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Below are the areas of security-related certifications we carry out.

The documents required by the Private Security Authority for the licensing of contractors in the Intruder Alarm installation sector are EN50131 – 1 & EN50131 – 7 along with PSA74:2019.

An Installer of Security Equipment (installation and maintenance of intruder alarm) license is required where a contractor installs, maintains, repairs or services security equipment that consists of electronic or other devices which warn of an unauthorised presence or of entry or attempted entry on or in the vicinity of the premises where such equipment is situated.

For first-time entrants looking for an Intruder Alarm Installation license it is required to obtain a temporary license from the PSA.

The documents required by the Private Security Authority for the licensing of contractors in the CCTV installation sector is detailed within the PSA2006_12  standard and is available as a free download from www.psa.gov.ie

For first time entrants looking for a CCTV Installation license it is required to obtain a temporary license from the PSA.

PSA67:2021 is a standard that provides a specification for compliance with licensing by the Private Security Authority and applies to organisations seeking licences to provide electronic security services as Access Control contractors. Organisations seeking an Access Control licence will also be required to comply with PSA 74:2019 – Licensing Requirements for Security Service Providers.

For first-time entrants looking for an Access Control Installation license it is required to obtain a temporary license from the PSA.

PSA80 is a standard that provides a specification for compliance with licensing by the Private Security Authority and applies to organisations seeking licences to provide services as Automated Gates installers. Organisations seeking an Automated Gates licence will also be required to comply with PSA 74:2019 – Licensing Requirements for Security Service Providers.

For first time entrants looking for an Automated Gates Installation license it is required to obtain a temporary license from the PSA.

PSA 28:2013 is the standard required by the PSA in order to obtain and renew a Door Supervision & Security Guarding license. PSA 28 and the auditing guidelines for PSA 28 are both available free of charge from the PSA website.

PSA31 is the standard used for entry into the Door Supervision and Security Guarding sectors.

Once the PSA31 audit process has been completed by the Private Security Authority (PSA), Irish Security Certification (ISC) will then conduct a PSA28 audit within 6 Months. The PSA28 audit includes a visit to an active site, ISC recommend having a PSA 28 audit as soon as a site becomes available.

The Door Supervisor (Event Security) licence is required by all those who provide security services in the Entertainment Area of an event. PSA 39:2014 defines the Entertainment Area as the specific area of a venue where the entertainment or social performance takes place and where the provision of a security service is undertaken by a Door Supervisor (Event Security) provider. The Entertainment Area includes areas where alcohol and food are served.

The Security Guard (Event Security) licence is required by all those who provide security services in the Periphery Area of an event. PSA 39:2014 defines the Periphery Area as the specific area of a venue adjacent to or in the vicinity of the Entertainment Area where the provision of a security service is undertaken by a Security Guard (Event Security) provider. The Periphery Area includes car parks, accommodation areas, venue perimeter and approaches, and any other location not within the Entertainment Area.

PSA 31 is the standard used for entry into the Door Supervision (Event) and Security Guarding (Event) sectors.

Once the PSA 31 audit process has been completed by the Private Security Authority (PSA), Irish Security Certification (ISC) will then conduct a PSA39 audit within 6 Months. The PSA39 audit includes a visit to an active site, ISC recommend having a PSA 28 audit as soon as a site becomes available.

PSA42:2015 is the required document that has been developed by the Private Security Authority for the licensing of contractors in the Private Investigator sector. Contractors wishing to provide Private Investigator services will require the appropriate PSA licence.

Definition of Private Investigator: A Private investigator is defined as a person who in the course of a business, trade or profession conducts investigations into matters on behalf of a client and includes a person who:
(a) obtains or furnishes information in relation to the personal character, actions or occupation of a person,
(b) obtains or furnishes information in relation to the character or kind of business in which a person is engaged,
(c) searches for missing persons,
(d) obtains or furnishes information in relation to the loss or damage of property.

 Who isn’t licensable? Employees of licensed contractors do not require a licence nor do employees whose licensable activities are confined to his or her employers business. Private Investigators who solely work for a single PSA licensed Private Investigator are deemed to be similar to an employee and do not require a licence.

