A HISTORY of the Ohio Burglar and Fire Alarm Association

In the mid 1970's, the electronic security industry in Ohio was represented by five separate groups based in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Toledo and Cleveland. The leaders of these five groups met with some frequency to discuss the concerns of their members and eventually, in the early 1980's formed an alliance. This was the beginning of the Ohio Burglar and Fire Alarm Association.

In 1986, the OBFAA as we know it today came into existence as a not for profit corporation for the purpose of promoting education and to foster positive relationships among its members, authorities having jurisdiction and the community.

A charter state chapter of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, the leadership of the OBFAA is a Board of Directors elected annually by the membership.

To maintain good standing, members of the OBFAA must adhere to the following ethical standards:

 

1.

We shall work together to improve, maintain and make available to the public the highest quality of security and supervisory alarm services.
 

We shall use our best efforts to:

• Promote friendly business relations and mutual confidence among our members.

• Disseminate information to our members and sponsor seminars or programs to keep them abreast of new developments and technology in our industry.

• Provide forums in which our members may fairly and lawfully exchange ideas and experiences which will enable them to protect and promote their business interest and enhance their ability to furnish their clients with the highest quality of security and supervisory alarm services.

We shall present our qualifications and proposals to prospective clients solely in terms of our ability, experience and reputation which shall be fairly and accurately stated.
 

We shall train our employees so they clearly understand company and association operations, procedures and policies and are qualified to implement them in their work and explain them to our clients.
 

We shall comply with all federal, state and local employment opportunity laws.
 

We shall conduct our dealings with our clients, prospective clients, competitors and employees in a manner consistent with applicable law and generally recognized standards of ethical and acceptable business practice.
 

We shall abide by all duly approved common carrier tariffs and regulations as well as local, state and federal laws and regulations applicable to our industry.
 

We shall sell, lease, install, monitor and service our security and/or supervisory alarm equipment in conformity with the Association's "Code of Ethics" and "minimum Installation Standards".
 

All references to our services and products and the advertising thereof shall be truthful, accurate and in full compliance with the sprit and purpose of all applicable legal requirements.
 

Today, the volunteers of Ohio Burglar and Fire Alarm Association are still working for the alarm dealers in Ohio, monitoring legislation affecting the electronic security industry in Ohio, holding training classes and providing valuable services to the membership.