In a recent ISC West panel discussion by the Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response (PPVAR), experts from various sectors of the security industry came together to discuss the innovative Alarm Validation Standard AVS-01. Implemented in January 2023, this ANSI-accredited standard aims to improve police response to alarms and enhance communication between the security industry and public safety.

The panel, which I moderated, included Joey Rao-Russell, president and CEO of Kimberlite Corp., a Fresno, Calif.-based independent Sonitrol franchisee; Frank Fernandez, retired Chief of Police from South Florida and PPVAR Vice President; Tom Nakatani, vice president, IT - customer monitoring technology for ADT; Bob Finney, director of communications technology, Collier County Sheriff's Office, Naples, Fla.; along with insights from Javier Olarte, lead auditor, UL.

Understanding AVS-01

The AVS-01 represents a significant leap forward in the security industry’s efforts to enhance alarm monitoring and response accuracy and effectiveness. AVS-01 provides a standardized method for validating alarms, ensuring emergency responders receive reliable and actionable information. The primary goal of AVS-01 is to standardize how the security industry communicates with public safety agencies, leading to improved coordination and responses.

AVS-01 assigns a validation score to each alarm, ranging from zero to four, to indicate individuals’ threat level and presence at the scene. The alarm level classifications are:

• Level 0 – No call for service (event canceled/cleared)
• Level 1 – Intrusion alarm with no additional or limited information
• Level 2 – Intrusion alarm with confirmed or highly probable human presence with unknown intent
• Level 3 – Intrusion alarm with confirmed threat to property
• Level 4 – Intrusion alarm with confirmed threat to life (non-user initiated event)

This standardized scoring system helps bridge the communication gap between private security monitoring centers and public safety agencies, leading to faster and more accurate responses to genuine threats.

Impact of AVS-01

The implementation of AVS-01 has already shown promising results. By providing dispatch centers with situational awareness and advanced information, AVS-01 enables emergency responders to make informed decisions and allocate resources more efficiently.

During the panel session, Fernandez shared a compelling story about how AVS-01 could have prevented a tragic incident involving a police officer responding to an alarm. In this case, the lack of detailed information led to a fatal confrontation that might have been avoided with the advanced analytics and situational awareness provided by AVS-01. This story underscores the standard’s potential to save lives and improve the public and officer safety.

Standardizing communication means law enforcement can focus on emergencies and improve public safety. AVS-01 benefits the police and enhances the reputation of the security industry by providing more reliable and efficient alarm monitoring services.

Implementation & Challenges

Implementing AVS-01 across the industry has been a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders, including monitoring centers, ECCs and public safety organizations. Rao-Russell described the traditional alarm response process and the pain points that AVS-01 addresses. She highlighted the importance of standardizing communication to ensure that all parties receive consistent and accurate information.

Nakatani explained that the implementation process at ADT was straightforward and did not require significant changes to existing technologies. The main challenge was training agents to use the new validation scoring system effectively. However, the benefits of AVS-01 far outweigh the initial hurdles, as it simplifies communication and potentially improves response times.

Finney emphasized the need for ongoing training and awareness programs for ECCs to integrate AVS-01 fully into their operations. While some centers may not yet be familiar with the standard, industry-wide efforts are underway to promote its adoption and ensure that all emergency responders benefit from its advantages.

Stories From the Field

Fernandez, with his extensive law enforcement background, shared several impactful stories highlighting the real-world benefits of AVS-01. One such story involved a police officer responding to an alarm call at a business. An employee who had forgotten the security code was mistakenly perceived as a threat. The officer, lacking critical information, acted on instinct, resulting in a tragic outcome.

With AVS-01, the officer would have received a validation score indicating the presence of a person, potentially avoiding the fatal confrontation. These stories illustrate how AVS-01 can transform alarm responses by providing clearer, more detailed information, thereby reducing the risk of misunderstandings and unnecessary use of force.

Rao-Russel also shared insights from her experience at Sonitrol, explaining how AVS-01 has been incorporated into its operations. By adopting this standard, they can communicate more effectively with ECCs, ensuring emergency responders have all the information they need to make informed decisions. This enhances their clients' safety and strengthens their relationships with local law enforcement agencies.

Future Directions

The future of AVS-01 looks promising, with ongoing efforts to integrate this standard across the security industry and public safety agencies. One significant development is the introduction of UL certification for monitoring centers implementing AVS-01. Olarte from UL highlighted that this certification ensures that monitoring centers adhere to the highest public safety and operational efficiency standards.

Finney discussed the evolving landscape of emergency communications, noting that many ECCs are now better equipped to handle the advanced information provided by AVS-01. He emphasized the importance of continuous training and adaptation to realize the standard’s benefits fully. As more ECCs adopt AVS-01, response protocols are expected to become more consistent and effective nationwide.

Collaboration between the security industry and public safety agencies will be crucial in refining and improving AVS-01. Rao-Russell and Nakatani stressed the importance of maintaining open communication with local law enforcement and continuously updating processes to ensure the best outcomes. This ongoing partnership will help address any challenges and ensure that AVS-01 remains a robust and effective tool for enhancing public safety.

Implementing the AVS-01 standard marks a significant milestone in the security industry. AVS-01 enhances the accuracy and efficiency of emergency responses by standardizing how alarm information is communicated to public safety agencies. The panel discussion highlighted the real-world benefits of this standard, including improved situational awareness for emergency responders and better outcomes for officers and the public.

Collaboration with public safety agencies will be essential as the security industry continues to adapt and refine AVS-01.

Fernandez’s stories and insights from other panelists underscore the importance of this standard in saving lives and reducing risk. The future of AVS-01 looks bright, with ongoing efforts to integrate and improve this standard, ensuring that it remains a cornerstone of effective and efficient alarm monitoring and response.

AVS-01 represents a significant advancement in the security industry's efforts to improve public safety. By fostering better communication and coordination between monitoring centers and public safety agencies, AVS-01 enhances the effectiveness of alarm responses. As we move forward, PPVAR and other stakeholders plan to continue their collaboration and commitment to excellence that will ensure that AVS-01 delivers on its promise of safer communities and more reliable security services.