 What is licensable? Any contractor carrying out activities falling within the definition at above require a licence. Contractors who provide services as debt collectors, tracing agents, summons servers, loss assessors /adjusters, security consultants or other occupations where part of their activities fall within the definition above will require a licence.

 What isn’t licensable? The following do not require a licence:

  • a person who under undertakes technical surveillance counter measures,
  • a person who provides information technology security measures,
  • a person who has statutory powers to carry out investigations for their employer,
  • a person who carries out workplace investigations with the consent or knowledge of the person under investigation and where the matters under investigation are subject to regulation under the enactments listed in Schedule 1 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015,
  • store detectives in the normal course of their duties who hold a valid PSA Security Guard (Static) licence,
  • law searchers conducting documentation searches,
  • a person whose activities relate to accessing publicly available information,
  • the professional activities of accountants, auditors, barristers, broadcasters, journalists and solicitors*,
  • any other such person as the PSA may decide.

(a) Summons Servers serving a summons on a person named on the summons at the address shown on the summons and on the basis of information provided with the summons documentation is not a licensable activity.

(However the activities of a summons server are licensable where any investigative activities are undertaken e.g. investigative activities undertaken to identify an address other than that stated on the summons).

(b) Loss assessors or loss adjustors or claims investigators who assess damages, do site assessments (e.g. take measurements and photographs), take statements from the insured and witnesses, question the insured and witnesses in relation to the statements taken and complete a report on the loss/claim incident based on these assessments and statements are not considered to be carrying out licensable activities.
(However any activities other than these are considered to be investigative activities and are licensable, e.g. investigative activities related to the credibility of the insured or witnesses).

(c) Scientific and engineering forensic investigators, who carry out forensic examinations at the scene of losses and may remove samples for forensic analysis, who may also take statements from the insured and witnesses and question the insured and witnesses in relation to these statements and who complete a report based on their scientific and/or engineering expertise are not considered to be carrying out licensable activities.

(Any activities other than the foregoing are considered to be licensable investigative activities, e.g. investigative activities related to the actions of any persons before, during and following the occasion of the loss).

PSA55:2022 is the required document that has been developed by the Private Security Authority for the licensing of contractors in the Locksmith sector. Contractors wishing to provide Locksmith services will require the appropriate PSA licence.

A locksmith means a person, who provides a security service installing,

opening, maintaining, repairing or servicing security equipment that,

(a) consists of mechanical, electronic or other locking devices designed, constructed or

adapted to prevent unauthorised access to or within premises where such equipment

is situated or

(b) consists of mechanical, electronic or other locking devices designed, constructed or

adapted to prevent unauthorised access to motor vehicles

and includes a person who in connection with the provision of the services referred to in

paragraph (a) or (b),

(i) originates, duplicates or provides by copy or code restricted keys, safe keys or

motor vehicle transponder keys,

(ii) gives advice relating to the installation of such equipment or advice relating

to the protection of such devices from damage or interference.

Note: For the purpose of this standard a locksmith does not include-

  • a qualified carpenter who installs mechanical locking devices as part of the installation of a door provided such door does not provide access to safe(s) or strong room(s), or
  • a person who solely supplies locking devices whether on their own or as part of a fitting but does not install or open or maintain or repair or service or originate keys or other opening devices for such locking devices, or
  • a person who copies keys for locking devices using a machine where the keys are duplicated from an existing key that is not a safe, strong room or otherwise restricted key, or
  • a person who is recognised by a motor vehicle manufacturer or distributor as a person authorised to service motor vehicles and their locking mechanisms.

PSA94:2024 is the required document that has been developed by the Private Security Authority for the licensing of contractors in the supply & installation of safes sector. Contractors wishing to provide these services will require the appropriate PSA licence.

A supplier or installer of safes means a person who provides a security service;

a) supplying, installing, opening, maintaining, repairing or servicing safes which are certified to;

(i) the European Standards EN 1143-1 or EN 1143-2 at Resistance Grade 0 or above, or

(ii) which have an insurance cash rating greater than €3,750, or

b) supplying, installing, opening, maintaining, repairing or servicing ATM safes, or

c) supplying, installing, opening, maintaining, repairing or servicing strong rooms.