Gallagher's perimeter technology achieves latest CPNI standards

Gallagher's Electronic Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (E-PIDS) has an extra seal of approval – achieving the latest Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) standards, with Gallagher’s Z10 Tension Sensor added to the Catalogue for Security Equipment (CSE) for the first time. Meeting these latest standards further demonstrates Gallagher’s commitment to delivering high security solutions for governments in the Five Eyes alliance.

CPNI is the UK government’s National Technical Authority for physical and personnel protective security. To gain approval, systems must go through rigorous testing to ensure they meet the required standards outlined by CPNI and provide the protection needed for the UK’s critical national infrastructure. 

Gallagher’s latest range of perimeter technology solutions have once again successfully achieved the latest standards and remain in the CPNI’s CSE, with the addition of the Z10 Tension Sensor. The CSE is designed to help organisations choose appropriate physical security equipment to protect the assets for which they are responsible.

“To be listed in the CSE provides assurance for all customers, not just those in the high security and critical infrastructure space,” explains Richard Huison, Regional General Manager for the UK and Europe at Gallagher. “Businesses of all sizes and industries are adopting the attitude ‘if it’s good enough for the government to use, then it’s good enough for my business as well’.”

Two variations of Gallagher's Monitored Pulse Fence were tested, and both passed the CPNI's stringent alarm threshold and full attack testing in an external environment over an eight-month period. 

Richard explains the results of the false alarm testing over this period demonstrated the reliability of Gallagher’s Monitored Pulse Fence.

“We received a report every month, and there were no alarm activations that couldn't be accounted for, i.e., adverse weather or wildlife interfering with the fence. For the majority of PID systems, these kinds of results are pretty much unheard of and validate why our Monitored Pulse Fence is the ultimate in both deterrence and detection providing outstanding performance for our customers.

“Gallagher protects more than 800 sites with our perimeter technology in the UK, and a large number of these sites are critical infrastructure or military. Across the UK and Europe, we are helping to keep the lights on, water flowing, and gas lit. So having a robust and resilient system, with minimal false alarms, is key to a successful solution for these customers.”

Gallagher’s Z10 Tension Sensor was included in the latest round of CPNI testing and was pivotal in achieving the latest standards. The Z10 Tension Sensor measures the mechanical disturbance of a tensioned fence wire to raise an alarm when a wire is deflected during an attack. It continuously measures and reports wire tension in real time, to identify when maintenance is required, or if the fence has been damaged.

“Our Z10 Tension Sensor is an absolute game changer for perimeter detection. It adds an extra layer of security to the system that increases the probability of detection, over and above the high probability of detection our Monitored Pulse Fence solution already provides.”

Additionally, the Z10 Tension Sensor takes cyber resilience to the fence line with HBUS communication protocol, which protects against attacks, including sophisticated cyber-attacks, between edge devices and control hardware, raising alarms if communications are tampered.

“If an attacker touches a Gallagher Monitored Pulse Fence, it gives them a compelling reason not to touch it again. While safe, people are inherently afraid of an electric shock. Over the years monitored pulse fencing has proven to be the best and most effective intrusion detection and deterrent an organisation can choose,” explains Richard.

Gallagher has delivered systems to meet government compliance standards, particularly across the Five Eyes nations, for more than 20 years. 

“As a responsible manufacturer, we are committed to attaining the correct approvals and standards across all the markets we operate in – it’s one of the things we do extremely well,” explains Kevin Godfrey, Strategic Business Development Manager for the UK and Europe at Gallagher. 

“Achieving CPNI approvals and meeting national standards is recognised and valued by our customers and provides critical infrastructure and government agencies with the assurance they need. It’s Gallagher’s investment in meeting these standards that has given us the longevity and continuity of our business in the UK from a perimeter perspective for more than 25 years.”

Richard explains that Gallagher is the only manufacturer that sits across multiple categories in the CSE, providing CPNI assurance across the various components that make up the Gallagher system.

“No other manufacturer sits across Access Control Equipment, CAPSS Approved, and Detection and Tracking Systems – which benefits customers with one robust, assured system from the perimeter to the core. This, along with the fact Gallagher was invited to work with the Cabinet Office in the development and testing of GovPass, a new functional standard developed to provide one access credential for all government buildings in the UK, is what sets us apart,” concludes Richard.