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guidance notes CHURCH – SECURITY

Version 5

Contents

Introduction 3

Church security 4

The prevention of arson in churches 9

Protection and use of electronic equipment 11

The purchase and installation of safes 14

Installation of intruder alarms 16

Installation of floodlighting systems 19

The protection of stained glass windows 21

Sources of information 22

Further bespoke information for churches is available on-line at:

www.ecclesiastical.com/churchor call 0345 777 3322

Whilst Ecclesiastical Insurance Group plc hasused reasonable endeavours to ensure thatthe information in this publication is correct atthe time of publication, please note: (a) theinformation is not intended to constitute adefinitive or complete statement of the law onany subject, nor is any part of it intended toconstitute legal advice for any specificsituation; (b) the information may over thecourse of time become incorrect or out ofdate; and (c) Ecclesiastical Insurance Groupplc cannot accept any responsibility for actiontaken as a result of information provided inthis publication. You should take specificadvice when dealing with specific situations.The information provided in this publication isgeneral and educational in nature and may

not reflect all recent legal developments andmay not apply to the specific facts ofindividual circumstances.

You assume sole responsibility for the use ofthis document and should obtain specialistadvice in relation to its use in specificcircumstances. Accordingly, EcclesiasticalInsurance Group plc and its subsidiaries shallnot be liable for any losses, damages,charges or expenses, whether direct, indirect,or consequential and howsoever arising, thatyou suffer or incur as a result of or inconnection with your use or reliance on theinformation provided in this document exceptfor those which cannot be excluded by law.

Keeping a church safe is no easy matter. You have to be sureyou have done everything you can to minimise the risks to yourchurch, workers and visitors, and that everyone knows what todo if anything goes wrong. That’s why Ecclesiastical hasproduced a range of helpful guides on how to keep thingsrunning safely and smoothly. Written by insurance experts, theguides give you step-by-step practical support to help you andyour church.

You can find further guidance on our dedicated web site for ourchurch customers at www.ecclesiastical.com/churchmatters/churchguidance. For further information please call us on

0345 777 3322

Monday to Friday. 8am to 6pm (excluding bank holidays). We may monitor or record calls to improve our service.

You can email us at [email protected]

Or Visitwww.ecclesiastical.com/church

About Ecclesiastical

Ecclesiastical was established in 1887 to protect the AnglicanChurch and we’re still committed to doing this today.Ecclesiastical donates all available profits to our owners,Allchurches Trust Limited, a registered charity, enabling theTrust to continue to support the church and other charitableinstitutions.

Note: Ecclesiastical provides these guidance notes withoutadditional charge to Ecclesiastical Church Insurancepolicyholders.

This advice is provided to you as best practice guidance fromEcclesiastical Insurance. Please check your policy documentsfor details of any conditions specific to your policy.

Free guides full of practical adviceand information

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Church securityEvery day ten churches are likely to suffer from theft,vandalism or arson.

Electronic equipmentElectronic equipment is particularly vulnerable to theft.

The purchase andinstallation of safesMany second-hand safes are perfectly acceptable and may provide the samesecurity as a new safe.

CHURCH – SECURITY GUIDANCE NOTES 3

Church securityEvery day ten churches are likely to suffer from theft, vandalism or arson.

This equates to an attack on one in every four churches during the course of a year.

Insurance can provide monetarycompensation but can never compensatefor the loss of part of a church’s history. It is obviously better to reduce the risk ofloss in the first place.

Use the notes below to check the security of your church and take action if necessary.

Locking up

If at all possible your church should be leftopen during the day for those who wish topray, or who wish to find a place for quietcontemplation. It should also be open fortourists and other visitors with an interest in historic buildings who find it verydisappointing when a church is locked,particularly if they have travelled somedistance. The presence of legitimate visitorswill also help to deter those with a criminalintent. It is not the policy of Ecclesiastical toask for churches to be kept locked duringthe day. There may be some cases whereyou have suffered repeated vandalism, theftor arson attacks where this is the onlyoption and occasionally we may only beable to continue to provide cover if thechurch is kept locked. Hopefully, however,by following these guidelines it should bepossible for the church to remain open forthe use and enjoyment of all.

Whilst the church should, if possible, be leftopen during the day it should be lockedduring the hours of darkness other than forservices or unless someone is present.

If you can, try to have someone on duty inthe church at all times by having a rota ofchurch sitters, or organise cleaning, grasscutting and other routine activities so thatthere is someone in the church orchurchyard for as much of the time aspossible. Remember, however, that someoneleft on their own in the church could be atrisk and a means of communication such as a mobile telephone should be available. Ask people living nearby to keep an eye outfor anything suspicious happening aroundthe church.

