When you need a locksmith for your home, vehicle, or business, you are often in a stressful situation and looking for quick help. In Louisiana, locksmith services are regulated by state law to protect consumers and ensure that only qualified, vetted individuals perform this type of work. Understanding what to look for before hiring a locksmith can help you avoid scams, overcharges, and unqualified service.

In Louisiana, legitimate locksmiths must be properly licensed through the State Fire Marshal’s Office under the state’s life safety and property protection laws. This licensing process includes background checks, defined scopes of work, and ongoing compliance requirements. Consumers should always ask whether the locksmith or locksmith company is licensed in Louisiana and be prepared to verify that information. A licensed locksmith should have no hesitation in providing their license number and company information, and they should arrive in clearly marked vehicles and uniforms that match the business they represent.

Advertising is another important area where consumers should be cautious. Louisiana law regulates how locksmiths may advertise their services, including requirements that advertisements accurately represent the business location and licensing status. Be wary of ads that list only a toll-free number, have no physical address, or appear to route calls to out-of-state call centers. These are common red flags for unlicensed operators or “bait-and-switch” schemes where the price quoted over the phone changes dramatically once the technician arrives.

Before authorizing any work, consumers should ask for a clear explanation of the services needed and an estimate of the cost. A reputable locksmith will explain the problem, discuss available options, and provide transparent pricing. While emergency situations may limit detailed estimates, sudden price increases, vague explanations, or pressure to approve unnecessary work should raise concern. For vehicles and businesses in particular, locksmiths should also request proof of ownership or authorization before performing services, which is a sign they are following proper legal and ethical standards.

For businesses, hiring a licensed locksmith is especially important. Commercial locksmith work often involves access control systems, master keying, and security hardware that directly affect life safety and property protection. Using an unlicensed or unqualified individual can create security vulnerabilities, liability issues, and potential violations of insurance or lease requirements.

Consumers are encouraged to take a moment, even in urgent situations, to verify credentials and ask questions. Choosing a licensed, Louisiana-based locksmith helps ensure the work is done safely, legally, and professionally. The Louisiana Life Safety & Security Association supports licensed professionals across the state and encourages consumers to work with companies that meet Louisiana’s legal and ethical standards. Doing so protects not only your property, but your peace of mind.

The Louisiana Life Safety & Security Association is proud to welcome four new leaders to the LLSSA Board of Directors. Each brings valuable experience, regional insight, and a shared commitment to strengthening the life safety and property protection industry across Louisiana. Their appointments reflect the Association’s continued focus on engagement, growth, and service to our membership.

Patrick Taylor has been appointed as Region 2 Vice President. In this role, Patrick will serve as a key liaison between the Board and members in his region, working to ensure that regional concerns, opportunities, and ideas are represented at the state level. His focus will be on increasing participation in regional activities and fostering stronger communication among companies and professionals within Region 2. Members are encouraged to attend the upcoming Region 2 meeting on March 5th in Baton Rouge to connect with Patrick and stay informed on regional initiatives.

Frank Gardner joins the Board as Region 4 Vice President. Frank will concentrate on strengthening regional involvement and encouraging collaboration among members throughout Region 4. His efforts will support professional development, compliance awareness, and peer networking within the region. The next Region 4 meeting at the Dealer Conference in Natchitoches in April will provide members an opportunity to meet Frank, share feedback, and discuss topics impacting their local market.

Lynne Hariston has been appointed as Region 5 Vice President. Lynne’s role will focus on member engagement, outreach, and ensuring Region 5 members remain informed and connected to LLSSA programs, education, and advocacy efforts. She looks forward to working closely with members at the next Region 5 meeting on May 7th to hear their perspectives and help advance regional priorities.

Kevin Babin steps into the role of Membership Committee Chairperson at a critical time for the Association. Kevin will lead efforts to strengthen member recruitment, retention, and overall value, while helping ensure members fully understand the benefits of LLSSA participation. With membership renewals currently underway, this is an ideal time for members to reconnect, renew, and take advantage of the education, advocacy, and networking opportunities LLSSA provides.

The LLSSA Board is excited to welcome Patrick Taylor, Frank Gardner, Lynne Hariston, and Kevin Babin into their new leadership roles. Their dedication and focus will play an important part in advancing the Association’s mission and supporting the professionals who protect lives and property throughout Louisiana. Members are encouraged to stay engaged, attend regional meetings, and renew their membership as we move forward together.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently evaluating a significant petition from NextNav, a company proposing to reconfigure a portion of the radio spectrum known as the Lower 900 MHz band — a range of frequencies between 902 MHz and 928 MHz that is widely used today by a broad array of wireless devices. NextNav’s petition seeks to restructure this spectrum and grant the company a nationwide license to deploy a 5G-based terrestrial positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) network that would complement and provide a backup to the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS). In its filings, NextNav emphasizes the importance of a resilient alternative to GPS, particularly for indoor positioning and location services where satellite signals can be weak or unavailable. The company argues that terrestrial PNT could improve critical services such as emergency response, bolster national infrastructure, and enhance location accuracy in buildings and complex environments. 

