School security is a growing problem with no easy answers. But security integrators need to be trusted advisors to help their education customers navigate this extremely complex issue.

More than ever, the physical and cyber are tied together, both on a business level and on the world stage.

One of the things that really intrigued me about Peak Alarm when I first read their application for SDM Dealer of the Year was the sheer number of initiatives the company took on all at once — most of them in the middle of a pandemic.

IT’S JANUARY. Happy New Year! I hope you have an ordinary year.

Security Industry Trends

Diversity, equity and inclusion is a key initiative that can help the security industry with its talent shortage.

This year’s winner of SDM’s Project of the Year Award is Minuteman Security

Anyone who attended last month’s ISC West show in Las Vegas probably noticed a few key trends. 

I don't know about anyone else, but it seems to me the world is moving faster than ever before — especially when it comes to technology.

We have only just begun to see the impact that AI and Generative AI will have on the security industry.

The “dog days” of summer. Did you know — I didn’t until I looked it up — that the term dog days refers to astrology, specifically the time period during which a bright star rises and sets with the sun?

It was just a few years ago when I first heard the word “proptech,” and for a while it looked like it would become a common buzzword in the industry.

Boston – Employees may be more likely to participate in workplace wellness programs if employers offer financial incentives, according to a new study from Harvard Medical School’s Department of Population Medicine.

Philadelphia – Financial incentives are ineffective at encouraging obese workers to lose weight, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia – Financial penalties are more effective at helping workers reach physical activity goals than monetary rewards in a wellness program, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania.

In a memo sent Oct. 11 to regional administrators and state designees, the agency outlines examples of acceptable drug testing, and states that incentive programs that withhold prizes because of an injury are compliant “as long as the employer has implemented precautions to ensure that employees feel free to report an injury or illness.”

When done correctly, incentive programs can boost workplace safety, experts say.

In Episode 18, the S+H editorial team discusses the pros and cons of safety incentives, along with OSHA’s evolving stance on the topic. Also: Transportation safety expert Brian Hammer answers our questions about road safety, as more workers begin to commute to their workplace again.

Advances like digitization, IoT, AI and mobile devices put mass notification directly into users’ hands, speeding up response times in emergency situations.

Led by a majority investment from Abry Partners, the new platform combines Assurant Fire Protection, Complete Fire Pump Service and Xtreme Fire Protection. 

The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) will also serve in an advisory service capacity for five additional grants with multiple federal agencies, including NASA.

When it comes to gunshot detection, no two technologies are alike. What most have in common, however, is their effortless fit within a security integrator’s life-safety product portfolio and business model.

Kidde Commercial will unveil its new branding and holistic commercial fire solution capabilities during ISC West, taking place in Las Vegas, March 28-31.

The convergence of technology and an aging population seems to make personal emergency response systems (PERS) a perfect fit for integrators to grow RMR. But use cases go far beyond the elderly.

The fire and life safety industry is heating up with increasing opportunities for fire alarm contractors to advance into new territory.

The group of partnering manufacturers and central stations include NAPCO, Resideo, Telguard, Emergency24 and Rapid Response Monitoring.

The Foundation Series is a complete, off-the-shelf fire detection solution featuring addressable and non-addressable models, and a full range of Autocall devices.

We examine the impact of emerging technologies, the resilience of these systems, and the crucial partnership between manufacturers, security integrators and monitoring stations in ensuring public safety during critical events.

The Electronic Security Association (ESA) presented a virtual town hall recently during which Michael Barnes presented an alarm industry update that, for the most part, signaled a rising tide, post pandemic.

SDM spoke with industry experts about gunshot and gun detection solutions and the opportunities those solutions offer to security dealers and integrators.

Fire alarm industry experts weigh in on the latest in fire alarm control panel tech, selection, maintenance and installation — and code updates affecting all of the above.

Because the Hochiki FireNET Comm 5G is a version of the Telguard TG-7FS universal communicator, dealers can still choose to connect it to the panel’s DACT port, if required.

Fire alarm signaling devices are integral to the health and safety of a building and its occupants. Experts weigh in on the latest trends, codes and products.

The solution chooses the carrier with the best signal strength and data quality in the area, automatically selecting it as the primary network

Manufacturers and end users of valves are growing more interested in fire-safe testing, which is encouraging the adoption of fire testing systems, according to a report by Fact.MR.

Apart from making FireProtect 2 a fully certified solution in residential fire alarm systems, the BSI Kitemark certification imposes additional requirements such as bi-annual factory production control inspections, quality control standards, and more.

911inform announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has officially designated its innovative emergency management platform as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology (QATT) under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act.

Although 90 percent of households surveyed by the CPSC viewed smoke alarms as “extremely necessary,” only 66 percent felt the same about CO alarms.

When it comes to training employees, the ideal learning environment is individualized, one-on-one mentorship. But in the workplace, that kind of training isn’t always practical, efficient or desired. Constraints usually exist – from safety needs that dictate a quick training rollout to all employees, to managing the training needs of a diverse workforce at multiple worksites.

How can I use online training to meet occupational requirements for CPR and first aid training?

What do I need to know to customize my online training courses?

My current fire prevention education program consists of a PowerPoint presentation, and I can tell my workforce is bored. How can I put life back into the program and keep people engaged?

Our workers seem attentive during training, but afterward they quickly forget what they’ve learned. What steps can I take to improve knowledge retention rates?

How can I change up my fire prevention program to provide more advanced lessons to veteran employees? Some have seen my presentation year after year.

How can I teach complex concepts, such as center of mass and physics, that are required to instruct operators on the use of heavy equipment?

We are introducing new occupational safety software to our employees. How can we ensure it is adopted successfully?

Our company has multiple locations. What can we do to make sure our compliance with chemical safety regulations is consistent across the organization?

What is the best way to achieve a higher level of employee engagement in our safety and health training sessions?

How do I keep the “10 feet tall and bulletproof” mentality from compromising my safety training?

How does creating a culture around training and education empower and encourage employees to assess their work areas for hazards, as well as play an active role in eliminating those hazards?