KEN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE You can read all of our articles on our website. Having trouble getting our emails? Change your spam controls and whitelist ken@kirschenbaumesq.com ****************************** Comment on Rapid Response AVS-01 listing April 17, 2024 *********************** Comment on Rapid Response AVS-01 listing from article on April 15, 2024 *********************** Ken, Rapid Response just became the first central station listed under the new AVS-01 standard. This is the scoring system by which a monitoring center will be able to help responding agencies prioritize events that likely involve threats to life and/or property. The standard, developed over the last few years includes the following definition: 1.2.4. Alarm Monitoring Center A facility that receives signals from protected premises alarm systems and at which personnel are in attendance at all times to act upon to these signals. (Also known as: Central Station, Monitoring Center,Supervising Station) I guess all of the central stations using work-from-home operators, including those who were represented on the sub-committee won’t be getting UL listed to this standard since 1.2.4 clearly states the personnel must be in attendance at all times. I wonder if this was an omission or a commission, or if no one paid careful attention to details when the standard was being developed. After all, many of them were also involved with the recent revision to UL 827 to permit remote workers. Since Rapid doesn’t use remote operators, and went through the exercise and expense of attaining the UL listing for AVS-01, I would be surprised if they would sit still if other stations that use remote operators try to get listed for a standard that clearly prohibits them from doing so. I guess we’ll see how this plays out. Best, Peter Goldring, President Peter@GoldringProtection.com 516 640 1410 *********************** Response ********************** It certainly does appear that the new standard will not be given to central stations who permit work from home, unless UL interprets the provision differently than you. The work from home controversy seems to have quieted down a bit. Central stations who permit work from home, for part or most of their operators, are pretty well known to alarm dealers. Central stations what don’t own up to the remote operator practice likely have difficulty explaining why their parking lot is empty of cars when there should be 20 operators on duty. Who knows, maybe the operators all live within walking distance. We are still waiting for the mistake, missed signal, by the remote operator resulting in a lawsuit. I am not aware of any such case. It will happen, though we may not learn that the operator was working remote because a detail like that would come out only if it was the pivotal issue in the case to establish negligence, or more, by the central station. We will cross that bridge when we get there. As of now the general consensus of conjecture, speculation and well-informed experts in the industry seem to agree that in-facility operators is better [less risky] than remote working operators. Rapid Response distinguishes itself as the leading central station with the highest standards. The AVS-01 Listing is one more feather in its cap. Obvious question is will insurance companies and monitoring customers require this new standard for monitoring? That would sure limit the field at the moment. ********************** STANDARD FORMS Alarm / Security / Fire and related Agreements click here: www.alarmcontracts.com *************************** CONCIERGE LAWYER SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE ALARM INDUSTRY - You can check out the program and sign up here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/concierge or contact our Program Coordinator Stacy Spector, Esq at 516 747 6700 x 304. *********************** ALARM ARTICLES: You can always read our Articles on our website at ww.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/alarm-articles updated daily ******************** THE ALARM EXCHANGE - the alarm industries leading classified and business exchange - updated daily ************************* Wondering how much your alarm company is worth? Click here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/what-is-my-alarm-company-worth ****************************** Getting on our Email List / Email Articles archived: Many of you are forwarding these emails to friends or asking that others be added to the list. Sign up for our daily newsletter here: Sign Up. You can read articles and order alarm contracts on our web site www.alarmcontracts.com ************************** Ken Kirschenbaum,Esq Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum PC Attorneys at Law 200 Garden City Plaza Garden City, NY 11530 516 747 6700 x 301 ken@kirschenbaumesq.com www.KirschenbaumEsq.com
