Silco Fire & Security
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1931
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Silco Fire & Security firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Silco Fire & Security industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Silco Fire & Security is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Silco Fire & Security business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based service pricing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Cellular monitoring upgrade pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Silco Fire & Security product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Silco Fire & Security
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Silco Fire & Security technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Silco Fire & Security partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators10 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Silco Fire & Security competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Silco Fire & Security social profiles
Digital presenceSilco Fire & Security financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Silco Fire & Security leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Silco Fire & Security funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Silco Fire & Security M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Silco Fire & Security
What does Silco Fire & Security do?
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.
Is Silco Fire & Security a public or private company?
Silco Fire & Security is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Silco Fire & Security founded?
Silco Fire & Security was founded in 1931. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Silco Fire & Security based?
Silco Fire & Security is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does Silco Fire & Security make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Fire Protection & Security Monitoring (Recurring) is the primary driver. The others are installation Services, inspection, Testing & Maintenance Services, live Fire Training Programs and quality Assurance Inspections.
Who are Silco Fire & Security's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cintas Fire Protection, Johnson Controls, Honeywell Building Technologies, APi Group, Everon (formerly ADT Commercial) and Pye-Barker Fire & Safety. Direct peers are Koorsen Fire & Security, Sciens Building Solutions and Convergint Technologies. Guardian Protection is listed as an emerging player.
Does Silco Fire & Security have an API?
No public API is recorded for Silco Fire & Security.
What industry is Silco Fire & Security in?
Silco Fire & Security's product category is Fire Protection and Security Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAJAC, Fire Alarm Systems (Inspection/Testing/Monitoring/Service), with a secondary code of BPAKAGAF, Fire Alarm & Life Safety Systems Integration. Its NAICS code is 56162 and its SIC code is 3829.