The Monitoring Association launches revised IQ Certification program

McLEAN, Va.—The Monitoring Association (TMA) has revised the Installation Quality Certification Program “IQ Certification,” noting that its the only quality control program for installations, maintenance and service of electronic security systems.

The program was initially developed by the Electronic Security Association’s (ESA) False Alarm Committee as a means to reduce the occurrence of false alarms and has been broadly endorsed by security industry associations including CANASA, ESA, the False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA); the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), Security Industry Association (SIA), as well as The Monitoring Association (TMA). TMA assumed the designation in early 2020.   

“The Monitoring Association (TMA) felt honored to have been approach to take ownership the IQ Program,” TMA Executive Director Celia T. Besore, MBA, CAE, told Security Systems News. “One of TMA’s goals is to reduce false dispatches in the industry, and any program, such as the IQ Program, that promotes quality installations and quality monitoring done by trained professionals goes hand-in-hand with our mission and deserves our attention.”

TMA President Don Young added, “Systems designed properly, with the proper equipment, installed properly, by trained technicians, monitored properly, and operated by properly trained users typically operate without fault or failure for years and reduce false alarms. The IQ program requirements are in direct alignment with TMA’s mission of advancement and commitment to excellence. It is a valuable addition to our program portfolio.”

The IQ Certification program was approved by AT&T FirstNet “to satisfy one of the certification requirements to participate in the FirstNet program, the other being having a listing by a Nationally-recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) such as UL, ETL, or FM,” Besore noted.

Amherst Alarm President and CEO Tim Creenan pointed out that the IQ Certification Guidelines provided a foundation upon which his company has established best practices for operations.

“These guidelines have helped us create and grow a business that provides systems that consumers can trust because of the demonstrated low dispatch rates,” Creenan said. “The program has also created a large competitive advantage for us. Our sales team uses the IQ certification to differentiate our company from the competition. It is a wise investment for any security systems company to invest in quality.”

For additional information, contact TMA Executive Director Celia T. Besore by email at cbesore@tma.us or by telephone at (703) 660‐4913.