Security dealers and integrators look back at 2022 and forward to expectations for 2023

The video surveillance market grew significantly from 2020 to 2021

The security industry has had to be resilient to withstand the supply chain crisis.

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. 

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?

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.”

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.

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 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.

Recognizing central stations and monitoring professionals for their pivotal role and exceptional contributions to advancing the life safety mission.

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.

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.

Kidde said the new series will be constantly updated to improve the user experience. The series features pluggable connectors on modules and call points, a quick removable door and quick removable chassis.

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.

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.

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

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?

When it comes to safety, what are the big differences between education and training?

SafetySkills Empower can help you create an intuitive, functional and effective safety training program.

Adhering to changes in fire code on a local basis is not a choice —  it’s a “shall,” not a “should.”

Everything online in the industry, from white papers to webinars.

Columnist Roy Pollack challenges professionals to test their knowledge in the latest 5 Minute Tech quiz.

Columnist Roy Pollack challenges professionals to test their knowledge in the latest 5 Minute Tech quiz.

Security professionals discuss recent changes to GSA Schedules.

Many are intrigued with some of the changes that have been introduced and adopted toward consistent services through the COVID-19 pandemic — everything from changes to business logistics to actually augmenting UL standards to accommodate work-from-home (WFH) staffing.

The Prison Camera Reform Act requires the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate and enhance security camera, radio and public address systems at its 122 facilities.

Initiated in 2020, the standard provides a method of creating an alarm scoring or classification metric for unauthorized human activity detected by alarm systems.

TMA-ATN-01 will develop an efficient means for monitoring centers to provide responding authorities with information that assists with an efficient and safe response to active threat incidents.