Weston in Space

September picked up where a busy August in the security industry left off. There was no shortage of major stories. The biggest story — in terms of readership and industry impact — was the allegation that several manufacturers are knowingly selling and marketing burglar and fire alarm control panels with defects. At the beginning of the month, GE and Carrier were hit with a $5 million lawsuit that alleged its fire control units are non-conforming to the minimum standards required by both UL and NFPA 72. Several weeks later, Resideo/Honeywell was hit with a lawsuit for the same “defect.” In other legal news that could potentially have industry-shifting ramifications, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block ASSA ABLOY’s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of the Hardware and Home Improvement division of Spectrum Brands. The DOJ says that the proposed transaction would transform the mechanical door hardware and smart lock markets, giving ASSA ABLOY a near-...

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Sentry AI, a leading creator of AI Video Monitoring solutions, and Bold Group, part of EverCommerce Security and Alarm solutions and an industry-leading provider of automation software for security businesses, are announcing a product collaboration. The collaboration is said to offer enhanced AI capabilities that central stations and guard services may implement with the goal of “supercharging” their operators, lowering costs and adding new revenue streams. Through the integration with Sentry AI’s AI Video Monitoring Platform, Bold Group now offers Situational Awareness AI to enhance video monitoring operations. Available on Stages event monitoring and Manitou alarm monitoring (the two flagship automation solutions of Bold Group) this integration offers unprecedented false alarm filtering, according to the companies. This new platform is said to allow central stations to offer video monitoring services to a much larger user base as it is designed to significant...

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Security Industry Association ( SIA ) announces the 2022 keynote speakers, featured panel sessions and executive interviews for Securing New Ground (SNG), the security industry’s executive conference, taking place Oct. 18-19 at the InterContinental Times Square in New York City. SIA says this year’s Securing New Ground conference will shape industry trends and offer opportunities to engage with the leaders who are driving the future of security. In a dynamic keynote presentation on Day 2 of SNG, Phil Mackintosh, chief economist and senior vice president at Nasdaq, will share insights into market conditions and financial indicators that are likely to impact the U.S. and global economies, particularly for companies in technology sectors. SNG attendees will also unlock access to the following exclusive executive interviews: A discussion with Mike Mansuetti, president, North America, at Bosch on supply chain and other critical pressures facing businesses ...

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Nice, a global manufacturer of smart home, security and building automation solutions, announces the completed transition from Nortek Control to Nice North America. As part of the transition, the company is sunsetting Nortek Control and announcing the convergence of several brands for the CI channel. Over the next year, the residentially focused brand names of ELAN, SpeakerCraft and Panamax will also dissolve to become Nice North America. On the commercial and security integration side of the portfolio, the company will retain the brand names of 2GIG, Proficient, Furman, Gefen, Abode and HySecurity. The moves will enable the company to progressively leverage its full portfolio of solutions for home and building management. This transition will take place over the next year. The new name represents a milestone for Nice as it looks to strengthen the Nice global brand name and solidify its position in North America. Partners, including dealers, integrators, builders,...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Rapid Fire Safety & Security, a new multi-regional “buy & build” strategy in the fire-safety and security industries launched by founders Mike McLeod and Colin Harrold in partnership with Concentric Equity Partners (CEP), announces the acquisition of Security & Access Systems (SAS). Based here, SAS is a provider of commercial security and fire alarm system design, installation, maintenance, monitoring , test, inspection, and repair services. Rapid Fire will be acquiring the company from current owners and industry veterans Chris and Molly Ipiotis, who will remain with the company for an intermediate period to facilitate a transition to the Rapid Fire platform. SAS marks the first acquisition for the Rapid Fire platform since its launch in March 2022. SAS offers comprehensive security and fire alarm solutions for commercial and government customers. Founded in 1988 by the Ipiotis’, SAS has served as a trusted provider across New Mexico for over 34 year...

BOSTON — Wasabi Technologies, a provider of hot Cloud storage, announces it has achieved “unicorn status” following $250 million in new funding. Wasabi raised $125 million in Series D equity led by L2 Point Management with participation from Cedar Pine; an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management; and returning investors including Fidelity Management & Research Company and Forestay Capital, bringing the company’s valuation to over $1.1 billion. It also expanded its existing debt facility with MGG Investment Group to $125 million. Barclays acted as sole placement agent on the transaction. Wasabi provides fast, affordable and highly reliable Cloud data storage for businesses all over the world at 1/5th the cost of large hyperscale providers or on-premises storage, with no charges for egress or API requests and no complex tiering, according to the company. Related: Axis, Wasabi Partner for VMS Cloud Storage The hot Cloud storage provider’s revenues more than doubled from 20...

