Resources
Security, Facilities & Fire Safety Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the security, facilities-management and fire-safety terms used across our services — and quoted across the industry.
- Manned guarding
- The deployment of trained, SIA-licensed security officers on a site to deter crime, control access and respond to incidents. Also called static guarding.
- Mobile patrol
- A security service where an officer visits a site at scheduled or random times, usually by vehicle, to check the premises and respond to alarms — lower cost than full-time static guarding.
- Waking watch
- Trained officers patrolling a building continuously to detect fire and alert residents, used as an interim measure when a building’s fire-safety systems or compartmentation are inadequate.
- Fire warden (fire marshal)
- A trained person responsible for fire-prevention checks, assisting evacuation and raising the alarm in a building, supporting duties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- SIA licence
- A licence issued by the Security Industry Authority that a security operative must hold by law to carry out licensable activities such as guarding or door supervision in the UK.
- ACS (Approved Contractor Scheme)
- A voluntary SIA accreditation that independently audits security suppliers against quality standards. ACS Approved status is the recognised mark of a reputable UK security contractor.
- BS 7858 vetting
- The British Standard for screening staff in security environments. It covers identity, right to work, employment history and criminal-record checks before deployment.
- Key holding & alarm response
- A service where the security provider holds keys to a premises and attends when an alarm activates, so staff do not have to respond to out-of-hours alerts themselves.
- Close protection
- Personal security provided by specially trained, SIA-licensed officers to protect an individual from assault, harassment or other threats.
- CCTV monitoring
- Live or recorded surveillance of a site’s cameras, often from a remote control room, to detect and respond to incidents. Operators monitoring public-space CCTV must be SIA licensed.
- Facilities management (FM)
- The coordinated management of a building’s services and maintenance — cleaning, M&E, security and grounds — to keep premises safe, compliant and operational.
- Concierge / front of house
- A combined reception and security role managing visitor access, deliveries and building services while providing a professional first point of contact.
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