Lock away as many valuable and portableitems as you can. All silver items should bekept in a good quality safe. If possible keepbrass and pewter items in the safe as well. If there is not room in the safe then lock themaway in a secure area such as the vestry ortower. If you do not have a suitable securearea then try and create one, such as at thebottom of the tower stairs, provided of coursethat you do not cause any obstructions from ahealth and safety perspective.

Small valuable ornaments and items offurniture and furnishings should also be putaway in a locked vestry, cupboard or safewhen not in use. Coffin stools, chests andany item which can be used in a domesticsetting are particularly vulnerable. If itemscannot be locked away consider securingthem to the floor or wall, which may notdeter a determined thief but may besufficient to prevent the more casual theft.

If at all possible your churchshould be left open duringthe day for those who wish topray, or who wish to find aplace for quiet contemplation.

4 GUIDANCE NOTES CHURCH – SECURITY

All external doors should be kept locked overnight with a good quality key operated lock, to prevent entry to, and hinder exit from, the church.

Arson Remember that arson is basically a securityproblem. If the church is open during theday, take the simple precautions describedhere regarding locking up and visits.Remove all unwanted items that could beused to start a fire – such as oldnewspapers, candles and matches. Ensurealso that any petrol for lawn mowers is keptaway from the church. An automatic intruderalarm system will deter not just thieves butarsonists as well and will alert you to thefact that someone is on the premises. See section entitled ‘The prevention ofarson in churches’ for further guidance.

Visits Most thefts and damage occur when thechurch is unoccupied. Churchwardens andparishioners living nearby should makefrequent irregular visits to the church.Anything suspicious should be immediatelyreported to the Police.

Safes Valuables, such as the communion plate,should be kept in a safe or strongroomwhen not being used for a service. We willbe happy to advise regarding suitable types.All safes should be securely anchored tothe fabric of the building. See sectionentitled ‘Purchase and installation of safes’.

Substitution During the week valuable silver and brasscrosses and candlesticks etc. should besubstituted with wooden replacements.Valuable originals should be kept in thelocked vestry or other secure area. Thevestry or room used for this purpose shouldhave adequate locks on all doors and metalbars on all readily accessible windows.

Keys These should be kept in the personal custodyof a responsible official or in a secure placeaway from the church, eg the parsonagehouse. Keys should never be hidden in oraround the church and the number ofduplicates available should be kept to theabsolute minimum. Safe keys in particularshould never be kept in the church. A registershould be maintained of everyone who holdsa key and this should be updated annually.

Locks and bars All external doors should be kept lockedovernight with a good quality key operatedlock, to prevent entry to, and hinder exitfrom, the church. If doors can be openedfrom the inside, large articles or furniture can easily be removed by thieves. Where the security of doors needs to be improved,fit locks that comply with BS 3621.

The vestry will often be considered a targetfrom a prospective thief’s point of view andshould therefore be secured accordingly.Ecclesiastical should always be contactedprior to the installation of security devices inorder for specifications to be agreed.

Time LocksA time lock device is normally fitted to thefinal exit door of the Church. It is activated atpre-set times for opening & closing.

These locks are not a substitute for atraditional lock and key and they should beonly used in exceptional circumstances.

When such locks are installed, it isrecommended that a church official visits thechurch every two/three days to ensure thereis no unauthorised activity being undertakenand the church remains clean/tidy. It isimportant to check for any evidence of theft,fire, water or malicious damage.

The locking apparatus should be installedand maintained as per the manufacturersinstructions.

During the week valuable silver and brass crosses andcandlesticks etc. should belocked away and substitutedwith wooden replacements.


Intruder alarmsWhere there is a substantial amount ofproperty to be protected an intruder alarmsystem should be considered. No alarmshould be purchased without first takingprofessional advice and consultingEcclesiastical. Installation and maintenanceof an alarm system should preferably beundertaken by a company on the official listof recognised firms of any UKAS accreditedInspectorate and on the local police force listof compliant companies, and should complywith BS EN 50131-1, according to thescheme described in PD 6662. The installersshould also be approved by Ecclesiastical.

A premium discount may be available if a system is installed and maintained by a company on the official list of recognisedfirms of any UKAS accredited Inspectorate.See section entitled ‘Installation of intruder alarms’.

Closed circuit television (CCTV)CCTV permits the continual monitoring of anarea using cameras. These are usually linkedto a digital recording system or monitored bysecurity personnel. Several considerationsshould be noted:

n the quality of cameras vary tremendouslyn systems can be expensiven systems need effective monitoringn systems are limited to what the camera

can ‘see’n data protection, civil liberties and human

rights issues.

Photographs and security marking Should a theft occur, recovery is very mucheasier if adequate information regarding thestolen items is available. Photographs of allvaluables and portable furniture should bekept at one of the Churchwarden’s housesand at the parsonage, in addition to theusual church inventory, which should be asdetailed as possible. Record details of allvaluable items using the Object IDChecklist, see right for details.