SAN FRANCISCO — Sciens Building Solutions announces it has added Maryland-based LS Systems to its growing portfolio. With four already-established Northeast locations, LS Systems is said to increase Sciens’ presence in this region, along with the Washington metropolitan area, allowing it to provide coverage and expanded capabilities to even more customers, while leveraging the unique offerings of LS Systems across the Sciens portfolio. “Sciens’ commitment to a Mid-Atlantic regional expansion, combined with our capabilities and relationships, will enhance our ability to serve our loyal customers, as well as new clients,” says Derrick Mitchell, president of LS Systems. “We chose to partner with Sciens to become part of a platform that can serve our customers locally, regionally and nationally. LS Systems and Sciens both view growth as a top priority, not only for our customer base but for our valued employees, so we’re excited to be a part of the ongoing expansion across the countr...

The level of security and safety desired by security directors throughout their respective organizations entails input, coordination and support from all levels internally and among key external contributors — including systems integrators. “The biggest thing is having a technology integrator that understands we’re putting a piece of technology in here because we have a problem,” says Anthony Pluretti, executive director of campus safety at Widener University of Greater Philadelphia. “I want to make sure they fully understand it and that the solutions and resolutions they’re bringing forward actually achieve the solution of that problem. And maybe they as well offer some type of auxiliary services for that location.” Pluretti, who in addition to technology decisions oversees approximately 75 officers for a college campus with an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, is among the three security directors featured in SSI ’s 2022 Security End-User Forum. Also included in the roundtable i...

ATLANTA — Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2022 concluded last Wednesday at the Georgia World Congress Center. Presented by ASIS Int’l, the world’s largest association for security management professionals, the event offered discussion and idea exchanges for the global security community. ASIS says attendance exceeded projections, with more than 13,000 registrants from 85 countries along with more than 400 exhibitors demonstrating the latest security solutions. “Once again, GSX has proven itself to be a catalytic force for education, networking, and sharing the latest trends and innovations happening within the security profession,” says Malcolm C. Smith, CPP, 2022 president, ASIS Int’l. “The response to GSX 2022 has been overwhelming from both attendees and exhibitors. I’m incredibly thankful to our show’s organizers, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees for their commitment to the security profession and to making GSX the industry’s premier event. Year after year, GSX is home to best...

QUINCY, Mass. — The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards Council recently voted to issue the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC). Used in all 50 states, the NEC is the benchmark for safe electrical design, installation and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards, according to the NFPA . During the Technical Meeting held in June at the NFPA Conference & Expo in Boston, 55 Certified Amending Motions (CAMs) for the 2023 NEC were presented and debated by membership on the meeting floor. Submitted appeals were later heard at the August Standards Council meeting, followed by the NFPA Standards Council approval of the issuance of the 2023 NEC, effective Sept. 1, 2022. Several key changes to the 2023 NEC focus on ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). Additional requirements point to newer technologies that reflect emerging electrical issues in an ever-changing, fast-paced world including: Cybers...

SECURE Perspectives is a monthly column by the  Security Industry Association  (SIA) profiling women in the security industry. This column is part of SIA’s  Women in Security Forum  (WISF), an initiative to support the participation of women in the security field through programs, networking and professional growth events and thought leadership opportunities. For this edition of  SECURE Perspectives , SIA spoke with Sabrina Wilson, senior vice president of human resources at dormakaba Americas. Earlier this year, Wilson was named to the inaugural SIA WISF Power 100 , recognizing 100 women in the security industry who are role models for actively advancing diversity, inclusion, innovation and leadership in the community, and she also spoke earlier this month at SIA’s 2022  AcceleRISE conference  for young security industry professionals. SIA: How did you get into the security industry? Sabrina Wilson : Being part of the security industry wasn’t inten...

