Media Contact: Erin Holland
McLean, VA (Sept. 8, 2025) - A new study from the International Public Safety Data Institute (IPSDI) and UL Solutions shows that stricter fire alarm certification standards can reduce false alarms and strengthen community safety.
The data shows that for more than 35 years, false alarms have consistently accounted for about 25 percent of non-EMS calls, a costly burden that puts firefighters at risk and strains community resources. This report is important because it demonstrates that stronger fire alarm certification standards can change the trajectory and deliver safer outcomes. The UL Fire Alarm Systems Certification Program, adopted through Central Station Services (CSS) requirements in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, sets higher standards for system installation, monitoring, and maintenance.
Researchers compared commercial fire alarm rates in three types of communities: CSS/UL program users, jurisdictions neighboring a CSS/UL community, and non-users. A pilot study showed striking differences. A city in Florida with CSS reported a 4.9 percent commercial fire alarm rate, compared to 9 percent in a Virginia city without the program - nearly half the rate.
While many UL program communities showed improvement in commercial alarm rates, results varied. The study points to factors influencing program performance, such as enforcement consistency, building environment, and the strength of program adoption. One California city stood out with the lowest alarm rate in the study, likely attributed to decades of requiring a CSS/UL program. Communities neighboring a CSS/UL community sometimes saw what researchers termed “spillover benefits”, as alarm companies serving CSS/UL communities tend to have better-trained professionals who apply stronger practices across jurisdictional boundaries. Even with disruptions to alarm trends resulting from COVID-19, which altered occupancy patterns, long-term adoption of certification programs consistently correlated with lower alarm rates.
Researchers recommend that fire chiefs track alarm rates as a community health indicator. In the same way that body mass index reflects individual health, alarm rates measure community risk reduction. The new national fire reporting system, rolling out in 2026, is expected to improve data quality, which may provide sharper insight.
“There is no question these programs work. The question is how quickly cities can adopt them,” said John Oates, CEO of IPSDI. “The study underscores that stronger prevention measures are not a luxury. They are an essential investment in firefighter safety and community risk reduction.”
The study is available for download here.
The International Public Safety Data Institute (IPSDI) is a nonprofit research and data science organization advancing innovation in the fire service. Founded in 2018, IPSDI develops platforms, tools, and analyses that help departments reduce risk and improve emergency response. Our mission is enhancing public safety through data science. Our vision is leveraging technology to provide lifesaving insights that improve fire service operations, community risk reduction, and firefighter health and safety. Learn more at www.i-psdi.org.