G4S monitoring and data center goes Five Diamond

BURLINGTON, Mass.--G4S, with over 500,000 employees worldwide, announced on Nov. 23 that its new video monitoring and data center, located here, is the latest central station to achieve CSAA Five Diamond status.

Five Diamond Certification is only the latest certification for the center, the opening of which Security Systems News reported on in January. According to Jerry Cordasco, vice president of operations for the Boston-area, video-centric center, the accreditations, including UL's highest listing for monitoring UUFX, prove G4S' devotion to providing the best security monitoring possible. Cordasco said there are more certifications in the works. "We're in the process of looking at UL 2050 certification ... We felt it was important to get the UUFX and the Five Diamond. Those things are very important to us as a way of indicating our commitment to this. We're not just doing this because we think it's a neat idea and we'll try it for a little while," Cordasco said. "The next step would be UL 2050. The requirements are pretty stringent ... we'll work on that through the course of this year."

There are approximately 2,700 U.S.-based central stations that interact with the law enforcement, fire and emergency services agencies. Of this group, fewer than five percent have achieved Five Diamond status. In order to be certified Five Diamond all operators at the G4S central had to pass the course, as well as demonstrate: proficiency in alarm verification, which helps reduce false alarms; proficiency in communications with the Public Service Answering Points, such as the Emergency 911 centers; knowledge of electronic communications equipment, including radio; an understanding of the codes and standards of such organizations as Underwriters Laboratories, Factory Mutual, the National Fire Protection Association and others; proficiency in the area of emergency preparedness under a wide scenario of possibilities.

CSAA director of marketing and communications Celia Besore said Five Diamond companies have demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of responsibility to their local community and their customers through the investment of time, money and commitment to 100 percent quality operator training. "Whether a small company or a large one, these [Five Diamond] companies are committed to being engaged and active. We believe their engagement exposes them to the best ideas in the industry and makes them better each day," Besore said. "In addition, being able to have a certification that speaks of their commitments to the highest standards gives them additional 'bragging' rights."