scope:

This guideline explains a practical procedure for inspection and checking of installed systems. Assuming the fundamental requirements of goods security systems, the options for checking the quota of false alarms and the detection rate are explained. To obtain a VDI certification, new EAS products and security media are only allowed to be tested with the help of VDI-certified products and security media.

The quota of false alarms and the detection rate are decisive for the performance of these systems, independent of the technology an which they are based. To test installed units these figures must be clearly defined and it must be possible to monitor them.

In this respect false alarms are those alarms which are not caused by active security elements. The detection rate is calculated as the proportion of alarms triggered to the totality of measurements carried out. Satisfactory performance with regard to detection rate and false alarms guarantees both effective recording of thefts and a high degree of acceptance from stall and honest customers.

The guideline includes definitions and test procedures, and can serve as the basis for contracts of sale for the retailer, or for continuous performance monitoring of installed systems. For the producer, the customer inspection-guidelines represent an effective monitoring instrument in the development and the optimisation of integrated solutions in the area of source-tagging projects.

It should be borne in mind, however, that the performance characteristics of EAS systems can vary from one place of installation to another within a particular firm, hence the area within which the test guidelines apply can only include one place of installation (i.e. detection gate system)

While executing the tests, it also should be observed that the adjusted system parameters will be recorded for comparative purposes later on. In the case of performance tests in a laboratory, the original parameters of the producer (default parameters) should be used.