Silco Fire & Security

What Silco Fire & Security does

Silco Fire & Security is a privately held, family-owned (Fraser family, 4th generation) life safety services provider headquartered in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Founded in 1931 as Standard Industrial Laundry Company and operating in fire protection since the 1959 founding of Brakefire (acquired in the 1970s; current form under Jim Fraser since 1978), the company offers installation, inspection, testing, monitoring, repair, and maintenance of fire protection systems — fire extinguishers, fire alarms, sprinkler systems (wet, dry, pre-action, deluge, foam), kitchen suppression, special hazard suppression (clean agent, CO2, dry chemical, vehicle), exit and emergency lighting, BDA/DAS, mass notification, and live fire training — alongside electronic security services including security alarms, IP/analog video surveillance, cloud-based access control, automatic gates/doors/turnstiles, and dedicated K-12 school security. Service is delivered through eight branch offices across Ohio (Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo) and Kentucky (Louisville/Brooks), with coverage extending into Southeast Indiana, Western Pennsylvania, and the greater Detroit area. The company operates a 24/7 UL-certified monitoring center and a 27,500 sq ft James A. Fraser Training Center in Columbus (opened 2021), supported by a 45,000 sq ft corporate headquarters in Evendale, Ohio.

The business generates revenue across three streams: recurring subscription monitoring (fire alarm and security alarm monitoring via internet/cellular/4G LTE and UL-certified central station), project-based installation work (fire protection and security system deployments), and ongoing inspection, testing, and maintenance contracts conducted under NFPA 10/25/72/96 standards with UL 300 compliance for kitchen suppression. Pricing is quote-based rather than published; no public rate cards exist and contracts are not locked long-term. Go-to-market is direct field sales with dedicated multi-licensed technicians (majority holding more than one fire or security license), inside sales through a 24/7 customer service center, and customer self-service via a web portal and Apple/Android mobile apps. Silco serves 45,000+ customers across Ohio and surrounding states, with named verticals including commercial/industrial businesses, K-12 schools, healthcare facilities, restaurants/food service, special hazard environments, and large commercial buildings requiring BDA/DAS coverage. Service-quality investments include a dedicated QA team performing 3,000+ random audits per year ($250K+ annual program investment) and in-house NICET Level III and IV engineers for custom special hazard system design. Silco has earned back-to-back Inc. 5000 recognition (2024, 2025), the 2025 Deloitte Cincinnati 100 listing, 7 consecutive years of Top Workplaces recognition, BBB Accreditation, and Best of Kentucky 2026.

Name

Silco Fire & Security

Legal name

Silco Fire & Security

Website

https://silcofs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Silco Fire & Security is a Cincinnati-based, family-owned life safety services provider serving 45,000+ commercial, industrial, K-12, healthcare, and government customers across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Michigan with fire protection, electronic security, suppression, monitoring, inspection, and maintenance services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection and Security Services

NAICS

Security Systems Services (56162), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822)

SIC

Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire Alarm Systems (Inspection/Testing/Monitoring/Service) (IMAIAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Alarm & Life Safety Systems Integration (BPAKAGAF), Testing, Inspection, Maintenance & Compliance Services (NFPA/Local Code) (HSAHAFAG), Commercial Fire & CO Detection Systems (Small Business/Light Commercial) (HSAHAFAI), Ancillary Fire Safety Devices & Integration (Audible/Visual Alarms, Strobes, Sirens) (HSAHAFAL)

Keywords

• Fire protection services
• Security alarm monitoring
• Sprinkler system installation
• Access control systems
• Life safety inspections

