets and people against unauthorised access and unwanted damage. As methods of Intrusion get ever more sophisticated, organisations need to install increasingly advanced perimeter security systems, involving technology like CCTV, sensors and access control systems alongside physical security measures such as fencing, gating and barriers.

To maintain and enforce the most stringent security performance, the Loss Prevention Certification Board, a globally recognised certification body for fire and security products, has published the LPS 1175 standard which defines a security rating system for classifying the manual forced entry resistance of physical security products including free-standing barriers, gates and fencing.

The latest version of LPS 1175, released in 2019 as Issue 8, expanded the eight previous security ratings, comprising of SR1 (minimal resistance) to SR8 (high resistance), with a more flexible matrix style security rating system. This takes into account the toolkit used and the delay a physical security measure delivers when targeted using that tool kit. This has resulted in the performance classification system expanding to 48 possible security ratings, each offering a different level of security. SR ratings, which are still well-used terms, have been replaced by an alphabetic rating (describing the potential toolkit) and numerical rating (describing the delay in minutes).?

It is also important to note that some tools referenced within the toolkits defined within Issue 8 of LPS 1175 have been upgraded.? This means fencing products meeting previous editions of LPS 1175 do not automatically provide equivalent resistance to those certified to Issue 8. It is therefore prudent to check which edition of the standard a specific product is certified to.

Rigorous testing by BRE

Achieving LPCB A1 certification is a rigorous process, with only a small percentage of products submitted for review achieving the required performance even though it sits within the bottom corner of the classification matrix.?

Richard Flint, Physical Security Technical and Business Development Manager at BRE, comments, “Yes, we fail a high number of products. But, when you consider how widely products certified by LPCB to LPS 1175 are relied upon to protect critical assets and people around the world, we believe it is our duty to those who rely on those products and those that produce them to ensure we carry out our work as diligently as possible”[1]

Little is publicised about the testing process. However, thorough testing is known to continue until either a single product (fencing panel) has been breached, the maximum working time has passed, the maximum test duration has ended or the testing team decide the attack is ineffective.? Further tests will then take place on all areas of the fence to ensure the full system can withstand the same level of attack.

Once a product has reached the expected level of certification, further ongoing compliance is required.? The company and any certified products are subject to ongoing audit, including product documentation and performance, to ensure the standards of the certification are being maintained.

Focus area: LPCB A1/SR1 Fencing Systems

A1, or SR1 as it was previously known, is now categorised as being an opportunist attack by physical force and using easily concealed tools, with the use of tools including pliers, cable cutters or a knife as defined by Toolkit A.? As a result, there is an anticipated 1-minute delay in which an onsite security team can intercept such an attack.

A range of materials can be used to construct an A1-rated system, including welded mesh, double wire welded mesh, steel vertical bars and mesh and timber combinations.? The key to an A1-rated system is the inherent strength against attack, often featuring small apertures to make it more difficult to penetrate. In addition to the panels' performance, the fixings and clamps employed to attach the panels to posts play a vital role in determining the overall effectiveness.

Whilst SR1/A1 fencing systems can be used in many commercial and residential premises, it is particularly recommended for environments where opportunistic attacks are prevalent and site security is important.? This could include locations such as public spaces, educational campuses, retail parks, commercial properties and community buildings.

It is also an ideal system for the healthcare industry and was recently used in a perimeter fencing project for an NHS client in Langwith, Derbyshire.? This client needed a fencing system that conformed with the requirements of LPS 1175 A1, and so a single skin 358 mensh panel was chosen, which offers superior protection against cutting or climbing thanks to the wire diameter and small apertures.? Read more about this case study here .

Focus area: LPCB B3/SR2 Fencing Systems

A B3 certification, otherwise often referred to as SR2, indicates a fencing system is able to withstand a more focused attack using b a wide range of hand tools offering a greater mechanical advantage.?This could include items such as screwdrivers, hacksaws, bolt cutters and hand drills. Fencing systems achieving this security rating deliver at least 3-minutes delay to forced entry.

Systems that are rated as B3/SR2 often feature single- or double-layer mesh with small apertures and vertical steel bars, heavy duty beams supporting a palisade security fencing system or a combination of the two.

This standard is most commonly applied in settings that have a medium risk profile and where additional security measures are likely to be in place.? This means environments such as schools, hospitals, public sector buildings and industrial premises would benefit from a B3/SR2 rated system.

Focus area: LPCB C5/SR3 Fencing Systems

The LPCB C5 Certification, often referred to as SR3, represents a significant step up in high-security perimeter fencing standards.? It represents the deliberate forced entry of well-protected premises using bodily physical force and a wide selection of attacked options, with items including bolt cutters, crowbars, battery powered drills, scissor jacks and hammers. In order to achieve C5/SR3 certification, the fencing system must delay being breached for at least 5 minutes.

Most C5/SR3 rated fencing systems are made from heavy duty mesh, often double-layered, giving anti-climb protection as the small apertures make it impossible to gain a foothold.

With the increased delay offered by C5-rated systems, they are suitable for a range of applications where high security is a priority, including utility sites, construction areas with high-value machinery and buildings with a high risk of intrusion.

Focus area: LPCB D10/SR4 Fencing Systems

A D10 rated system can withstand intrusion attempts mounted by experienced offenders using an extensive range of tools. Offering exceptional protection from intruders, a perimeter system achieving this rating can withstand the use of tools including a sledgehammer, grinder and hooligan bar for at least 10 minutes before being breached.?

With strength being of the utmost importance in this system, panels are often multi-layers using a combination of welded mesh in different formations. Some systems feature triple layering, using multiple panel types together to achieve the combined higher D10 rating.

With such high levels of security, this level of certification is often used in utility sites, oil and gas compounds, data centres and other sites of critical national infrastructure.

Longevity and Durability

The LPS 1175 standard does not call for a minimum lifespan for rated fencing systems, however it may be anticipated that an undamaged system could potentially last in excess of 25 years, with many products offering such a guarantee.

It is important that the fencing system is properly treated for the environment it will be used in, such as the appropriate coating used.? Ongoing maintenance is also key, with regular checks of the coating coverage, removal of debris and ground growth that may impact the performance of the fence and visual checks for damage or wear and tear.? Any maintenance concerns should be dealt with promptly to ensure the overall integrity of the fencing system isn’t compromised.

Conclusion

The latest version of the LPS 1175 standard reflects the changing risk profile that employers and building owners must navigate.? With 48 different combinations of threat level and delay times, it is now easier and clearer for specifiers to undertake their own risk audit and understand the specific needs for a security-rated perimeter fencing system.

Tested and certified perimeter systems offer exceptional, quantifiable protection and investing in one demonstrates a commitment to keeping a building, assets and people within the boundary as safe as possible.

With intrusion techniques evolving constantly and tooling becoming more sophisticated, it is likely the LPCB Standards will continue to iterate and change, but the industry is responding with innovation to meet and exceed the demands of its clients.

While we cannot supply LPS 1175 rated fencing systems we are able to supply the panels that could contribute to the development of a systems meeting LPS 1175, subject to evaluation by BRE and listing in the LPCB list of products certified to LPS 1175 (www.redbooklive.com ). Contact us today to find out more on https://sandhp.com/ .