This is the second article in the central station selection consideration
series.
As a security dealer you have many choices in selecting a central station
to monitor your subscriber accounts. The type of security systems you
install and monitor may dictate the central station that you must turn to
for monitoring, although most systems can be monitored by any of the
numerous of central stations that offer their services.
One of the first issues that you might want to consider is whether the
central station is UL listed. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is an
independent company that sets standards for electrical and other systems,
including alarms, that are recognized by the insurance industry. You will
find that some of your subscribers require UL approved systems in order
to meet requirements established by their insurance company. The UL
approval may include the monitoring, i.e., certified central station
monitoring. This can be done only by a central station that is UL
listed.
The UL certification [or listing] involves lots of standards, well beyond this article.
However, for UL to approve a central station, or allow
it to issue UL certificates to subscribers, that central station must
meet certain minimal requirements, not only in the facility that the
central station is housed in, but the equipment it uses, the personnel it
employs, the number of personnel and their training, the central
station's ability to provide guard response within designated times and
methods as prescribed by UL, and other issues that UL monitors from time
to time.
Obviously not every central station is UL approved. Central stations run
the gamut of receiving equipment set up in someone's bedroom and
monitored by one person, to well manned operations that either do not
comply with UL or do not want to pay UL for its listing, to
operations that have the approval of UL to call themselves certified
central stations. Even UL certified has its qualifications, and limits.
In New York City for example, in order to monitor fire alarm systems a
central station not only has to be UL approved, but must also be approved
by the New York City Fire Department, and only a few companies are. I am
sure this same situation exists throughout the country. Additionally, most states
and many municipalities have licensing requirements. While some of these may
be strictly revenue raising and require nothing more than the payment of
a fee, many impose operational requirements that not all central stations
can meet. You need to be sure that the central station you select is
permitted to operate in the areas where you install security.
It is not always the case that UL certified central stations provide the
best service. You may have your own ideas of what type of service you
want to provide to your subscribers, and perhaps only a local central
station operated by a one man show is willing to provide you with that
service. Or you may offer inexpensive monitoring to your subscribers and
find that a UL certified central station is too costly for you. If all of
your systems are non UL perhaps UL certified monitoring is
unnecessary.
Generally, I recommend UL Certified central stations because
you know that they operate with certain standards that are monitored by an
independent entity.
When making your selection of a central station there are
many factors that you will need to consider. UL listing is one of
them.