The Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) is a national nonprofit trade organization for individuals or companies whose primary business is the operation of central station facilities.
Its purpose, from its founding in 1950 to the present, has been to foster and improve relationships among providers and users of UL Listed and FMRC Approved central station protective services, and with agencies that have jurisdiction over, or regulate, such services.
For more details, download a color brochure here.
Membership in CSAA provides company executives an opportunity to meet and discuss operational procedures, business referrals, mutual problems and industry developments.
Through CSAA, members are alerted to legislative and regulatory actions affecting the alarm industry in general and the central station sector in particular.
CSAA holds a five-day annual meeting each fall in a beautiful resort setting, featuring seminars on the industry’s future, market trends and other topics.
A spring mid-year meeting gives members an additional opportunity to discuss issues and to chart CSAA’s response to future challenges. Seminars on specialized topics are also held from time to time.
Several online courses provide convenient and high-quality training to central station operators, alarm employees, and customers on central station operations, false alarm reduction and alarm industry introduction. Our Central Station Operators Level I Training Course has graduated over 1,500 central station operators since mid-2003. Level II was released at the end of May 2006, and promises to be just as successful. Members receive a 25% discount per operator on both courses!
CSAA’s staff maintains liaison with government agencies and groups such as the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police, the International Assn. of Fire Chiefs, the National Sheriffs Assn., the National Fire Protection Assn., the Assn. of Public-Safety Communications Officials and organizations in the insurance industry, as well as related groups such as the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Assn. and the Security Industry Assn.
Through the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC), CSAA works to protect members’ interests in the area of government affairs and regulation.
AICC retains attorneys and professional lobbyists to work with Congress and regulatory agencies to help insure that central stations are able to operate in the most efficient manner.
It works with the Federal Communications Commission, for example, to coordinate the exclusive radio frequencies allocated to central stations.
The Five Diamond Central Station Program, exclusive to CSAA members, provides differentiation in the marketplace by recognizing the commitment of these companies to excellence in employee education, customer service, operational standards, and the reduction of false dispatches. Fewer than 100 companies in the U. S. and Canada have achieved the designation!
CSAA publications include its quarterly CSAA Dispatch newsletter, its CSAA Signals fax bulletin, its annual Membership Directory, and publications reflecting the work of CSAA Committees, in such areas as false alarm reduction and industry standards.
A Practical Guide to Central Station Burglar Alarm Systems emphasizes the advantages of central station service to the insurance and law enforcement communities.
For more details, download a color brochure here.
Classes of Membership. The membership of this Association shall be divided into seven classes:
(a) North American Member (formerly Regular Member) (UL or FMRC Full Service). Any firm, corporation, or division of a corporation, for which participation in the installation, service, monitoring, and response to burglar and fire and/or other related alarms constitutes a significant portion of its business and which operates a central station that has been approved by Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC) and/or listed by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL).
The applicant must be listed by UL to provide UL burglar alarm certificates for its installations when required / requested by its customers or authorities having jurisdiction.
The applicant must be in compliance with NFPA 72: The National Fire Alarm Code, and agrees to conduct its business in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Association.
(b) North American Member (Modified Service). Any firm, corporation, or division of a corporation that satisfies the requirements cited in Paragraph IV (1) (a) above, except that the entity need not provide installation, service or response; however, if it does, it need not be capable of issuing UL burglar alarm certificates.
Further, its UL listed central station need not operate as a profit-making entity and may limit its service to its own facilities.
(c) Applicant Member. Any entity that satisfies every requirement for Regular Membership as cited in Paragraph IV 1 (a) or (b) above, except that the entity's central station has not been UL Listed and/or FMRC Approved.
The Applicant Member shall have all the rights and privileges of a Regular Member except that the Applicant Member shall not be entitled to vote.
An Applicant Member may remain an Applicant Member for a period of two years. At the expiration of the two-year period, if the Applicant Member’s central station has not received UL listing or FMRC approval, then the Applicant Membership shall automatically terminate.
(d) Associate Member. Any business entity engaged in the manufacture or distribution of products and/or services offered for sale to the regular members, other than consulting services.
(e) Honorary Member. Any person of acknowledged eminence in any profession or occupation who has been responsible for or who has made a significantly valuable personal contribution to the alarm industry or other attainment of its objectives.
Honorary members do not regularly participate in the association affairs.
(f) International Member. Any business entity that offers full service central station monitoring, installation, and service as required of Regular Members exclusively outside North America.
(g) Consultant. Any person or business entity whose only activity in the security industry consists of the provision of consulting services to the members of CSAA.
(h) Press. Any business entity engaged in the business of writing, editing, or publishing any newspaper, magazine, book, or other print or broadcast media.
Applicants for each class of membership agree to conduct themselves and their businesses in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Association.
Applicants for membership, in each class, shall submit to the Board of Directors a written application for membership.
The application shall be accompanied with the prescribed dues.
NEW: Application Forms - 2009 Membership Forms
- NEW: To pay with a credit card
- For North American (formerly Regular) Membership
- For Proprietary Membership
- For Associate Membership
- For International Membership
- For Consultants
- For Press
Contact Becky Lane, CSAA's Director of Membership at 703/242-4670, Ext. 18 or memberservices@csaaul.orgif you have any additional questions.
Is the Membership Transferable?
The membership is held by the company and it is not transferable.
If a change in the control of a member occurs,
- the membership shall be suspended; and,
- such member shall reapply for membership.
If such applicant is approved, such membership shall be reinstated without payment of initiation fees.
If not approved, membership shall terminate.
For further information about CSAA membership, contact:
Becky Lane
440 Maple Avenue East (Suite 201)
Vienna, VA 22180
Telephone 703-242-4670; x. 18
Fax 703-242-4675
membership@csaaul.org