Consideration should also be given to thesecurity marking of valuable articles by

engraving or the use of SmartWater, whichforensically links thieves to crime scenes.

For further details on SmartWater please visittheir website www.smartwater.com.

Replacement or repair of stained glasswindows will be greatly assisted if colourphotographs are available. A ruler or someother means of indicating size should alwaysbe included in any photograph. A video ordigital recording is a very quick and easyway of making a record of everything in thechurch.

Object ID checklist If possible, record details of antiques andother valuables using the followingchecklist. This is to the recognisedinternational standard that police forces useto create databases of stolen property.

Object ID uses the following headings;

n Type of object – What kind of object is it?eg painting, sculpture, clock, mask.Materials & techniques – What material is the object made of eg brass, wood, oilon canvas? How was it made? eg carved,cast, etched

n Measurement – What is the size and/or weight of the object? Specify whichunit of measurement is being used egcms, inches and to which dimension the measurement refers, eg height,width, depth

n Inscriptions & markings – Are there any identifying markings, numbers, or inscriptions on the object? eg asignature, dedication, title, maker’smarks, purity marks, property marks

n Distinguishing features – Does theobject have any physical characteristicsthat could help to identify it? eg damage,repairs, or manufacturing defects

n Title – Does the object have a title bywhich it is known and might beidentified? eg The Last Supper

n Subject – What is pictured orrepresented, eg landscape, battle,woman holding child?

Gates should be kept locked at night to preventvehicles being driven closeto the church.


n Date or period – When was the objectmade, eg 1893, early 17th Century, lateBronze Age?

n Maker – Do you know who made theobject? This may be the name of aknown individual, eg William Morris, a company, eg Tiffany, or a culturalgroup, eg Hopi

n Write a short description – This canalso include any additional informationwhich helps to identify the object, eg colour and shape of the object,where it was made etc.

n Take photographs – Photographs are of vital importance in identifying andrecovering stolen objects. In addition tooverall views, take close-ups ofinscriptions, markings and any damage orrepairs. If possible, always include a scaleor object of known size in the image

n Keep the information secure – Having documented the object, keep the information in a safe place awayfrom the church

The Object ID Checklist was devised by The Getty Institute and is reproduced with the permission of The Council for thePrevention of Art Theft.

Roofs

External lead and copperwork is particularlyvulnerable and must be marked withSmartWater. Careful use of ‘anti-climb’ paintscan make the thieves’ job more difficult.Ladders should always be removed to asecure place. This is particularly important to remember when work is being carried outon the church. In the case of lead or copperroofing materials, consideration should begiven to replacement with less theft-attractive material following a theft. In somecases this is the only practical solution. Youshould consult your architect in the firstinstance. We have produced separatespecific guidance on security measures toprotect against the theft of metal, availableon our websitewww.ecclesiastical.com/theftofmetal

The use and registration of SmartWater maybe a policy condition. Please see your policydocuments for details.

Gates These should be kept locked at night toprevent vehicles being driven close to thechurch. This will deter thieves as well asmaking the removal of stolen articles more difficult. In the absence of gatesconsider installing security bollards todriveways to restrict vehicular access.

Outbuildings and boiler housesGive some thought to the security of sheds,boiler houses and any other external storageareas. All too often these are overlooked, witha resultant loss of lawnmowers, strimmers andother equipment. Ensure the fabric of suchstructures is reasonably sound and fit goodquality padlocks and locking bars to doors.

Lawnmowers and other valuable groundsequipment should not be kept in lightweighttimber sheds. Petrol should be kept awayfrom the church in view of the risk of arson.

External lighting A floodlight mounted on the tower or otherhigh point illuminating the roof area acts as a deterrent to the theft of roofing materials.This is particularly useful if there are occupiedhouses nearby. Simple time switches arereadily available and lights can assist incontaining general vandalism. Additionalsecurity lights should be installed around thechurch to cover vulnerable areas. Somelighting systems can be operated by passiveinfra-red detectors which detect body heat.

Protection of windows Vulnerable stained glass and other windowsshould be protected externally by wire grillesof copper, galvanised iron or stainless steel.Alternatively, clear-sheet polycarbonate couldbe used, eg Lexan or Makrolon. See sectionentitled ‘Protection of stained glass windows’.

Advice The Police are happy to assist in preventingthefts and vandalism with helpful advicebeing provided by Local Crime ReductionOfficers. We can help too, if required, throughour expert local Insurance Consultants andSurveyors. If theft or vandalism does occur,the Police and Ecclesiastical should benotified immediately. Please note that aFaculty may be required before somesecurity devices are fitted.


Losses can range from a few hundreds ofpounds for minor damage to hundreds ofthousands or even millions of pounds formajor structural damage to a building. Even relatively small fires generate largequantities of smoke and it is often damagefrom smoke and the resultant cleaning coststhat make up the major part of an arsonclaim. Whilst vandalism and theft can resultin the unfortunate loss or damage of churchtreasures it is only fire which has thepotential to result in the total loss of boththe church building and all its contents.

