Security Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work

The  Security Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work is for everyone involved in the safe and secure design, construction and operation of any building and looks to support better long term security outcomes for everyone involved in the lifecycle of a building.

The key benefits to the different members of any project adopting this overlay go beyond ensuring that a building is safer for its occupant:

• For project teams, this overlay considers the threats and determines the project-specific security risks from the outset using the security risk assessment, leveraging security as an enabler for better outcomes on a wide range of topics, from operations to user safety
• For clients, ensuring the security risk assessment is undertaken in advance of, or as part of, the briefing process informs the security requirements that will drive confidence that effective measures are in place before the building is occupied, and mitigate against expensive retrofitting
• For architects and design teams integrating security measures into the design as early as possible, including physical and technological features, leverages the expertise of the wider security landscape and key stakeholder concerns to deliver a robust security strategy
• For contractors delivering the project in line with the security strategy, this brings a clearer understanding of why these measures are proposed and provides transparency of any risks for consideration during the construction phase
• For operators, they receive a building that is aligned with the security plan for effective day-to-day management that keeps occupants and visitors safe and avoids the need for any additional specialists, unsightly security measures, and associated costs

Alfie Hosker, Technical Manager at Police CPI said: “This document can provide assistance and direction in how to deliver relevant security within a build project. It highlights the importance of planning a strategy, collaboration, and partnership with all those involved, be it the emergency services, security specialist, architects, and engineers for example, to support and advise in a structured method, so that the design of the build and surrounding environment is via coordinated approach. This process will help in identifying and reducing security risks for its intended operational use and life cycle.

“Adopting a plan of works will assist in identifying any potential conflicting requirements at the earliest opportunity and / or the need for a specialist consultant, to ensure that the process runs smoother and can potentially reduce financial costs of the build because considerations are identified earlier, and delays reduced”.

The Security Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work can be downloaded here.

Police CPI is a police owned organisation which delivers a wide range of crime prevention and demand reduction initiatives across the UK. The extensive Police CPI portfolio covers a variety of crime prevention initiatives, of which Secured by Design is the most well-known, with all initiatives designed to keep the public safe from crime and to reduce the demand on the police service.

Secured by Design (SBD) seeks to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings to provide safe places to live, work, shop and visit. SBD work closely with builders, developers, local authorities and registered housing associations to incorporate its police crime prevention standards into developments from initial concept and design, through to construction and completion. Police forces throughout the UK have specially trained Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) who offer police designing out crime and SBD advice free of charge.

SBD’s product based accreditation scheme – the Police Preferred Specification - provides a recognised standard for all security products that can deter and reduce crime. There are many hundreds of companies who produce over 7000 attack resistant crime prevention products that have met the exacting Police Preferred Specification. This includes high-specification security doors that have surpassed the most rigorous security testing and products that embrace the latest technology to ensure safe access control to buildings and businesses.

In 2022 SBD introduced The Secure Connected Device accreditation scheme in-line with government legislation. This is to enable companies providing IoT connected products and services to demonstrate that their products have achieved the appropriate IoT standards and certification, providing customers with security assurance.

SBD continually monitor national crime trends to keep pace with changing patterns of criminal behaviour, advances in building design and new technology.

Find out more at https://www.securedbydesign.com/