The coronavirus pandemic has been challenging for businesses across all sectors, but we knew it was vital to keep providing reliable security services for businesses and homeowners throughout this troubling time.

During the first lockdown, we provided an emergency callout service while we got our safety procedures in place. Thankfully, we were able to return to a fully-operational service within the first month! We've been able to remain open throughout the pandemic, but in order to do this, we've had to make some significant changes to the way we work. 

Pre-booked appointments

One of our main goals throughout the pandemic has been to minimise disruption for our clients and keep our services running "as normally" as possible. We've found it really beneficial to speak to our clients over the phone or via email to pre-book their appointments. 

Arranging appointments ahead of time provides peace-of-mind for our clients, ensures they're prepared for our visit, and allows us to make sure everything is safe for our engineers before they arrive on-site.

Social distancing & hygiene

Social distancing has become a part of everyday life now, and we're sticking to the guidelines too. All of our technicians are keeping a safe distance while they work & avoiding face-to-face contact where possible.

On top of this, we've introduced some new protocols to make sure people entering the IDS offices are adhering to the guidelines too. We've got designated car parking spaces & we've provided handwashing stations near our doors so people can sanitise their hands before entering and exiting the building.

Our engineers are issued with...

We knew, from the very beginning of the pandemic, that our engineers would need to be prepared before entering your homes to keep you (our clients) and them (our staff) safe. Before attending an appointment, our engineers are issued with:

An information pack containing:

• IDS COVID 19 Risk Assessment
• Working Safely from a vehicle
• Working Safely in other people’s homes
• IDS Hazardous Substances Safety Information Sheet – Alcohol Hand Sanitizer
• Coronavirus COVID 19 follow the rules info sheet
• NHS Wales Cough and Sneeze info sheet
• How to put on a mask
• IDS Question card

A hygiene pack containing:

• Face Shield
• Half face P3 Mask & Filters
• KN 95 Masks
• Surgical Masks
• Nitrile Gloves x 100
• Disinfectant wipes x 200
• Keep your distance – 2m sticker
• Hand Sanitiser – liquid 250ml
• Hand Sanitiser – Gel 500ml
• Liquid Soap
• COVID 19 Procedure Reminder Card

Hopefully, this gives you an overview of the different protocols we have in place to continue working safely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that security systems are (in some cases) more important than ever before. With a lot of offices and businesses closing their doors for the time being, there are a lot of vulnerable, empty properties that need an additional layer of security.

If you're looking to improve the security systems in your premises, don't hesitate to get in touch. Take a look at our home and business security systems by clicking the appropriate buttons below:

Home Security >                          Business Security >

Read More:

• Fire Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Make Your Workplace COVID-Secure

COVID-19 has completely changed the way that a lot of us work. Consequently, there have been a lot of changes to fire safety guidance and procedures too. We know you have a lot of questions about what you can and cannot do in relation to fire safety - well, today we're going to answer as many as we can!

The person responsible for fire safety in my workplace is self-isolating. What should I do?

No one can predict if and when members of the team will have to self isolate, your NHS Track and Trace app could alert you at any time. That's why it's important that people with responsibilities such as fire safety ensure that there are trained staff members who know the fire safety procedures so an incident can be managed effectively. 

There should be a premises fire risk assessment that's made available to all members of staff on-site so that everyone understands how to react to an escalating fire safety situation.

Can firefighters carry out a risk assessment of my premises for me?

No, the emergency services shouldn't be contacted unless the situation at hand poses a significant risk to life. A responsible person should be able to carry out a fire risk assessment for you. If you're unsure whether you need to update your fire alarm systems, we can offer a FREE security survey to help you out!

Can fire and rescue teams still respond to 999 calls as usual?

In line with the Government guidance, most fire and rescue services are doing their best to limit non-essential contact. That's why it's important that we all try to limit the number of false fire alarm alerts!

Read More: Preventing False Fire Alarms

Firefighters will still attend 999 calls if the risk is deemed severe enough to warrant a call-out. High-priority cases will be dealt with first. Head to your local fire and rescue website for more information on their current procedures.

Can fire exits be locked if there are fewer people on the premises?