The proposal has attracted substantial attention because the Lower 900 MHz band is not an unused portion of spectrum. It currently supports a wide variety of unlicensed “Part 15” devices that operate without individual licenses, including wireless security systems, panic buttons, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, medical alert pendants, access control systems, smart home automation technologies, RAIN RFID and LoRa devices, and other life safety and property protection equipment. These systems depend on reliable low-power radio communication across the band, often as a backbone for alarm signaling, remote monitoring, and wireless data transmission. 

Industry stakeholders and technical experts have raised concerns that NextNav’s reconfiguration, which would allocate a large portion of the band for high-power 5G transmissions, could crowd out or interfere with these existing devices. Engineering research commissioned by major security and alarm associations indicates that the introduction of powerful, cellular-like signals in the band could reduce the effective range and reliability of devices critical to public safety and property protection. In some scenarios, interference could compromise the ability of alarms to transmit signals reliably, degrade the performance of life safety communications, and affect everyday devices that contribute to situational awareness and emergency response. 

At the same time, proponents of the proposal highlight the need for better indoor location accuracy for first responders, noting that GPS alone can be insufficient in multi-story structures or urban environments. They argue that a terrestrial PNT system could provide floor-level location information during emergencies, improving situational awareness and potentially reducing response times. Supporters at a First Responder Indoor Tracking Summit expressed urgency in developing complementary technologies to GPS that could operate in areas where satellite navigation fails. 

For life safety and property protection agencies, this issue underscores the complex balance between innovation in emergency communications and protection of existing safety infrastructure. Agencies should approach this proposal with clear priorities: ensuring that changes to spectrum management do not diminish the reliability of current alarm and safety systems, and advocating for solutions that are compatible with the wide range of devices already deployed to protect homes, businesses, schools, and critical infrastructure.

Professional organizations and agencies should engage with the FCC proceeding by submitting technical comments, supporting engineering studies, and highlighting the operational realities of life safety communications. It is vital to provide regulators with detailed information about how current devices operate, what interference risks might look like in real-world environments, and how any transition could be managed without disrupting service. Collaborative technical analysis, rather than speculation, will help ensure that spectrum policy decisions protect the public interest. Agencies may also consider forming or joining industry coalitions to provide unified input that reflects a broad range of operational perspectives. 

In internal planning and advocacy, life safety and property protection professionals should prepare both to articulate the value and spectrum needs of existing technologies and to assess proposed future systems that could benefit public safety. This includes encouraging the FCC to require robust coexistence testing, clear interference mitigation measures, and protections for the reliability of life safety communications before adopting any new rules.

The NextNav proposal has not yet been adopted, and the FCC continues to review comments and technical data from industry stakeholders, government agencies, and technology proponents. What remains essential is that life safety and property protection agencies remain informed, engaged, and proactive in contributing to the record. Ensuring that spectrum policy decisions preserve the integrity of life safety systems while assessing the merits of new technologies is critical to maintaining both innovation and public safety.

Membership in the Louisiana Life Safety & Security Association (LLSSA) provides far more than a logo on a website or a name in a directory. It offers meaningful support for companies and professionals working in Louisiana’s life safety, security, fire protection, locksmith, access control, and integrated systems industries. LLSSA exists to strengthen its members’ businesses, advance professionalism, and protect the future of the industry through education, advocacy, and collaboration.

One of the most significant benefits of LLSSA membership is access to high-quality education and continuing professional development. The association offers a wide range of training opportunities designed specifically for Louisiana-licensed life safety and property protection professionals. These include in-person classes, regional training events, live webinars, and large-scale educational conferences. Many of these programs provide Continuing Education Units required for licensing and renewal, and members receive discounted registration rates. LLSSA’s educational offerings are developed with direct input from industry experts and regulators, ensuring content is practical, relevant, and compliant with current state requirements.

LLSSA membership also opens the door to a full calendar of industry events that combine education, networking, and business growth. The Annual Convention and Trade Show brings together professionals from across the state for multiple days of CEU sessions, regulatory updates, and hands-on access to manufacturers, distributors, and service providers. Dealer conferences, regional meetings, and special events throughout the year give members opportunities to stay informed, exchange ideas, and build relationships that often lead to partnerships, referrals, and long-term business connections. Member pricing for these events offers substantial savings while encouraging active participation.