It is worth remembering that unlike anaccidental fire it is the arsonist’s deliberateintention to set fire to the building and tocause damage. They will be looking,therefore, at ways of maximising damage.This may include the use of an accelerant,such as petrol, or starting fires in more than one place.

Good security and good housekeepingpractices are the two main defences to the risk of arson.

Security

Other than for services or other eventsrestrict the number of doors that may beused for access. Ideally only one doorshould be left unlocked. This door should bein a prominent position so that persons canbe clearly seen entering and leaving thechurch. Doors in isolated locations which arenot overlooked should be kept locked.

Any vegetation in the vicinity should becontrolled to ensure this does not provideplaces to hide. Keep shrubbery below 1 metre in height. Before any works are

undertaken on trees ensure they are notcovered by a tree preservation order. Use the church as much as possible andencourage parishioners to include a walkaround the church as part of their dailyroutines, such as while walking the dog,visiting the shops and neighbours. If possible have a rota of church sitters.

Leaving a church open during daylight hourswill encourage genuine visitors and will helpto deter the potential arsonist. Churchesshould, however, be kept locked during thehours of darkness. Security lighting andCCTV can also act as deterrents toarsonists. Ensure all windows and doors aresecurely locked including outbuildingscontaining tools which could help anarsonist to break into the church. Somechurches will feel that they have no optionother than to keep the church locked unlesssomeone is present. Do whatever you can tomake it look as though the building is usedon a regular basis. Seemingly vacant andunused buildings attract the attention ofarsonists.

Opening and Locking The Church

Remember to undertake a routine searchfor anything unusual after opening andbefore locking the church.

Fire protection

The installation of automatic fire and/orintruder alarms will significantly reduce therisk of arson particularly if they are linked toa permanently manned monitoring station.You must consult with Ecclesiastical beforeinstalling an alarm system. A visit by one ofour Risk Management Surveyors will

The prevention of arson in churches Arson is the most common cause of fires in churches. Good security and good

housekeeping practices are the two main defences.



probably be necessary and we will need toagree on the specification. A premiumdiscount may be allowed for approved alarm systems.

Ensure that you have a number of fireextinguishers in the church and that peopleknow how to use them. Extinguishers alsoneed to be maintained on an annualcontract. It is not unknown for fires to be started when churches are occupied.The use of an extinguisher could prevent a major loss. Remember that large firesalways start as small fires.

Good housekeeping

Do not make the arsonist’s job any easier.

Matches and petrol should not be left in thechurch or outbuildings. Matches can easilybe removed from the church and petrolshould only be brought in as and whenrequired for mowers.

Candles should be securely locked away.Votive candles must not be left burning whenthe church is locked at the end of the day.The use of the ‘tea light’ type candle which isself-supporting should be avoided. These caneasily be placed in stacks of plastic chairs orleft burning under combustible material andhave been the cause of major fires.

Rubbish and combustible material must not be allowed to accumulate. Bales of hay andstraw are often kept in church all year foruse in the Christmas crib. This is an idealmaterial for starting fires and should beremoved. Polystyrene blocks are often used

as ‘stones’ for the construction of the tombin Easter gardens. This is a highlycombustible material and must not be stored in the church.

Wheelie bins should be kept well away from all buildings, preferably in a lockedcompartment.

Ensure all internal doors are closed andlocked when the church is left unoccupied.Internal doors act as firebreaks andprevent the spread of smoke from one partof a building to another. In one examplewhere a church hall was set on fire, thecost of cleaning smoke damage to theadjoining church was many times that ofcompletely rebuilding the hall, merelybecause the door between the hall andchurch had been left open.

Fire risk assessment

As the occupier of a building you have aduty to undertake a fire risk assessment.The potential risk of arson is an importantpart of this assessment. Look at how a firemay be started and how this risk could beminimised by the reduction or removal ofcombustible materials or improving thesecurity of the building. Arson fires areoften started inside organs or under altars.Look at ways in which these risks may bereduced. Organ enclosures should be keptlocked if possible and the space underaltars should not be used for the storage ofcombustible materials. A record should bemaintained of the measures you have put inplace to reduce the risk of fire.

Even relatively small firesgenerate large quantities ofsmoke and it is often damagefrom smoke that make up themajor part of an arson claim.


