False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA)

What False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) does

FARA (False Alarm Reduction Association) is a 501-style non-profit professional association founded in 1997 and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. It serves public safety agencies (police departments, sheriff's offices, fire departments, municipal alarm administrators), alarm industry companies (monitoring firms, security integrators, central stations), and—downstream—alarm users across the United States and Canada. The association operates a community-led go-to-market, growing primarily through member referrals and annual events.

FARA's core offerings are knowledge and certification products rather than technology. The portfolio includes two membership tiers (Public Safety at $175/year, Associate at $350/year), a library of over 75 publications and a consolidated Model Ordinance, the Certified Alarm Manager (CAM) exam ($100) and annual renewal ($50 with 100 CEUs required), training products such as the Alarm User Awareness Class ($25/participant), free continuing-education webinars, peer-to-peer Assistance Requests, and an annual Training Conference/Symposium. Notable outputs include the FARA-NESA Video Verification Standard (2018) co-developed with the National Electronic Security Alliance, and collaborative webinars with The Monitoring Association on the AVS-01 alarm validation scoring standard.

The organization has 5 employees and a 108-member directory spanning US and Canada. Revenue is generated from membership fees, certification exams and renewals, paid training, and symposium registrations. Growth is community-led rather than sales-led, with member benefits, networking, and demonstrated value at industry events driving acquisition and retention.

Name

False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA)

Legal name

False Alarm Reduction Association

Website

https://faraonline.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FARA is a non-profit professional association founded in 1997 that serves public safety agencies, alarm industry companies, and alarm users across North America. It provides memberships, a 75+ publication library, the Certified Alarm Manager credential, training, and an annual symposium focused on false alarm reduction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Security Systems Services (56162), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Video Alarm Verification & Remote Video Monitoring (VSaaS Monitoring) (BPAKAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Testing, Inspection, Maintenance & Compliance Services (NFPA/Local Code) (HSAHAFAG)

Keywords

• False alarm reduction
• Alarm management association
• Public safety certification
• Alarm ordinance development
• Alarm user education

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: FARA generates revenue through annual membership fees from two categories: Public Safety Membership ($175/year) for government agencies and Associate Membership ($350/year) for companies with vested interest in alarm reduction. Membership provides access to publications, networking, assistance requests, and member-only resources.
2. Certification Program: Revenue from Certified Alarm Manager (CAM) exam fees ($100) and annual renewal fees ($50). The certification program requires passing a competency exam and annual recertification with 100 CEUs to maintain active status.
3. Training Courses: Revenue from user education courses including the FARA Alarm User Awareness Class ($25). Additionally, various free continuing education webinars are offered including customer communication, alarm validation scoring, and monitoring station best practices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) is a membership-based professional association that sells memberships, the Certified Alarm Manager (CAM) professional certification, training courses, and a library of over 75 publications and model ordinances to government agencies, alarm industry companies, and alarm users across North America. Its core purpose is to reduce false alarm dispatches through education, standardization, peer knowledge sharing, and professional credentialing.

Product overview

False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) is a professional association offering a membership-based portfolio of products and services focused on reducing false alarms for public safety agencies, alarm industry professionals, and alarm users. The core offerings include two membership tiers (Public Safety Membership at $175 for government agencies and Associate Membership at $350 for industry companies), a Professional Certification Program featuring the Certified Alarm Manager Exam ($100) and annual renewal ($50), and educational/training products including the Alarm User Awareness Class ($25) and free continuing education webinars. FARA also provides over 75 publications including the consolidated Model Ordinance and the FARA & NESA Video Verification Standard, along with member services such as Assistance Requests and an Annual Training Conference/Symposium. The organization serves as a clearinghouse for information and a forum for false alarm reduction professionals across North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Safety Membership Annual membership tier for government agencies charged with responsibility for alarm management. Provides up to 5 directory listings and logins to the members-only section of the FARA website. Priced at $175 per year.
• Associate Membership Annual membership tier for companies with a vested interest in advancing the purposes of the association. Provides up to 3 individual directory listings and logins to the members-only website section. Priced at $350 per year.
• Certified Alarm Manager (CAM) Exam

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 75 publications developed and maintained to help reduce false alarms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NESA (National Electronic Security Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Collaborative partnership with NESA to develop and release the FARA-NESA Video Verification Standard in 2018. Jointly developed standards covering video verification definitions, central station procedures, video quality standards, and installation/user responsibilities. Partnership aimed at reducing unnecessary dispatch requests through standardized video verification methods.
• The Monitoring Association (TMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMA collaborated with FARA on educational webinars covering alarm validation scoring (AVS-01 standard). TMA provides expertise on modern monitoring station practices including audio and video data for alarm classification. Joint efforts support standardization of alarm scoring for law enforcement resource allocation.
• Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC)minorOthersSIAC listed among national associations in FARA resources. Partnership facilitates coordination on industry-wide alarm reduction initiatives and provides members with additional industry connections.
• CANASA (Canadian Security Association)minorOthersCANASA referenced as resource for Canadian alarm companies. Supports FARA's North American scope by connecting Canadian members with regional industry resources and contacts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): Authority on fire, electrical, and life safety codes and standards, including the NFPA 72 alarm code. Relevant peer in fire alarm standards referenced in FARA's Model Ordinance and publications.
• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP): Largest association of law enforcement executives worldwide. Overlaps with FARA on the public safety side as law enforcement agencies that manage false alarm reduction programs are members of both organizations.
• ASIS International: Global professional association for security management professionals offering certifications (CPP, PSP), training, and standards. Broader than FARA but overlaps on security professional development and standards work.
• Electronic Security Association (ESA): Largest trade association representing the electronic security and life safety industry, including alarm installation and monitoring companies. Broader in scope than FARA but overlaps on alarm industry advocacy and member services.
• Security Industry Association (SIA): Trade association for global security product manufacturers, integrators, and service providers. Adjacent in membership and standards work, particularly around video verification, but with a much broader scope beyond false alarm reduction.

Direct peers

• National Electronic Security Alliance (NESA): Standards-focused alliance for the electronic security industry that co-developed the FARA-NESA Video Verification Standard. Directly comparable as a peer in security standards development and industry best practices.
• The Monitoring Association (TMA): National trade association for central station monitoring companies and providers of alarm verification services. Directly comparable as a partner/peer in alarm monitoring standards, having co-developed AVS-01 with FARA.
• Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC): Industry-led coalition focused on reducing false alarms and promoting alarm management best practices. Directly comparable as a peer organization dedicated to false alarm reduction, with overlapping mission and member base across law enforcement and alarm industry.

Others

• Security Sales & Integration (SSI) / Endeavor Business Media: Trade media organization covering the security and alarm industry. Not a direct peer but a related ecosystem participant that publishes industry content and serves overlapping alarm industry stakeholders.

Regional players

• Canadian Security Association (CANASA): National trade association for the Canadian security industry, including alarm and monitoring companies. Directly comparable in mission (alarm industry advocacy) but operates primarily in Canada, serving as FARA's regional industry counterpart.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AlarmReduction
• Facebookfacebook.com/faraonline.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/false-alarm-reduction-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA)