IQ Program Recertifies 10 Electronic Security Companies
ERIE, Pa. — The Installation Quality (IQ) board of directors has recertified a total of 10 alarm and wholesale monitoring companies for the IQ Certification Program.
The companies include:
- Alarm 2000 of Cardiff, Calif.
- Amherst Alarm of Amherst, N.Y.
- Avantguard Monitoring Centers of Ogden, Utah
- Cen-Signal (SSC Services Inc.) of Columbus, Go.
- Central Monitoring & Dispatch of Pittsburgh
- Deiter Bros Fuel Co., dba 4 Season’s Security of Bethlehem, Pa.
- Dyck Security Service of Port Huron, Mich.
- Rapid Response Monitoring Services of Syracuse, N.Y.
- Shenandoah Valley Security of Waynesboro, Va.
- Security Systems of America (SSA) of Pittsburgh
All IQ Certified companies must apply for recertification each year. To remind businesses of the recertification process, the IQ boards embarks on a campaign informing companies what needs to be done to complete the process, IQ Certification Chair Tim Creenan tells SSI.
“We send out packets with information and forms that need to be filled out,” he says. “Additionally, we are working with IQ central stations and state associations who are spreading the word to their dealers.”
Becoming IQ Certified is beneficial for firms in the industry, as the group’s guidelines help improve the overall installation quality of electronic security and life-safety systems and aids in reducing false alarms, Creenan says.
Keith Godsey, vice president of Dynamark Monitoring of Hagerstown, Md., concurs, noting that the UL-Listed, Five Diamond central station recently earned IQ Certification.
“IQ has become the gold standard in the industry and synonymous with quality,” he says. “That’s what we want for Dynamark. In addition, some of our new dealers are IQ Certified and since the requisite is to be monitored by an IQ Certified central station, we did it to ensure consistent quality.”
To make it easier for alarm companies and central stations to gain accreditation, the board revamped its guidelines last year, separating the policies for installation firms and monitoring companies. Although the group has taken steps to simplify the certification and recertification processes, Creenan stresses that companies must have the proper licensing and a low false alarm rate to gain approval.
“Our public safety directors send out E-mails to the local and national public safety authorities working with the alarm company to see if there have been any complaints against the company,” he says. “If a company is not following the IQ guidelines or if we receive negative reports from the public safety community, it could prevent businesses from receiving accreditation.”
If the board initially denies a company from earning certification or recertification, Creenan encourages alarm firms and central stations not to give up.
“Companies have a chance to rectify a complaint,” he says. “Resolve the problem. Depending on the extent or nature of the problem, it may take more time for the company to prove that the issue is indeed resolved. However, we urge all companies to become IQ certified. It’s good for business, good for customers and good for the industry.”
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