As a general rule of thumb, no fire exits should be locked or blocked regardless of the number of people inside. There always needs to be a suitable number of fire exits available to occupants at all times, including signage and emergency lighting. Refer to your fire safety risk assessment as a guide, and if you're still not sure, speak to the person in charge of fire safety on your premises. 

Can fire doors be wedged open to limit the contact with door handles?

No, fire doors should never be propped open because this makes them ineffective in the event of a fire. Fire doors keep you safe by preventing a fire from spreading from one area of your premises to another. They can only do this if they're closed!

If you're concerned about people touching the fire door handles on a regular basis, then you should employ other hand hygiene tactics, for example:

• Add a hand sanitising/hand wash station nearby.

• Increase the number of times that handles and hard surfaces are disinfected. 

• Ask employees to take a different route in and out of the building (unless it's an emergency of course!)

Should employees congregate outside if the fire alarm goes off?

Yes, if the fire alarm goes off, it's absolutely vital that all persons inside the building exit quickly and in an orderly fashion. They should congregate at the pre-determined fire assembly point.

What if this conflicts with social distancing?

If you're worried about social distancing at your fire assembly point there are a few things you can do. Firstly, you can choose a different fire assembly point that offers more space. Where this is not possible, you may need to revise instructions and expectations.

One way you could improve safety at the fire assembly point is to make sure that all persons have a face covering on them at all times while they're inside the building. Should a fire alarm occur, they can use their masks to provide some protection, even if social distancing is not 100% possible. 

Keeping your employees/occupants safe should be your number one priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you don't have an adequate fire safety system in place, get in touch with the IDS team today!

Our Fire Alarm Systems >

Read More: Fire Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic

We're still feeling the effects of COVID-19 a year on, which means many of us have made significant changes to our home and working environments. With these changes in place, it's possible that you'll need to review your fire safety protocols to make sure that your employees and your family are kept safe at all times. 

Fire safety in your home

While COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are ongoing, spending an unprecedented amount of time in your house has become the new norm. Most house fires start in the kitchen, so while you might usually have your breakfast on the go and your lunch in the office cafeteria, now, you're making more of your meals at home. 

We all like to think that we remember to turn the hob off after every use, but with children home from school and the added stress of at-home zoom calls, it's easy to walk away from your oven and forget. This is where a simple snack can turn into a serious incident real fast!

Here are a few steps you can take to ensure your home is protected against fires during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Ensure that all of your fire alarms are in working order.

• Check that you have something to put out a fire should one occur, eg. a suitable fire extinguisher.

• Identify new risks & put plans in place to reduce the risk.

• Ensure that vulnerable or sick people understand what to do in the event of a fire.

• Make sure that escape routes are accessible (does your new home office have a fire escape?)

Fire safety in commercial properties

Commercial properties have really had to adapt to continue functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with so many changes being made in the workplace, it's vital that fire safety procedures are reviewed and updated too.

Fire doors

We know that some premises have been propping open doors so that people walking through the building don't have to touch as many door handles. While this might seem like a perfectly acceptable idea, propping open your fire doors is incredibly dangerous.

Fire doors are designed to stop fires from spreading from one area of your building to another. Wherever possible, keep your self-closing fire doors shut.

Empty buildings

Lots of business owners have taken steps to close their premises for the time being. Whether your staff are working from home or your business has been deemed non-essential, there are a lot more empty buildings than usual. 

With fewer people on-site, it's unlikely that a fire will occur, but if a fire does start it has a much better chance of spreading before someone can be there to stop it. For this reason, it's important that you have a fire safety system in place before you leave your premises empty.

Our Fire Safety Systems

Here at IDS Security, we can design, install and maintain a fire safety system in your home or commercial premises that will keep you safe through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. 

Our team of installers has been installing fire safety systems for over 20 years, so we can provide sound advice and expertise. We also offer round-the-clock monitoring so that you have one less stress on your mind during these worrying times. 

Our Fire Alarm Systems >

To find out more about our fire safety systems, or to find out more about what we can do for you during the COVID-19 pandemic, give us a call on 029 20 753 251.

