The Monitoring Association (TMA) is pleased to announce that ADT – Knoxville, Tennesse has received the prestigious 'TMA Five Diamond Monitoring Center' designation.
This designation is granted annually to monitoring centres that satisfy all of the requirements of the 'five points of excellence':
- Commitment to ongoing job-related education and testing by having 100% of its monitoring centre operators certified using the TMA online training series on industry best practices.
- Commitment to random inspections and quality criteria standards by a nationally recognised testing laboratory, such as FM Approvals, Intertek/ETL, and UL.
- Commitment to raising the industry standards through TMA membership and participation in its activities.
- Commitment to reducing false dispatches.
- Commitment to the highest levels of customer service.
Five Diamond designation
TMA’s Five Diamond designation means, in particular, that a monitoring company has demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of responsibility to their local community and their customers through the investment of time, money, and commitment to quality operator training. Operators serve as the life-saving link between residential or business properties and the police, fire, and emergency services in local areas.
The TMA Monitoring Center Operator course covers virtually all phases of monitoring centre communications with customers, police, fire, and emergency services communications centres.
Criteria for designation
To achieve the Five Diamond designation, every operator must not only pass the course and recertify every three years, but demonstrate:
- Proficiency in alarm confirmation process, which helps reduce false alarms.
- Proficiency in communications with Public Service Answering Points, such as the Emergency 911 centres.
- Knowledge of electronic communications equipment, including, cellular, radio, and internet communication systems.
- An understanding of the codes and standards of such organisations 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.
UL827 registered TMA
In 2022, Five Diamond has expanded to include TMA Member video monitoring companies that are hosted by a UL827 registered TMA member data centre and fulfill all other program requirements.
There are approximately 2,700 monitoring centres in the United States that communicate and interact with police, fire, and emergency services agencies. Of this group, fewer than 130 monitoring centres have achieved the Five Diamond designation, setting these companies apart.
- Network / IP
- IP video surveillance
- Public sector security
- Security cameras
- PTZ cameras
- Security camera systems
- Security monitoring system
- Network cameras
- Physical Security Information Management (PSIM)
- IP security solutions
- Security communication
- Video Management System
- Warning Devices
- Video surveillance