Physical security for electronic

equipment

Many churches use computer equipment ofsome type. These are generally portable,saleable and therefore very attractive tothieves. Church computers are commonlyeither kept in the church/parish office, atthe parsonage or at the home of anotherchurch official. Many churches use portableprojectors and sophisticated soundsystems. These items, like computers, aremost attractive to thieves. The physicalsecurity that we would normally recommendwould include:

n perimeter doors secured by five levermortice deadlocks to BS 3621. If theequipment is kept in a vestry in anotherwise open church, the internalvestry door should be similarly protected

n accessible opening windows should beprotected by key operated window locks

n if possible, equipment should be sitedsuch that it is not readily visible from the outside

n purchase receipts should be retained orthe model and serial numbers recordedwhich will help the Police andEcclesiastical in the event of any theft

n electronic equipment should bepermanently marked with an identifyingname and postcode. Markings should beprominently visible and/or advertised todeter would-be thieves. Leased orrented equipment should not be markedwithout the prior agreement of thecompany concerned

n lockdown plates and computerenclosure devices (preferably tested toLPS 1214 category I and II) can beused to secure computer and ancillaryequipment to desks/work surfaces

n projectors and sound equipment should be protected by security enclosures.Ecclesiastical can provide furtherinformation on suppliers if required.

Security of Laptops and tablet

computers

Due to their highly portable nature, laptopsand tablets are even more vulnerable totheft than PCs and the following securitymeasures should be followed:

n under normal circumstances do notleave them unattended even for short periods

n if for some reason a laptop or tablet hasto be left unattended then it should besecured in a purpose-built store/securitycabinet or at least out of sight in alocked room

n they should not be put down when in a public area

n the laptop or tablet should be etchedwith an identifying name and postcode.If the item is leased, then a checkshould first be made with the leasingcompany

n they should not be left in officesovernight unless they are locked withinpurpose-built storage units or, as aminimum, in a locked filing cabinet

Protection and use of electronic equipmentMany churches use electronic equipment as part of the parish activities.

Whilst this equipment can be extremely useful it is vulnerable to theft.

Laptops should not be putdown when in a public area.

Electronic equipment should be permanently securitymarked.


n details of the equipment including serialnumbers must be recorded in the assetsregister together with the name of theperson to whom it has been issued

n carry cases should not advertise the factthat they contain a computer

n if travelling by car keep the equipment inthe boot of the car and keep both bootand doors locked

n be aware of people around you,particularly when loading or unloadingthe car or in a public place. Avoid usingthe equipment in a public place

n make sure that back-ups of theinformation are kept in a secure locationand not in the carry case.

Intruder alarm protection for

electronic equipment

It is strongly recommended that, in addition to good physical security, an intruder alarm system is installed where computers and other electronicequipment are in use. See section entitled‘Installation of intruder alarms’.

Backup data

It is advisable to keep backup copies ofdata at another location. This avoidsinconvenience in the case of theft or fire.To comply with the provisions of the DataProtection Act (see right), these should be securely protected.

The Data Protection Act

The Data Protection Act is intended toprotect individuals against the misuse ofautomated systems. Details of informationheld must normally be declared byregistering with the InformationCommissioner’s Office. There is a formspecially designed for small companies and systems.

The data held on parish computers would notnormally be a target for theft, but data mightbe stolen with parish equipment. In additionto the physical security outlined above, thefollowing points should be considered:

Do not pass on information.

Dispose of any computer data carefully.

Do not allow information displayed on a

screen or on a computer printout to be seen.

Do not leave accessible and ‘open’

computer screens unattended.

Advise the Information Commissioner’s

Office of changes in systems.

The eight Data Protection Act principles say:

1 Personal information is to be obtained and processed fairly and lawfully.

2 Personal information is to be used only for specified and lawful purposes.

3 Personal information is to be used and disclosed only in accordance with those purposes.

4 Personal information held is to be adequate, relevant, and not excessive for those purposes.

5 Personal information held is to be accurate and up to date.

6 Personal information must not be kept for longer than is necessary.

7 An individual is entitled to know whether a user holds personal information about him or her, to have access to such information and, where appropriate, to have it corrected or erased.

8 Appropriate security measures are to be taken against unauthorisedaccess to and accidental loss of personal information.


The purchase and installation of safes These notes are intended to provide guidance to parishes that wish to purchase and

install a freestanding safe. Our Church Customer Services team on 0345 777 3322

would be pleased to provide further advice.

It is better to locate a safeout of sight in a locked areasuch as a vestry.

Safe rating

Safes are given security ratings by several organisations as well as by themanufacturers. These technical ratings areexpressed, for convenience, as a maximumovernight cash holding. It is normal to allowvaluables, such as the communion plate, toten times the cash rating. Thus a safe ratedat £1,000 could hold £1,000 cash or£10,000 valuables or a combination of cashand valuables which equates to the cashrating (eg £500 cash plus £5,000 valuablesor £700 cash plus £3,000 valuables etc.).

Ecclesiastical can supply a list of safes incurrent manufacture which have a particularcash rating.

Fixing of safes

The main security value of a safe is that itsubstantially increases the time that a thiefhas to spend in order to gain access to histarget. It is therefore vitally important that asafe cannot be easily removed, which wouldallow the thief to work on it at his leisure.

