In June, SDM Associate Editor Tim Scally attended and reported on the NFPA Technical Meeting in Las Vegas, in which members voted to accept updated language in fire alarm monitoring.

Recently, TMA President Ivan Spector wrote the following message to TMA members and friends regarding the results of that meeting:

  
Dear TMA members and friends,
  
At the NFPA Conference & Expo Technical Meeting in June, The Monitoring Association’s membership demonstrated the capacity to muster significant resources when an issue has a negative impact on the life-safety services we provide. TMA members who are also NFPA members spent significant time and financial resources to travel to Las Vegas to participate in this effort. As all know, the vote went in our favor. TMA owes all who participated a debt of gratitude. You can see the full list of participating companies below.
  
However, winning the Technical Meeting vote was but one step in the process. It was a necessary step in that, had we lost the vote in Las Vegas, the matter would be closed for three more years. After the successful vote at the Technical Meeting, NFPA process requires two additional committee votes. First, the Technical Committee responsible for the relevant section of the standard votes to affirm or reject the Technical Meeting action. Unfortunately, the 2/3 vote needed within the Technical Committee was not achieved. The Correlating Committee will also vote soon as to whether or not there are correlating issues with the applicable standards language. 
  
That the Technical Committee did not support the vote was disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. The process indicates that a majority of the Technical Committee members do not understand the realities of the situation. While the Technical Committee action is a setback, our mission to correct this unfair standards language is not over. We will appeal to the NFPA Standards Council at their August meeting. TMA is working diligently on our strategy for that meeting. We will keep you informed. 
  
TMA would like to express its appreciation to several members of the Technical Committee who voted to support the Technical Meeting vote: Honeywell, Walgreens, Underwriters Laboratories, FM Approvals, ESA, Allianz Global Corporation, and Telgian (Home Depot).
  
I would again like to thank everyone who showed up to support our Industry and what we believe in. This kind of effort is exactly what being part of an association is all about. 
  
Sincerely,
Ivan Spector
President, The Monitoring Association
  
TMA Member Companies Participating in the June 14, 2018 NFPA-72 Vote in Las Vegas:
Acadian Monitoring Services, LLC
ADS Security, L.P.
ADT LLC
Alarm Detection Systems Inc.
Alarm.com
Alarme Sentinelle
Alert Alarm of Hawaii
American Alarm and Communications Inc.
Amherst Alarm Inc.
AvantGuard Monitoring Centers
B Safe Inc.
Bay Alarm Company
Bosch Security Systems Inc.
Brinks Home Security
Centra-Larm Monitoring Inc.
CIBC US
Commercial Instruments & Alarm Systems Inc.
COPS Monitoring
CPI Security Systems
Custom Alarm
DGA Security Systems Inc.
DICE Corporation
DMC Security Services Inc.
DMP
Doyle Security Systems
Dynamark Monitoring Inc.
Electronix Systems Central Station Alarms Inc.
Emergency 24 Inc.
General Monitoring Services Inc.
Gillmore Security Systems Inc.
JCI Security Products/Tyco
Johnson Controls-Central Station Services
Kimberlite Corporation
Kings III of America LLC
LDS Church
Lowitt Alarms & Security Systems Inc.
Merchants Alarm Systems Inc.
Midwest Alarm Services (Per Mar Security Services)
Moon Security Services, Inc.
Mytrex Inc.
NetOne Inc.
Peak Alarm Company Inc.
Post Alarm Systems
Quick Response Monitoring Alarm Center
Rapid Response Monitoring Services Inc.
Scarsdale Security Systems Inc.
Security Alarm Corporation
Security Central
Security Equipment Inc. (SEI)
Security Partners, LLC PA
Security Service Company Inc.
Security Signal Devices, Inc. dba SSD Alarm Systems
SEM Security Systems Inc.
Sentry Watch, Inc. dba Alarm Watch LLC
Silco Fire & Security
STANLEY Convergent Security Solutions Inc.
Supreme Security Systems Inc.
The Connaughton Group LLC
United Central Control
Universal Atlantic Systems Inc.
Vancouver Fire and Radius Security
Vector Security Inc.
Vivint SmartHome
Washington Alarm Inc.
Wegmans Food Markets Inc.
Zoepaz Incorporated