FIRE SAFETY
Certifying Security Information Boxes
Mark West at Warringtonfire explains why third-party testing and certification of security information boxes is crucial.

Daniel Kulinski/Alamy Stock Photo
It’s nearly two years since the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 became mandatory requirements for existing high-rise residential buildings in England to have a secure information box (SIB) installed within the building or mounted on the building’s exterior. Although not new to the market, in England, secure information boxes (SIBs) are now a legal requirement. In the event of a building fire, these products are vital to the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS).
Under the regulations, responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings are required to install a suitably secure information box in a readily accessible location. Within the box, it should hold information critical for fire safety and include what is known as an Emergency Response Pack (ERP).
In the ERP, there should be, amongst other items, a log book, an orientation plan showing the location of the building in relation to other surrounding buildings and water supplies, a building layout plan and up-to-date floor plans, and information on residents with mobility, cognitive or sensory impairment(s), and an evacuation strategy for the building.
For more information about the provision of secure information boxes and the ERP, health and safety personnel, building control and building managers, and ‘responsible persons’ should refer to the Code of Practice from the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
Importantly, access to SIBs should only be given to the FRS and/or the facility manager due to the highly sensitive information enclosed within. As building safety professionals will be aware, this has necessitated a requirement for high-quality, secure boxes that are well maintained in line with the duties imposed by the regulations and the Fire Safety Order.
Understanding the standards
SIBs are split into two basic categories based on the level of public access:
- Category A SIBs are mounted externally on a building or installed in the common parts of a block of flats accessible to the public.
- Category B SIBs are mounted internally in a secure area where the fire and rescue service has established a rapid access protocol or alternative arrangement.
SIBs that fall into Category A should be manufactured to a design that has achieved an increased level of security and protection against vandalism due to their location and accessibility to the wider public. The required levels of security can be demonstrated by testing and certification to Warringtonfire’s Security Technical Schedule STS 205 with resistance level of at least BR2 for Category A SIBs and at least BR1 for Category B SIBs.
As more and more of these boxes will need to be installed to move in line with legal requirements, it’s important that facility managers and health and safety professionals responsible for high rise buildings in England seek and specify products that have undergone additional testing and third-party certification.
Vital testing
Third-party testing of SIBs is vital. By passing the STS 205 standard of testing from a UKAS-accredited laboratory, it demonstrates that the SIB will provide resistance to tampering and vandalisation in the real world, and critically ensure that the contents remain secure. This testing measure, conducted by specialists in burglary resistance, ensures the boxes are compliant, secure, and fit for purpose while providing residents in high-rise buildings with extra peace of mind.
Only after testing can certification specialists provide third-party certification for the SIB, proving that the product has surpassed just a physical test. To go one step further, health and safety and building control specialists should seek certification that is in accordance with the official police security initiative, Secured By Design. This initiative sets a recognised standard for all security products, works to reduce vandalism and crime, and demonstrates that the SIB adheres to best industry practices.
It’s important to note that certification is only valid if manufacturers comply with the ongoing requirements of the certification scheme. Generally, this means that the third-party certification provider will need to carry out follow-up factory visits and repeat security testing every year for as long as the certification is awarded to ensure the product maintains the levels of performance defined in their certification scope of approval. This keeps certification up to date so facility managers can be assured that SIBs that possess third-party certification will continue to meet security standard regulation requirements.
Increasingly common
The expectation is that high-rise properties will become increasingly common, especially in space-limited cities. Consequently, more SIBs from various manufacturers will likely enter the market. As fire safety in general becomes a more prevalent issue, it’s important for industry experts to be aware of the additional certification and testing options that distinguish these fire safety products and ensure they can withstand tampering.
By choosing a SIB that has been tested and certified by accredited providers, those responsible for fire safety can be confident that the SIB has undergone testing in a UKAS-accredited facility, and the manufacturer and the factory control processes behind the product have been appropriately audited.
Certifying Security Information Boxes
Mark West at Warrington Fire explains why third-party testing and certification of security information boxes is crucial.
Mark West
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