Benefits of TNSI Membership

The Tennessee Network of Security Integrators (TNSI) is a statewide non-profit organization representing the electronic systems industry which includes audio visual, fire, security, cameras, and computer networking. TNSI was founded in 1979 as the Tennessee Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (TBFAA). On October 28, 2010, the members of TBFAA voted to change the association name to the Tennessee Network of Security Integrators (TNSI). TNSI was established as an association to further the professionalism of the electronic systems industry. TNSI website address is www.TNSI.com

Member Benefits Include:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS – The TNSI Board of Directors works for you and is made up of 15 members of the association, which represent all aspects of the electronic systems industry. They meet five times a year, at their own expense, to discuss legislative and local issues that affect alarm dealers across the State of Tennessee. Board members are nominated and elected at the annual convention in the Fall of each year. All members are encouraged to step up and serve on our board of directors.

NETWORKING – Lasting friendships are formed when networking with other members of the association. Members can gain tremendous information from the wisdom of our more experienced members who have already dealt with the same situations and problems, while the younger generation can share valuable social networking knowledge and experiences.

FREE CEU COURSES - Licensed alarm contractors in Tennessee are required to complete 8 approved continuing education units (CEU’s) every year for their license renewal.  TNSI offers 8 CEU hours in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Johnson City and Chattanooga at least once a year, FREE to TNSI members. Eight additional CEU hours are offered at our annual convention.

ANNUAL CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW – TNSI hosts an annual convention and trade show each year bringing in manufacturers, distributors and monitoring companies to display the latest equipment and services available to electronic systems dealers in Tennessee. Eight CEU hours, a sporting clay tournament and golf tournament are also on the convention schedule.

LOBBYING – TNSI retains a lobbyist to constantly watch legislation that could threaten the electronic systems industry in Tennessee. A portion of each member’s dues helps to pay for our lobbyist. This is one of the best values TNSI offers.

REGIONAL MEETINGS – Regional meetings are held in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and the Tri Cities at various times throughout the year so you can get to know other dealers in your area as well as learn about important local issues. These meetings are informative and entertaining.

NEWSLETTERS – TNSI publish print publications as well as e-newsletters to provide you with information that you need to know to keep your company abreast of important issues that relate to the electronic systems industry both locally and nationally.

FIRE ALARM INSPECTION TAGS - TNSI created a color coded fire alarm inspection tag for its fire alarm dealers. Most Tennessee fire marshal’s offices now require these tags on fire alarm panels. The tag bears the fire alarm contractor’s name, phone number and a space for an inspection date. The green tag indicates that the alarm system has no deficiencies, a yellow tag indicates that the system is operational yet has a minor impairment, and a red tag indicates the system has a critical impairment and the system is inoperable.

POLICE & FIRE ASSOCIATION – Members of TNSI work to maintain great relationships with police and fire associations.

TNSI members serve on the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) Alarm Management Committee. This committee meets regularly with police chiefs from across the State of Tennessee to discuss false alarm prevention and lobbying efforts that affect both organizations. TNSI also sponsors the TACP annual awards luncheon and presents a deserving police chief the “Bill Smith Memorial Award,” a display case holding a very nice revolver. This association with the police chiefs is priceless!

TNSI is an affiliate member of the Tennessee Fire Service Coalition. The Coalition’s mission is to promote legislation and  improvements in fire protection for the life safety of the citizens and firefighters in Tennessee.  Charter members of the coalition include the Tennessee Fire Chief’s Association, Tennessee Fireman’s Association and the Tennessee Fire Safety Inspectors Association. Other affiliate members include the Tennessee Fire Sprinkler Association and the Tennessee Arson Investigators Association.

TNSI’s Executive Director attends the Tennessee Fire Inspectors Association Annual Conference each year to give updates on the electronic systems industry, reinforcing the alarm contractors licensing law requirement, stressing the importance of the inspectors asking to see the alarm contractor’s badge when inspecting fire systems and explaining the use of the fire alarm inspection tags. Board members have also provided a demonstration on a fire system working in conjunction with a sprinkler system.

SPONSORSHIPS – TNSI is a proud sponsor of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) and the Alarm Industry Research & Educational Foundation (AIREF).

The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) is comprised of four major North American Security Associations – Electronic Security Association (ESA), Canadian Security Association (CANASSA), Security Industry Association (SIA) which is the manufacturer’s association, and Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) – representing one voice for the alarm industry on alarm management issues. SIAC’s primary mission is to significantly reduce unnecessary dispatches while strengthening the lines of communications with law enforcement professionals and end users. Two members of each association serve on the SIAC board of directors.

The Alarm Industry Research & Educational Foundation (AIREF) serves as the research arm of the electronic life safety, security and systems industry. Through research and education, AIREF provides resources and statistics public safety officials can use to better understand our industry in their effort to protect and serve their communities.

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Did You Know...

- That the Tennessee Network of Security Integrators (TNSI) is the core of what you as an electronic systems dealer is all about? It is the vital link in the chain of command between our industry and government entities on the national, state and local levels.

- That the TNSI has retained a lobbyist, Mr. John Lyell, on your behalf, to watch out for your interests for more than 15 years?

- That the following legislation was introduced and passed by the TNSI Board of Directors and your lobbyist?

• Alarm Systems Contractors Law of 1991
• General Contractors are no longer exempt from the alarm contractors license.
• Alarm Systems Contractors are now exempt from the general contractor’s license provided said alarm contractor is working under an alarm contractors license.

- That the Board of Directors and your lobbyist have made the following changes to the Alarm Systems Contractors Law?

• Eliminated the bond from the license requirement.
• Changed the wording regarding the insurance certificate.
• Reduced the continuing education requirement from 16 hours to 8 hours.
• Reduced the license fees.

- That the Board of Directors and your lobbyist have defeated the following proposed legislation?

• A bill was introduced that would hold an alarm company financially responsible for any loss occurred by their service.
• A bill was introduced that would allow government utilities to complete against the private sector for alarm monitoring and services.
• A bill was introduced that would impose a 10 percent tax on alarm system monitoring to be used exclusively for funding police and firefighters pay supplements and other fire and law enforcement activities.
• Our lobbyist has, on numerous occasions, interpreted the alarm systems contractors’ law for counties and municipalities trying to impose stiffer penalties.

- About these legislative accomplishments?

• We increased the penalties for violators of the Alarm Systems Contractors Law from a “Class A Misdemeanor” to a “Class B Misdemeanor”.
• Code enforcement wanted to be listed as an insured on dealers liability policy, leaving liability vulnerable to anything code enforcement did. The Western region defeated that requirement.

- That TNSI helped implement Enhanced Call Verification (ECV)? Tennessee became the second state in the country to fully enforce statewide Enhanced Call Verification. The amendment, which seeks to reduce false alarm dispatches and the impact they have on police resources, mandates enhanced call verification be employed for all burglar alarm signals except for hold up alarms. Calling a second number such as a cell phone can frequently disqualify alarms as false, thereby preventing the unnecessary dispatch of police to the scene. The amendment passed unanimously by the legislature and Governor Phil Bredesen signed the amendment into law on May 15, 2007.

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