Security conditions

Your insurance cover depends on you taking reasonable care of the property you’ve insured. The following are security conditions that may apply to your policy. Your Policy Summary will detail what levels apply – if your security doesn’t meet the required levels your policy may be invalid or not offer you full cover.

Whenever your premises are closed for business or left unattended you must make sure all your security devices are working and used. Also, any fire alarms or sprinkler systems must be kept in full working order.

This is just a summary of the conditions you’ll find in our policies. Your Policy Wording contains full details of your policy’s security requirements.

Buildings security

Level 1: Minimum security conditions (applies to everyone)

Final exit doors must be fitted with a 5 level mortice deadlock or deadlocking rimlatch which conforms to BS3621. All other accessible doors can either be fitted with one of the above locks or by two key operated locks fitted at the top and bottom of the doors. Accessible windows must be fitted with key operated window locks or alternatively screwed shut. Fire exits must be fitted with approved panic or fire exit bolts.

Level 2: Bars, shutters and grilles (may apply to you - unless you are a homeworker or tradesman)

All external doors and windows must be protected by suitable bars, grilles or metal roller shutters. If shutters are operated internally, manual chains must be locked to a wall bracket and electrical controls must have a lockable isolation switch fitted. Shopfronts may have to be protected by grilles.

Level 3: Intruder alarm (may apply to you)

You must have a suitable alarm system fitted, and must have a maintenance contract in place with an approved company. All keys and codes must be kept and dealt with securely. You must have two named key holders. A key holder must be available at all times to respond to the alarm.

Homeworkers: Again, you’ll need a suitable alarm and a maintenance contract with an approved company.

Vehicle security

Level 1: Locked car clause

Whenever a vehicle or trailer is unattended, all doors, windows and other points of access must be securely locked.

Level 2: Installation of Immobiliser

If you have an immobiliser installed, it must be activated when the vehicle or trailer is unattended.

Level 3: Overnight garaging

Between 7pm and 7am, unattended vehicles and trailers must be garaged in enclosed premises that are either securely locked or constantly attended by a watchman.

Security when dealing with money

You must keep a record of money (including ‘non-negotiable' money, such as cash and credit card sales slips) that is kept at your premises and at the homes of employees. The record must be kept in a secure place – but not in the same place as your money.

You must keep your safe or strong room locked outside business hours or when the premises are unattended. The keys must be kept somewhere safe – but not left on the premises.

When the premises are occupied, you must keep the keys in a secure place away from any safe or strong room.

When transporting money, the number of people that must accompany it depends on the amount of money being moved.

Important note!

This article is for your general information only. Always check a particular insurance product’s policy wording carefully to find out exactly what cover it provides, what the limits of the cover are and whether there are any exclusions or conditions.