On 31st January 2024, BT announced that they had made the decision to close all BT Redcare operations on 1 August 2025.
Alarm installation professionals have been issued an Important Notice highlighting the necessity to transition all clients currently utilizing BT Redcare services to a different service provider promptly.
What is BT Redcare?
For over three decades, BT’s Redcare division has been a leading supplier of alarm signaling systems for residences and businesses in the UK, offering a comprehensive array of products. This includes the pioneering self-monitoring Alarm Transmission System, known as Redcare ‘Classic’, and the dual-path system, Redcare GSM.
With the impending phase-out of the Public Switched Telephone Network, numerous existing systems are set to become obsolete. Alarm installers are proactively transitioning customers to innovative products compatible with the new fiber network. BT Redcare has also developed a suite of products in anticipation of the UK’s telephone network transition to all-IP. This suite, comprising Redcare Essential, Advanced, and Advanced Extra, will be phased out starting 1st August 2025.
Choosing a replacement for your Redcare monitored alarm
The significance of alarm systems for a your insurance cannot be overstated, and consulting an insurance broker is advisable to ensure the selected replacement product matches the existing system’s performance.
The UK’s current alarm standards have introduced various single path (SP) and dual path (DP) categories for Alarm Transmission Systems. A product equivalent to the Redcare Classic or GSM would be a dual path system that satisfies the DP3 category.
A dual path Alarm Transmission System that is certified to meet BSEN 50136-1:2012 and operates at a DP3 level will be recognised as an equivalent substitute. Presently, products like CSL Dualcom Gradeshift Pro DP3.
Additionally, it is crucial that any new system is:
- Installed by a company regulated by either the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) or the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB).
- Properly maintained under a maintenance contract by a company or installer accredited by one of the aforementioned inspectorates.
BT has informed alarm installers well in advance about the necessity of transitioning services, and alternative providers are ready to support the alarm signaling sector. Nevertheless, customers and installers should proceed without delay to prevent potential product shortages as the 1 August 2025 deadline approaches.
Alarm companies often advise customers to verify with their insurers that the proposed replacement Alarm Transmission System is approved.
Should you be affected by the discontinuation of BT Redcare services, or if you are unsure about the compliance of new systems, reaching out to us is recommended.