Safes must always be fixed in accordancewith the manufacturer’s instructions. Thisusually involves setting bolts into concretein the floor and then dropping the safe overthe bolts and securing with nuts on theinside of the safe.

Location of safes

Safes are not easy items to relocate so careshould be exercised in choosing a place tosite a safe. Some points to consider are:

n SecurityIt is better to locate a safe out of sight in a locked area such as a vestry.

n Alarm protection If the safe is located in an area covered by an intruder alarm this will provideeven greater protection as it willsubstantially reduce the time the thiefhas available to work on the safe.

n Ease of use Check that the safe door has room toopen fully and that there is sufficient roomfor those who will use the safe to gaineasy access. Many safes can bepurchased with the doors hung either right or left.

n Floor strength It is essential to check that the floor inthe intended position is strong enoughto bear the weight of the safe.

n Aesthetic considerations Will the safe spoil the appearance of the part of the building where it will be located?

Purchase of safes Safes can be purchased direct from themanufacturer or from local safe suppliers or security centres. It is suggested thatquotations should be obtained for severalsafes with the appropriate cash rating.Always ensure that all quotations includesupply, delivery, installation and fixing.

Ecclesiastical should be consulted beforean order is placed.

Safe sizing The size of a safe has no impact upon thecash rating. It should be ensured that the safeis of sufficient size to hold all the valuablesand other items that require protection.


The security of a safe is onlyas good as the security ofthe keys or combination.

Particular care should be taken if it isintended to use the safe for the storage oflarge items such as crosses and candlesticks.

Second-hand safes

Many second-hand safes are perfectlyacceptable and may provide the samesecurity as a new safe with a substantialsaving in cost. It is important that second-hand safes are adequately reconditioned.Reconditioning should be carried out to the requirements of the relevant BritishStandard, BS 7582.

Ecclesiastical can advise upon the cashrating for a particular second-hand safe.

Approval of safes

It is important that, before any order isplaced for a safe, the approval ofEcclesiastical is obtained.

Identification of safes

Safes are described by the manufacturer’sname followed by a model name (eg ChubbLichfield, Tann Consort 2 etc). Please quotethis information when contactingEcclesiastical to check on a cash rating.

In addition, safes have a serial numberstamped on the door or body which canalso be used to identify the safe.

Keys and combinations

Many safes are available in either key orcombination versions. There is no differencein security between the two lockingmethods so the version which most suitsthe user can be chosen. The advantages ofa combination safe, however, are that there

is no risk of the loss or unauthorisedduplication of keys. As many church officersas necessary can have the combination andthe combination can easily be changed ifthere is a change of personnel.

The security of a safe is only as good asthe security of the keys or combination.Under no circumstances should keys orcombinations be kept on the samepremises as the safe. An inventory of whoholds keys or combinations should be keptin a secure location away from the safe. If it is suspected that key or combinationsecurity has been compromised then thelock or combination should be changed.

Fire and data safes

Security safes are not normally intended toprotect documents or computer recordsfrom fire although they will normallyprovide some limited protection. If a safe isrequired to protect these materials thenplease contact Ecclesiastical who can givefurther advice.

Wall safes and underfloor safes

In addition to the freestanding safesdescribed above, wall safes, which usuallyhave a low cash rating, and underfloorsafes, which can have a substantial cashrating, are also available. If a parish isinterested in one of these types of safethen Ecclesiastical can give further advice.

Parochial Church Councils are remindedthat a Faculty will be required prior to anyinstallation.


Installation of intruder alarms These notes are intended to provide guidance to Parochial Church

Councils that wish to install or update an alarm system in order to qualify

for an intruder alarm discount.

These notes provide a basis upon which to obtain comparative quotations however a visit by an Ecclesiastical RiskManagement Surveyor will be required inorder to approve any specification prior toinstallation work being carried out.

General

Whilst a deterrent to intruders and helping tominimise losses in the event of a break-intheir installation can be unsightly anddamaging to the fabric of heritage buildingsand detection devices will need to becarefully selected and installed.

As well as localised sounders, intruder alarmsystems should also incorporate remotesignalling to inform authorised persons of anintrusion to the premises.

New alarm systems should be installed toPD 6662:2010, BS 8243:2010,BS9263:2016 and in accordance with theNational Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) Policyon Police Response to Security Systems.

Remote signalling systems will contact thealarm company’s alarm receiving centrewhich is manned 24 hours per day. Thealarm receiving centre should conform to BS5979 Category II or BSEN 50518.

To comply with the NPCC Policy on PoliceResponse to Security Systems all intruderalarm systems installed after 1 October2001 and those systems installed prior tothis date but which have subsequently lostpolice response must be capable ofgenerating confirmed alarm conditions.

Whilst the NPCC Policy specifies three typesof alarm confirmation, Ecclesiastical willrequire that the alarm be sequentiallyconfirmed unless otherwise agreed.

