Habitec Security Wins PDQ Award for Reducing False Alarms

Habitec Security’s false alarm reduction efforts led to the company earning the PDQ Award at the 2015 Electronic Security Expo.

BALTIMORE – Habitec Security was awarded the 10th annual Police Dispatch Quality (PDQ) Award for its ongoing efforts to reduce false alarm dispatches during a special ceremony at the Electronic Security Expo (ESX) Wednesday.

The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) and Security Sales & Integration established the PDQ award program in 2005.

Also endorsed by the Installation Quality (IQ) program, the PDQ award program spotlights alarm installing and monitoring businesses for creating best practices that help prevent false alarm dispatches.

Habitec Security received the honor during the Networking & Public Safety Luncheon. Amherst Alarm and Engineered Protection Systems (EPS) were PDQ Award runners-up.

“Habitec Security has long been an industry leader in promoting best practices in reducing the number of alarm dispatches,” SIAC Executive Director Stan Martin says. “Their commitment to their customers and their drive to partner with law enforcement is evident by their implementation of proven dispatch reduction strategies.”

Judges evaluated companies on various training activities, customer educational material, use of industry-recommended practices like enhanced call verification (ECV), use of SIA CP-01 equipment, follow-up with customers and tracking problem accounts. Applicants also had to include a letter from a local law enforcement agency confirming the company’s police dispatch alarm rate. Submissions are scored in 15 different areas.

Having the only locally owned and operated Central Station in Northwest Ohio allows Habitec Security to handle each alarm call in a timely and appropriate manner. This local focus is a large contributing factor in reduced police dispatches in their communities. In 2011, Habitec implemented Enhanced Call Verification (ECV). Additionally, the company began an extensive six month Supervisor guided training for new hires.

In addition, the company achieved a 75 percent adaptation of CP-O1 alarm panels and required video installation for customers who had outside motion detectors. The firm also educated its customers by notifying them in writing and by telephone if they had more than two false alarms in a given period. If the customer was having a service issue the company would offer reduced prices to troubleshoot the problem.

“With these implementations along with a false alarm notification program and policy change in residential panic alarms and outdoor motion detection, we were able to reduce false alarms by 57 percent,” Habitec Security President John Smythe says. “We also use video monitoring for verification.

“The safety and security of our customers is our number one priority and it is an honor for our company to win such a prestigious award,” Smythe continues. “Our dedicated team work very hard across all departments to deliver consistent, high quality service while continuing to be a valuable partner to emergency agencies throughout the country.”

An in-depth look at the company’s award-winning practices will be featured in the October issue of SSI.

Other previous winners include, Broadview Security, Atronic Alarms, Alarm Detection Systems Inc., Brink’s Home Security, Custom Alarm, HS Technology, Vector Security (two-time winner) and Monitronics.

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