Read More:

• COVID-19 Cases Still Rising: Protect Your Business
• Can Thermal Screening Detect Coronavirus?

If you're keen to keep intruders off your property, then it's useful to know how burglars choose houses to steal from. Homeowners are busy and can sometimes forget to follow simple house security rules. Back doors are left unlocked, downstairs windows are left open and spare keys are hidden in obvious places.

In today's blog, we aim to answer the question 'how do burglars choose houses?' so that you can make conscious decisions that will keep your home safe.

Location

The location of your house is crucial for burglars. If you live on a quiet street where intruders are less likely to be seen by neighbours or passers-by, then that's a huge bonus. Houses near main roads are popular targets for burglars too because they make it easy to have a 'get-away' car nearby for an easy exit.

Burglars will also look at the properties in a particular area to determine whether there will be things of a high value to steal. A 'posh' neighbourhood might be chosen over a typically poorer area for example. Burglars might also look for houses with outbuildings and garages that might contain valuables, this means they won't have to disturb the main house where security systems are usually in place.

Access Points

Most burglars want to get in and get back out without being too conspicuous, for that reason, easy access points are very appealing.

When burglars are choosing houses, they're looking for doors and windows with vulnerable locks, back doors that may have been left open, and garage doors that might lead into the main house. 

Windows are also easy access points. You'll be surprised what burglars will do to gain access to your home. If they can squeeze their bodies through the tiny open window in your bathroom - they will! 

Signs you're away

Most burglars will look for obvious signs that you're out of the house when they're choosing a house to burgle. Being caught red-handed is not ideal, so they'll often wait until they're sure that you're off the property.

Contrary to popular belief, most burglaries take place during the day when it's more likely that you're away from the house working/running errands. 

Things that burglars look out for are:

• Dark houses without lights on
• Bins that have been left out for collection
• Unruly gardens that haven't been tended in a while
• No obvious signs of a security system in place

How to make sure burglars don't choose your house

(or make sure you can catch them if they do...)

We all wish that burglars won't choose our houses to steal from, but sadly, you can never be 100% sure. For that reason, we always recommend investing in a good security system that will both deter burglars and provide you with the evidence you need in case you need to track them down. 

Fitting an intruder alarm in your home is one thing, but combining this with a CCTV system or door entry system will provide you with the highest level of protection.

Home Security Systems >

Read More: Where Do Burglars Enter Your Home?

If you're interested in improving your home's security, contact us today and a member of the IDS team will be happy to help! 

Security cameras are often seen outside commercial properties, but they can be used around your home to keep your family and your belongings safe! Having a security camera looking over your front door, back door and in front of your garage door will deter thieves from approaching, but that's not the only benefit.

With security cameras around your home, you'll potentially save money on your insurance premiums and you'll have concrete evidence to take to the police should a break-in occur. 

Read More: Is it worth having a CCTV camera at home?

Security Systems for the Home

Here at IDS Security, we always advise homeowners to consider putting a comprehensive security system in place. As well as enquiring about security cameras for your home, we'd recommend taking a look at some of our other home security systems.

With the right home security system, you can rest easy at night and go away on holidays in the knowledge that your home is completely protected. 

Many of us have bikes, tools and other valuable items in our garages, this is why they're one of the most vulnerable places in the home. Other places burglars might try to take advantage of are open windows and unlocked doors.

They'll be looking out for signs that you're not home (that's why people often leave a light on when they head out for the day). But with your home security cameras, you won't need to rack up your electricity bill with the lights on to protect your house. Combine our best home security systems and even the most experienced burglars will have a hard time breaking in!

Read More: Where do burglars enter your home?

Our qualified technicians can you offer you great advice about the best security cameras for your home, but they can also give you a quote you for:

• Intruder Alarms
• Door Entry Systems
• Fire Alarms

Every home is different which is why we offer bespoke home security packages. If you'd like to start the ball rolling and get some security cameras installed around your home, get in touch and request a FREE survey.

Our Home Security Systems >

If you have any questions about security cameras for the home, or if you'd like to find out more about our security system services, give us a call on 029 20 753 251.