By: Jeanne Palmer-Wulforst
Who Is PPVAR?
I’ve heard it many times and there is no denying that the acronym is certainly a tongue-twister, but it truly describes this organization: The Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response (PPVAR) was established to promote the value of verification and validation of alarm events during the emergency response process using video, audio, and other emerging technologies while deploying those technologies with proven best practices.
PPVAR is a nationwide organization made up of professionals from all facets of the alarm industry. What makes this organization unique is that it also incorporates a diverse membership consisting of officials within law enforcement, public safety, emergency communications and consultants . PPVAR listens carefully to the needs of public safety and the alarm industry with a goal to improve the alarm response process for all. Collaboration is a core value and partnership is quite literally in our name!
Alarm Validation Scoring ANSI Standard
Most recently, PPVAR has been focused on the TMA-AVS-01 (Alarm Validation Scoring) ANSI standard.
The genesis of the idea of an alarm classification process began at PPVAR. PPVAR then began collaborating with The Monitoring Association (TMA), an ANSI Accredited Standards Development Organization, and others to create an intrusion alarm classification standard.
After nearly two years of weekly meetings with many different stakeholders and internal and public comment periods, TMA-AVS-01 was approved. Because of our collaborative efforts and targeted focus, AVS-01 came to fruition quicker than the normal process of approval for many other standards while still allowing for thorough stakeholder input in the process.
In anticipation of AVS-01’s approval, PPVAR worked to create educational materials for law enforcement and emergency communication centers, assisted in creating training for monitoring centers, brought awareness of the standard through articles in many stakeholder publications and speaking engagements at conferences throughout the country.
As PPVAR continues to support the roll-out of AVS-01 nationwide, it is also working on the TMA-ATN-01 (Active Threat Notification) standard and other alarm verification issues. Many of its member companies were the first to pilot AVS-01 in their monitoring centers and are carefully documenting feedback from public safety.
Are we just another trade association? Absolutely not. With a dedicated board that includes some of the brightest minds with years of experience, encouragement of input from members and willingness to collaborate, PPVAR stands out as a focused, roll-up-your sleeves and get to work type of organization.
We encourage you to join PPVAR to support its mission and initiatives. You can be a key part of creating a change for the better in the alarm response process. Visit our website to access many resources and additional information about PPVAR www.ppvar.org .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jeanne Palmer-Wulforst is the Executive Director for the PPVAR, an organization established to promote the value of verification and validation of alarm events during the emergency response process using video, audio, and other emerging technologies along with proven best practices.
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