Brinks Home reaches ‘standardized framework’

DALLAS – Brinks Home announced that its monitoring centers have earned UL certification for Alarm Validation Scoring (AVS-01), giving them the ability to provide Emergency Communications Centers with clearer information. 

Designed by The Monitoring Association, the AVS-01 is a framework for alarm validation scoring that provides ECCs with the information needed to accurately assess the severity of an alarm and pass that information to the appropriate authorities before they arrive on-site.  

“The AVS-01 certification does not directly distinguish between false alarms and genuine threats,” said Rick Sheets, vice president of monitoring and compliance at Brinks Home. “Instead, it establishes a standardized framework for conveying these distinctions to ECCs. By providing ECCs with clearer, more detailed information to relay to law enforcement, police can respond with greater accuracy and efficiency.” 

To achieve this certification, Brinks Home adopted the necessary technology in its monitoring systems by integrating new workflows, training Emergency Dispatch Operators (EDOs) and undergoing a UL audit for compliance among other things. 

The process requires more collaboration in today’s market, Sheets says, with the integration of advanced technologies such as video monitoring and AI-driven presence detection in homes. These innovations, he said, will enable emergency responders to receive more precise threat assessments, enabling them to tailor their responses accordingly and improve overall response times. 

“Working it into our automation system in a way that is seamless and goes along with the workflow ensures there is no confusion for the operator handling the alarm,” he said. “Our IT team worked directly with the automation software provider to resolve any issues. This collaborative effort ensured that the integration was smooth and efficient, enhancing the overall reliability of our operators understanding the process and decision trees to properly score the alarm.” 

Brinks is also exploring advanced verification methods, including video monitoring and AI recognition, to enhance alarm assessment. 

“These advanced technologies will provide alarm details at the EDO level, enabling more informed decision-making regarding the level of threat,” Sheets said. “As a result, emergency responders will receive more accurate threat assessments, allowing law enforcement to tailor their response more effectively.”