Tag: IESA

CHICAGO—A recent NFPA vote that may result in restriction for central stations on matters of fire alarm monitoring should serve as a wake-up call to the security industry to be more involved with the National Fire Protection Association, according to Kevin Lehan, executive director of the Illinois Electronic Security Association.At its annual meeting here in Chicago, the NFPA approved motion 72-9, “that reinforced an AHJ's authority to determine who can and who cannot monitor fire alarms,”...

On June 25, in Chicago, the NFPA held its annual meeting, but the alarm industry was concerned about two motions on NFPA 72, which would effectively give local municipalities the authority to disallow the use of listed central stations for fire alarm monitoring. Ultimately, motion 72-8 passed with a vote of 142-80, giving municipalities that discretion. Motion 72-9, which would have removed the line referring to central stations completely, was withdrawn after 72-8 passed. Kevin Lehan, executive...

DES PLAINES, Ill.—The village of Algonquin recently agreed to settle a lawsuit in which Alarm Detection Systems accused the village of establishing an “illegal monopoly” on fire alarm monitoring.“This is very good news,” Kevin Lehan, executive director of the Illinois Electronic Security Association, based here, told Security Systems News, regarding the April 17 court settlement. “It opens up the market for any alarm contractor to come and bid” the job for...

DES PLAINES, Ill.—Just as Illinois fire protection districts are shutting down their fire monitoring programs because of a federal court ruling saying such public entities aren't authorized to be that business, proposed new state legislation would grant the districts that authority.The industry is fighting back, organizing private alarm companies to help defeat House Bill 5683. They say the bill would shut out them out of the commercial fire monitoring market. The industry contends fire districts...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.—A federal appeals court has upheld a previous court ruling favoring ADT and other alarm companies in a case involving public entities monopolizing fire alarm monitoring.“It's a very positive day for the industry,” Kevin Lehan, executive director of the Illinois Electronic Security Association (IESA), based here, told Security Systems News.In a communication to IESA members, Lehan described the July 31 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.—Video verification will be the focal point of a May 15 meeting of the Illinois Electronic Security Association, according to a statement from the organization, based here. The discussion will feature Keith Jentoft, liaison for the Partnership for Priority Video Alarm Response (PPVAR), which has made a recent push to bring video verification to the mainstream burglar alarm market, the statement said. Meeting attendees will be able to share their opinions and positions...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.—The latest decision in a lawsuit brought by ADT and other alarm companies over public entities taking over fire alarm monitoring in the state contains “a lot of positive things for the alarm industry,” according to the executive director of the Illinois Electronic Security Association (IESA).“I would sum it up by saying that this was a great step forward for licensed alarm contractors in the state as well as the fire services,” Kevin Lehan told...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.—A PSAP that controls emergency communications for numerous municipalities around Chicago is reportedly having such problems with delayed response times that dispatchers recently voted “no confidence” in the agency's management.The situation at Northwest Central Dispatch System serves as a good example of why cities and towns shouldn't shut central stations out of the fire monitoring business if they want the public to be safe, according to the head of the...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.—The security alarm industry scored two significant victories last week in an ongoing battle in this state over public entities monopolizing fire alarm monitoring, according to the head of the Illinois Electronic Security Association.“It's been a great week for the Illinois alarm industry,” Kevin Lehan, executive director of IESA, based here, told Security Systems News. He said that after the industry raised concerns about the government stifling free competition...

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.—Two court decisions in late August bolstered the alarm industry's position in an ongoing dispute in Illinois over public entities taking control of fire alarm monitoring away from private companies.“This bodes well for the future,” Kevin Lehan, executive director of the Illinois Electronic Security Association (IESA), which is based here, said of the most recent judicial rulings.The alarm industry had already won one round this summer, when a federal judge...