The future of fire and life safety is in standardization, technology

YARMOUTH — Fire and life safety, a $10 billion market in the U.S., is a critical component of the monitoring industry and standardization is a necessary step to improving emergency response, according to industry experts. 

What’s at stake 

The total indirect costs from fire exceed $30 billion dollars annually in the U.S. Residential building fires, alone, accounted for 344,600 incidents in 2023, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, resulting in 2,890 deaths, 10,400 injuries and a staggering $11.27 billion in property losses. These losses can be mitigated by emergency services, but these services need a helping hand. 

“Professional monitoring plays a crucial role in reducing emergency response times by verifying alarms quickly and relaying actionable information to emergency services,” said Rick Sheets, VP of monitoring and compliance with Brinks Home. “With the adoption of standards like AVS-01, monitoring centers can now score the severity of alarms, helping first responders prioritize critical incidents and reduce the volume of false dispatches.” 

Safety that’s smarter 

Smart safety tech continues to drive demand among consumers who Sheets said are increasingly turning to professional monitoring services to safeguard their property. That includes enhanced verifications tools and connected devices that can deliver real-time alerts to aid in faster emergency response.   

“The industry is moving toward more intelligent, data-driven solutions,” he said. “AI-assisted monitoring, video verification and standardized alarm scoring are reshaping how threats are identified and prioritized. These innovations are setting a new bar for accuracy, while helping emergency services respond more effectively.” 

The importance of verification 

Sheets added that false alarms continue to strain emergency response systems, and the industry is moving toward an emphasis on verification protocols and third-party certifications. 

“Standards like AVS-01 and designations such as the Five Diamond certification reflect a broader shift toward accountability, performance benchmarking and improved coordination between monitoring centers and emergency personnel,” he said.