WESTMINSTER, Colo. — PSA, the world’s largest consortium of professional systems integrators, announces Velasea has joined its line-up of technology partners. Velasea is a full-service OEM system builder that handles highly complex integrations around physical security, retail analytics, computer vision and artificial intelligence , according to the group. “It’s imperative to PSA that we have partners who can collaborate and work alongside our integrators,” says Matt Barnette, CEO of PSA. “Velasea is that partner. Its holistic product offering fills a need on our line card.” PSA says Velasea provides an extensive offering of services to help integrators be successful with clients and project scopes of various sizes for all stages of a project, from design to maintenance and ITAD. This allows integrators the opportunity to be competitive with other companies within their geographical location and area of industry focus. The services continue with warranties, pre- and post-sale suppo...

Parks Associates’ latest security research, Security Buyers: Purchase Trends and Triggers , finds that 49% of DIY security system owners report that they purchased their home security system due to a burglary at their home or the home of a loved one, compared to just 27% of professionally installed system owners. The research firm featured its latest research during its virtual session, “State of the Home Security Market, ” on Aug. 18, as part of the 26 th annual CONNECTIONS: Premier Connected Home Conference. Parks Associates brought together industry players from the pro-service channels and heard directly about connectivity challenges and incorporating smart home technology into offerings. The 75-minute session included visionary insight from leaders and interactive discussions on the impact of new technology and services and the challenges that come with smart technology in the home. Related: Research: Residential Security Demand & Preferences for New Alerts ...

The electronic security industry has long proved itself to be exceptionally resilient — in most recent times being among the fields least scathed by 2007-2009’s Great Recession and then pulling through the pandemic scarcely worse for the wear. What has not as often been ballyhooed is just how resourceful the industry is as well. Never has that been more on full display than the past year as company owners and managers contended with an unprecedented supply chain-induced dearth of security products and soaring operational costs while simultaneously facing a Great Resignation-level talent drought. Once again, the lesson is to never bet against security or its practitioners. That message resonates throughout Security Sales & Integration ’s 2022 Access Control Deep Dive survey as in the face of all those challenges that have felled lesser businesses, dealer and integrator respondents report growth in that technology discipline of nearly 12% the past year. That is more than 2 points ...

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. —  Security Sales & Integration is proud to announce the winners of its 8th Annual Security Solutions Awards program. This is not a standard product awards program but rather something even more important to security professionals and their customers — it’s a measure of how manufacturers’ devices perform in actual deployments in the field. “Manufacturers claim their products are the ‘best,’ ‘first of its kind,’ ‘revolutionary,’ ‘game-changing’ and other such hyperbole. However, the real test ― especially when dealing in the sometimes life or death realm of security and safety ― is how those solutions truly meet the needs of both the security integrator and their customer. That is the true litmus test and why  SSI  founded the Security Solutions Awards,” says  SSI  Associate Publisher Scott Goldfine. “This program is both an outstanding platform for security product suppliers to showcase their wares and a unique source for integrators to ...

DALLAS — The Electronic Security Association (ESA) announces its Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Fire certification it developed as an alternative equivalency to the NICET requirement for industry professionals that perform installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and programming of fire alarm systems. The flexibility of ESA’s training options is an asset in an industry where those who need training spend most of their time in the field, according to the association. To put together training courses, ESA says it works closely with subject matter experts who are well-versed in the codes and standards for commercial and residential fire alarm systems, including NFPA 72 , life-safety codes and building codes. ESA also consults fire marshals to make sure the program aligns with their expectations and collects their feedback to make enhancements to the curriculum and training materials as needed. It also get input from ESA’s Codes and Standards Committee. Related: Clea...

TRENTON, N.J. — A class action lawsuit has been filed against Resideo and Honeywell for allegedly selling burglar and fire alarm system control units that that contained “defects, dangers and non-conformities” that the companies knew about. The defects were found in all combination-listed single data-bus burglar and fire alarm system control units that were manufactured and sold by Honeywell and its former affiliate Resideo. Honeywell spun-off Resideo in 2018 . According to the lawsuit, the defects can lead to an instantaneous and catastrophic failure of the alarm system’s combination-listed control unit during a fire. In this silent and non-functional state, instead of the alarm system warning all occupants inside the home of the fire emergency and the central station, the combination listed control unit fails. Related: DIY Danger: How Konnected Has Concocted False Claims About Its Alarm Panel Solution These alleged defects are said to render the control units non-conforming ...