Note where audible only intruder alarmsystems are installed they will only generatea Police response in the event ofindependent third party corroboration of abreak-in and the requirements of BS8243will not apply.

The system must be installed and annuallymaintained by a company on the official listof recognised firms of any UKAS accreditedInspectorate and on the local Police force listof compliant companies. The installers mustalso be approved by Ecclesiastical.

A copy of the alarm company specificationmust be sent to Ecclesiastical for approvalprior to giving instructions for the alarm to beinstalled, or any contract signed.

The specification must include confirmationby the alarm company that sub-contractorswill not be used or specify the extent towhich sub-contractors will be used.

Signalling

Where the alarm has remote signalling it should be to Grade 4 by one of the following methods:

RedCARE GSM

Dualcom GPRS G4

Any other approved system of signalling

RedCARE GSM must include the Total Caremaintenance service.

In addition, there must be an external, self-activating bell which incorporates a strobelight. The bell must be situated well out ofreach of the ground and face the main road,and the housing must have no protrusions

There must be an annual maintenance contract in force,with a UKAS accredited company.

The system must be installedand maintained by a companyon the official list ofrecognised firms of any UKASaccredited Inspectorate.

which could facilitate the attachment ofchains, wires or ropes.

Bells must be protected by mechanical orelectronic means against the insertion ofexpanding foam and configured to operateinstantaneously.

An internal loud tone bell or siren must alsobe installed.

Detection

All external doors must be fitted withconcealed magnetic reed switches. Space protection must be used in all areas containing money, communion platealtarware or other valuables. Considerationshould be given to providing space protectionfor the whole church. Single valuable itemsin an area which otherwise would not beprotected can, as an alternative, be protectedby magnetic contacts or vibration detectors.

Any safe used for the keeping of money or valuables should be within an alarmedprotected area. The alarm must be set at alltimes whenever the church is unattended.

Physical security

In addition to the above requirements forthe actual alarm system, certain minimumphysical security precautions must be taken in order to qualify for the intruderalarm discount:

n all accessible opening windows must befitted with key operated window locks.This refers to those windows which canbe reached without the aid of a ladder. If there is any doubt whether a particularwindow requires a key operated lockthis can be clarified by ChurchCustomer Services team on 0347 7773322

n all external doors must be fitted with a 5 lever mortice deadlock to BS 3621or a heavy ‘church’ box lock. Otherforms of locking may be acceptable andcan be discussed with our ChurchCustomer services team on 0345 7773322

n all keys must be removed from thebuilding whilst it is unattended.

Visitors Parishes should be aware that personsvisiting the church will need to beaccompanied by a key holder in order tounset the alarm system.

Important note It is the responsibility of the partyimplementing the above specification toensure that the implementation does notcontravene any statutory or Local Authorityrequirements, eg under the Health & Safetyat Work Act, Regulatory Reform (FireSafety) Order etc.

Faculty applications Parochial Church Councils are reminded that a Faculty will be required prior to any work being carried out.

Alarm discounts The amount of the discount will depend onthe extent of the system and the method of signalling. The following are indescending order from the highest to the lowest discount:

n full building protected with remotesignalling

n target area protection, eg vestry, safe,chancel, office etc. with remote signalling

n full building protection with audiblesignalling assuming someone is able toact upon hearing the alarm operate

n target area protection, eg vestry, safe,chancel, office etc. with audiblesignalling assuming someone is able toact upon hearing the alarm operate.

Discounts cannot be given until the buildinghas been inspected by an EcclesiasticalRisk Management Surveyor.


Installation of floodlighting systems A large number of churches have installed floodlighting systems. This makes a

feature of the church in the night landscape and is also a great deterrent to arson,

theft and vandalism.

However, careful consideration needs to begiven to the design of the system to ensure it is safe and can be easily maintained.

Electrical installation

All electrical wiring should be installed in accordance with the ‘Regulations for Electrical Installations’ issued by the Institution of Engineering andTechnology (IET), current edition, plus anyformal amendments under BritishStandard BS 7671.

Only electrical contractors enrolled with the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC),or members of the Electrical Contractors’Association (ECA) or the NationalAssociation of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT) should be employed for work in churches. Registration ormembership must be on a ‘Full Scope’ basis.

External floodlighting should be fed from a separate distribution board, switchfuse or circuit breaker which does not feed anyother electrical services for the church.

The system should be protected byResidual Current Devices (RCDs).

Whilst mineral insulated copper covered(MICC) cables may be used for wiring fixedto buildings, armoured cables are the mostsuitable for use when buried in the groundsince they will withstand movement andcan also be drawn through ducts.Armoured cable should also be used where there is a risk of malicious damage.

Siting of floodlights

Careful consideration should be given to the siting of floodlights both from the pointof view of visitors to the church and thosewho will have the task of carrying out routine maintenance.