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fire Protection & Security Monitoring (Recurring): Ongoing monitoring services for fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, and security alarm systems. 24/7 UL-certified monitoring center. Recurring revenue stream with annual/multi-year service contracts. Customers are not locked into long-term contracts.
2. Installation Services: Installation of fire protection systems (fire extinguishers, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, kitchen suppression, special hazard suppression, BDA/DAS systems, vehicle suppression) and security systems (video surveillance, access control, automatic gates, doors, turnstiles, security alarms). One-time project-based revenue.
3. Inspection, Testing & Maintenance Services: Periodic inspection and maintenance services for all fire protection and security systems per NFPA standards. Services include sprinkler inspections, fire alarm testing, fire extinguisher inspections and recharge, kitchen suppression inspections, exit/emergency lighting inspections, and access control maintenance.
4. Live Fire Training Programs: Hands-on live fire training and classroom programs for fire extinguisher use and emergency preparedness. Offered to businesses and public fire service professionals, with CEU credits available for Ohio Fire Service Professionals.
5. Quality Assurance Inspections: Digital deficiency inspection reports with photographs, sold as part of inspection services to identify problems and compliance gaps for customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Silco Fire & Security installs, inspects, monitors, repairs, and maintains fire protection and security systems for commercial, industrial, institutional, and government customers across Ohio, Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, Western Pennsylvania, and the greater Detroit area. Offerings include fire extinguishers, fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, exit and emergency lighting, kitchen and special hazard suppression, BDA/DAS systems, video surveillance, access control, security alarms, and automatic gates, doors, and turnstiles.

Product overview

Silco Fire & Security provides comprehensive fire protection and security services across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. The company operates as a service-focused organization offering fire protection services (fire extinguishers, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, exit/emergency lighting, kitchen suppression, special hazard suppression, vehicle suppression, BDA/DAS systems, and live fire training) alongside security services (security alarms, video surveillance, access control, school K-12 security, automatic gates, automatic doors, and automatic turnstiles). All services include installation, inspection, monitoring, repair, and maintenance capabilities. The company also operates the James A. Fraser Training Center for hands-on technician and first responder training. Services are delivered through multiple Ohio locations (Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo) and Kentucky/Indiana offices, with 24/7 emergency response capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Extinguisher Services Sales, installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, recharge, refill, and hydrostatic testing of portable fire extinguishers, including clean agent options, compliant with NFPA 10.
• Fire Alarm Systems Installation, inspection, service, 24/7 monitoring, design, and programming of fire alarm systems across all brands, including voice evacuation and mass notification components.
• Sprinkler Systems Installation, inspection, service, and monitoring of wet, dry, pre-action, deluge, and foam sprinkler systems, including fire pump and backflow maintenance.
• Exit and Emergency Lighting

Quantifiable outcome

• 45,000+ customers served across Ohio and surrounding states
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cintas Fire Protection: Fire protection division of Cintas Corporation, a large publicly-traded business services provider offering extinguisher, alarm, and sprinkler services nationally. Comparable service lines but backed by Cintas's national route-based sales infrastructure.
• Johnson Controls: Global building technology provider offering fire detection, suppression, security, and building management solutions. Competes with Silco on large commercial and institutional projects but operates at vastly greater scale and product breadth.
• Honeywell Building Technologies: Honeywell division providing commercial fire alarm, security, and building automation systems and services. Overlaps with Silco's fire alarm installation and monitoring offerings, typically at the enterprise end of the customer spectrum.
• APi Group: Public holding company that owns numerous fire protection and security subsidiaries across North America. Overlaps with Silco through shared service lines and customer types but operates as a portfolio of acquired regional brands rather than a single integrated operator.
• Everon (formerly ADT Commercial): National commercial security and fire life safety integrator spun out of ADT. Competes with Silco on integrated security, fire, and monitoring services for multi-site commercial customers across the U.S.
• Pye-Barker Fire & Safety: One of the largest U.S. fire and life safety service providers formed via aggressive regional roll-ups of fire protection and sprinkler operators. Directly comparable full-service offering but with multi-region and acquisition-driven scale Silco lacks.

Direct peers

• Koorsen Fire & Security: Indianapolis-based, family-owned fire protection and security services company with a comparable full-service model (extinguishers, alarms, sprinklers, security) across multiple Midwest and southern states. Closest direct competitor given similar size, ownership profile, and service breadth.
• Sciens Building Solutions: National fire and life safety systems integrator offering design, installation, and service for fire alarm, sprinkler, suppression, and security systems. Closely comparable in integrated service delivery and recurring-service revenue mix.
• Convergint Technologies: Large systems integrator delivering electronic security, fire alarm, and life safety services to commercial and enterprise customers globally. Closely comparable in security integration and recurring service model, but with substantially larger enterprise reach.

Emerging players

• Guardian Protection: Regional security and fire monitoring provider serving residential and light commercial customers in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Partial overlap with Silco's security monitoring arm but with lighter commercial fire protection depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/silcofs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@silcofireandsecurity
• Facebookfacebook.com/silcofs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silco-fire-&-security

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Silco Fire & Security