Why is it important to use a U.L. listed response center?

Currently the security industry has no state or federal standards to govern how a response center functions. That means anybody can monitor a security system, even from their garage. Underwriters Laboratories, established in 1894, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to public safety and committed to quality service. U.L. inspects our central station periodically to make certain we are current on all their established safety standards. These standards established our power requirements, computer requirements, staffing requirements, how our building was built, and which systems needed to be redundant to assure you the maximum protection available in the industry.


What is meant by "redundant systems?"

Redundant means a back-up system, duplicating the function of another. Every piece of equipment, every system in our response center has at least one back-up. In most cases more than one.

EXAMPLE: Our primary power source is supplied by the local power company. Should a catastrophe interrupt the power supply our emergency back-up generator automatically takes over. The generator and batteries (redundant power sources) can power our facility for days until power is restored.

We have redundant computer systems plus several different telephone ties (all underground) from multiple phone company providers. Every other piece of equipment in our facility has a back-up to take over in an emergency.

Knowing we can never predict when you might need us, we designed our facility and systems with every modern safeguard available, to assure you of uninterrupted service, every minute of every day.


What type of training is needed to work in a response center?

Training standards also are wide open in the security industry. We established our standards from an organization called S.I.A. (Security Industry Association). S.I.A. is a security trade organization dedicated to promoting the growth and professionalism of the security industry. S.I.A. developed a first-of-its-kind comprehensive training program exclusively for alarm dispatchers.

This course was developed under contract with the A.P.C.O. institute, a 60-year-old organization which designs and conducts training for public safety professionals (911 dispatchers) throughout the world. All of our new operators go through a rigorous, comprehensive training program, before handling a phone call or alarm signal. A dedicated training staff constantly updates our dispatchers on the new systems and technologies we install.