The location of floodlighting units in thechurchyard will add to the risk of visitorstripping over unless they are set completelybelow ground level. Floodlighting pitsshould be covered with metal grilles atground level. Where floodlighting unitsprotrude above the ground they must beclearly visible and the grass must be cutaround them on a regular basis.

The one advantage of siting floodlights atground level is the ease with which theycan be maintained. Siting floodlights at aheight will present a risk to those whohave to change light bulbs and carry outroutine cleaning. A safe system of workwill need to be devised. This could meanthe use of mobile elevated work platforms(MEWPs), portable scaffold towers or thesecuring of ladders to anchor points.Where floodlights are located on adjacentbuildings the use of a safety harness andsafety lines may be necessary.


Consultation

Where lights are to be fixed to adjacentbuildings the agreement of the owners andoccupiers will have to be obtained andpermission will need to be granted if listedbuildings are involved. They may also haveconcerns due to potential light pollution. The local authority may be able to provideguidelines on this issue.

Theft and damage

In the last few years there have beenseveral attacks to floodlighting systems inchurches. Most attacks are incidents ofvandalism, although some actual thefts haveoccurred. It is possible that the church mayfind themselves liable for injuries to visitorscaused by broken glass or other damagecaused by vandalism if it is not repaired.

If it is not possible to locate above ground,then floodlights should be enclosed withhigh-quality theft-resistant materials, suchas expanded metal or weldmesh grillesfixed to angle iron frames. Cables shouldeither be buried or in metal conduit toprotect them from damage.

Maintenance

All floodlighting installations must always be isolated for routine maintenance such ascleaning and light bulb changing.

Insurance

The current Ecclesiastical church policy willprovide cover for floodlighting and externallighting and security equipment up to the limit specified in the schedule.


The protection of stained glass windows These notes set out Ecclesiastical’s eligibility criteria for a premium discount

where churches wish to consider protecting their stained glass windows.

All external windowscontaining stained, painted or engraved glass, must beexternally protected to qualifyfor a discount.

It is hoped that these notes will providesufficient information to obtain quotationsand arrange for installation. The servicesof Ecclesiastical’s Insurance Consultantsand Surveyors are always available.

General

All external windows containing stained,painted or engraved glass, must beexternally protected by stainless steel grillesor polycarbonate sheeting which entirelycovers the window.

In the case of polycarbonate sheeting, careshould be taken to allow for ventilation.

Installation

The installation of such protection is aspecialised matter and should only beentrusted to a glazier or builder wellexperienced in installing such protectionand in working on church buildings.

Important notes

A Faculty is required for the protection ofwindows and the Diocesan AdvisoryCommittee should therefore be consulted atan early stage and prior to any work beingcarried out.

It is the responsibility of the partyimplementing the above specification toensure that the implementation does notcontravene any statutory or Local Authorityrequirements, eg under the Health andSafety at Work Act, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, etc.

Photographs

It is important to take photographs of allstained glass windows. Although a generalshot of a window is helpful, these often donot provide sufficient detail for a stainedglass restorer. More detailed photographsare needed. Heads, hands, draperies,landscapes and wildlife elements are themost difficult to replicate. Consider thelighting; ensure that you photograph westwindows in the morning and east windowsin the afternoon.



The Health and Safety Executive www.hse.gov.uk

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents RoSPA House,28 Calthorpe Road, EdgbastonBirmingham, B15 1RPTel 0121 248 2000 Fax 0121 248 2001Email [email protected] www.rospa.com

The Fire Protection Association London Road, Moreton-in-MarshGloucestershire, GL56 0RHTel 01608 812500 Fax 01608 812501Email [email protected] www.thefpa.co.uk

Food Standards Agency Aviation House, 125 KingswayLondon, WC2B 6NHTel 020 7276 8829Email [email protected] www.food.gov.uk

Environment AgencyNational Customer Contact CentrePO Box 544, Rotherham, S60 1BYTel 03708 506 506Email [email protected]

Communities and Local Government 2 Marsham StreetLondon, SW1P 4DFTel 0303 444 0000www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government

Sources of information

Contact us

For further information call us on0345 777 3322Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (excluding Bank Holidays). We may monitor or record calls to improve our service.

You can email us [email protected]

Or visit www.ecclesiastical.com/churchmatters

Risk advice line0345 600 7531Available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

[email protected]

Other useful contacts

Ecclesiastical Financial AdvisoryServices: 0800 107 0190www.ecclesiastical.com/getadvice

Ecclesiastical home insurance:0800 917 3345www.ecclesiastical.com/churchworker

Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc (EIO) Reg. No. 24869. Registered in England at Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL1 1JZ, UK. EIO is authorised by the PrudentialRegulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

PD2258 5 1017

Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester GL1 1JZ

©Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc 2017

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