Professional Security Systems for Offices
From startups to corporates: fire and security solutions for offices across Kent, London & East Sussex.
The Security Challenges Facing Office Businesses
Offices face a different set of security challenges from retail or warehouse environments. The primary concerns are managing who enters the building, protecting sensitive data and equipment, ensuring staff safety during out-of-hours working, and meeting fire safety obligations for a workplace open to employees, clients, and visitors.
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Controlling Building Access
Offices receive a constant flow of employees, clients, contractors, and visitors. Managing who can enter, which areas they can access, and at what times is the primary security requirement for most office buildings.
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After-Hours Security
Offices are a common target for overnight break-ins, particularly those containing IT equipment, servers, or sensitive documents. An intruder alarm with professional monitoring provides essential protection for unmanned premises outside working hours.
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Lone Worker Safety
Staff working late, alone, or in isolated areas of a building face specific safety risks. Panic alarm systems provide a fast and discreet way for lone workers to raise an alert without confrontation.
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Fire Safety Compliance
All workplaces must comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Fire alarms, emergency lighting, extinguishers, and a current fire risk assessment are all legal requirements for office premises.
Access Control for Office Buildings
Access control is the cornerstone of office security. Rather than relying on physical keys that can be lost, copied, or not returned, a modern access control system gives you precise control over who enters your building, which floors or areas they can access, and at what times.
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Flexible Authentication Options
Key fobs, proximity cards, PIN keypads, and smartphone-based credentials all provide convenient, keyless entry for staff. Mobile credentials are particularly popular for modern flexible workplaces, allowing staff to use their phone as their access credential without the need for a physical fob or card.
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Floor & Zone Access Management
Control access to specific floors, server rooms, finance offices, and meeting rooms independently of main building access. Different staff members can have different access levels, automatically updated when roles change or employees leave.
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Visitor & Contractor Management
Temporary access credentials for visitors and contractors, issued and cancelled remotely without physical key management. Every visit is logged automatically, providing a complete record of everyone who has accessed the building.
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Complete Audit Trail
Every access event is logged, who entered, which door, at what time, and for how long. Invaluable for investigating security incidents, supporting HR processes, and demonstrating compliance during audits.
CCTV for Office Premises
Office CCTV focuses on different priorities from retail or warehouse surveillance. The primary concerns are covering reception areas and building entrances, deterring after-hours break-ins, and protecting car parks and external areas rather than monitoring large internal spaces.
Reception & Building Entrances
HD cameras covering reception areas and main entrances capture clear images of everyone entering and leaving the building. Combined with access control, entry events are logged with corresponding camera footage, creating a complete visual record of building access.
Car Parks & External Areas
External cameras covering car parks, service entrances, and building perimeters deter opportunistic vehicle crime and after-hours break-in attempts. Wide-angle cameras provide broad coverage of external areas from a small number of mounting points.
Server Rooms & Sensitive Areas
Internal cameras covering server rooms, IT equipment stores, and areas containing sensitive documents provide both deterrence and evidence for internal security incidents. Access to footage is strictly controlled and managed in line with UK GDPR.
Remote Smartphone Access
All GMSE office CCTV installations include remote smartphone access as standard, allowing managers and security teams to view live footage and receive motion alerts from anywhere, particularly useful for flexible working arrangements where the office may not always be staffed.
Fire Protection for Office Premises
All office premises must comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. For most offices, fire protection requirements are relatively straightforward compared to higher-risk environments, but they are no less legally binding. GMSE's BAFE-certified engineers can handle installation, certification, and maintenance from a single contract.
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BS5839-Compliant Fire Alarm System
The correct category of fire alarm system for your office premises, installed to BS5839 standards. For most offices, a conventional or addressable system with detection throughout the building is required. Weekly testing by a nominated staff member and professional servicing twice per year are both required under BS5839.
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Emergency Lighting
All escape routes must be covered by emergency lighting, ensuring staff and visitors can evacuate safely in the event of a power failure or fire. BS5266-compliant installation and annual full-duration testing are required for all office premises.
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Fire Risk Assessment
A current fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for all non-domestic premises. For offices, the assessment will identify the correct system type, appropriate detector placement, escape route requirements, and any additional measures needed for compliance.
Lone Worker Protection for Office Staff
Employees working late, alone, or in isolated areas of an office building face specific safety risks that standard security measures don't fully address. A lone worker panic alarm system provides fast, discreet protection for staff in these situations, and demonstrates that your business takes its duty of care seriously.
Discreet Panic Alarms
Wireless panic buttons can be worn by lone workers or mounted at key locations throughout the building, allowing staff to raise a silent alert without confrontation. When activated, the alarm notifies a monitoring centre or nominated contacts immediately, triggering a fast response.
Fixed Panic Points at Key Locations
Fixed panic buttons at reception desks, ground floor offices, and isolated areas of the building provide immediate access to emergency assistance for staff in potentially vulnerable positions. Particularly important for businesses that receive members of the public or handle cash.
Integration With Access Control & CCTV
Panic alarm activations can be linked to your access control and CCTV systems, automatically locking doors, triggering cameras to record, and providing the monitoring centre with live visual confirmation of the situation. A fully integrated response from a single activation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not legally, but for most offices it is strongly recommended. Access control removes the risk and cost of lost or copied keys, gives you a complete audit trail of building access, and allows you to remove access for leavers instantly without changing locks. For offices with multiple floors, sensitive areas, or a high turnover of staff, access control is the most practical and cost-effective way to manage building security.
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The correct system depends on the size, layout, and occupancy of your office. Most office premises require a BS5839-compliant fire alarm system with detection throughout the building. A fire risk assessment will determine the appropriate system category and detector placement for your specific premises. GMSE's BAFE-certified engineers will specify the correct system at your free survey.
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Yes. Modern access control and alarm systems are specifically designed to support flexible working. App-based access credentials mean staff can enter the building using their smartphone rather than a physical key or fob. Alarms can be armed and disarmed remotely, and CCTV footage can be accessed from anywhere. Systems can also be configured to automatically arm when the last person leaves and disarm when the first person arrives, without any manual intervention.
Get a Free Office Security Survey
Our engineers cover Kent, London and East Sussex. Whether you have a small single-floor office or a large multi-floor building, we'll visit your premises, assess your fire and security requirements, and provide a written quote with no obligation to proceed.
Or call us on 01580 467070