Beyond education and events, LLSSA membership delivers tangible cost-saving benefits that directly impact day-to-day business operations. Members gain access to association-sponsored programs designed to reduce expenses on essential services and tools needed to operate efficiently. These include business support resources, administrative services, and exclusive member discounts that can offset the cost of membership many times over. For companies focused on managing overhead while maintaining compliance and professionalism, these savings are a key advantage.

Insurance and risk management opportunities are another important benefit of LLSSA membership. Through strategic partnerships with industry-focused providers, members may have access to group insurance options and employee benefit programs tailored to the life safety and security industry. These programs can help businesses control costs while offering competitive benefits that support employee recruitment and retention. In addition, being part of a recognized professional association can positively support conversations with insurers by demonstrating commitment to training, standards, and best practices.

LLSSA also plays a critical role in representing the interests of its members before regulators, legislators, and industry stakeholders. The association actively monitors legislative and regulatory developments that affect life safety and property protection businesses in Louisiana. By engaging with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and other authorities, LLSSA helps ensure that rules and policies are practical, clearly communicated, and reflective of real-world industry operations. This advocacy provides members with a collective voice that no individual company could achieve alone.

Community involvement and workforce development are central to LLSSA’s mission as well. Through its scholarship programs and outreach initiatives, the association invests in education and supports families connected to public safety and the life safety industry. These efforts help build goodwill, promote career pathways, and strengthen the future workforce that member companies depend on.

LLSSA offers multiple membership categories to ensure that companies, individuals, and allied organizations can participate at a level appropriate to their role in the industry. Licensed life safety and security companies, related industry businesses, manufacturers, service providers, affiliates, individuals, allied professionals, and public safety personnel all have membership options designed to provide value while supporting the association’s mission. This inclusive structure creates a diverse and collaborative community united by a shared commitment to safety, professionalism, and ethical business practices.

Ultimately, LLSSA membership is an investment in your business, your people, and the industry as a whole. It provides education that keeps you compliant and competitive, events that connect you with peers and partners, cost-saving programs that support your bottom line, and advocacy that protects your ability to do business in Louisiana. For professionals dedicated to life safety and property protection, LLSSA membership is not just beneficial — it is essential.

To learn more about membership opportunities and benefits, visit www.llssa.org

The Louisiana Life Safety & Security Association (LLSSA) has unveiled a new Members-Only section on its website, offering exclusive resources tailored for professionals in the life safety and security industry. While specific details of this section are protected and accessible only to members, LLSSA emphasizes that it is designed to provide valuable content and tools to support members’ professional growth and operational needs.

LLSSA is committed to enhancing this Members-Only section by regularly adding new features and resources. To ensure the platform meets the evolving needs of its members, LLSSA encourages feedback and suggestions. Members are invited to share their ideas on what they’d like to see in future updates, fostering a collaborative environment for continuous improvement.

To explore the exclusive content, members can visit the Members-Only section on the LLSSA website. Access requires member credentials, ensuring that the resources remain exclusive to LLSSA members.

For more information or to become a member, visit LLSSA’s Membership Page.

Stay connected with LLSSA for the latest updates and enhancements to the Members-Only section and take full advantage of the resources available to support your professional journey in the life safety and security industry.

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11th Annual Dealer Conference: Education, Innovation, and Industry Connection

The Louisiana Life Safety & Security Association (LLSSA) is pleased to announce the 11th Annual Dealer Conference, taking place April 8–9, 2026, at the Natchitoches Events Center in Natchitoches, Louisiana. This premier event brings together company owners, decision-makers, and technicians for two days of focused education, networking, and industry insight.

The Dealer Conference is designed to serve every segment of the life safety and security industry. Attendees can choose from dedicated business and technical education tracks, participate in technician-focused sessions, attend the state meeting, and connect with peers and vendors on the tradeshow floor. Industry-leading instructors will present timely content covering fire, security, and emerging technologies, delivering practical information you can apply immediately.

The conference also features a Welcome Reception, interactive sessions, and a full tradeshow showcasing leading manufacturers and service providers. Space is limited, and sessions are expected to fill quickly, so early registration is strongly encouraged to secure your preferred classes.

Enhance your experience with the Event Application, which allows you to connect with other attendees, build a personalized schedule, participate in interactive activities, and compete for prizes. The app is designed to help you make the most of your time at the conference. Details on the app launch will be announced soon.

Education remains the cornerstone of the Dealer Conference. Sessions are led by experienced industry professionals and focus on current trends, best practices, and real-world solutions that support business growth, compliance, and technical excellence.

In addition to education, the tradeshow provides the opportunity to explore new products, services, and solutions while strengthening relationships with industry partners and sponsors. It is an ideal setting to discover what’s new and build connections that last beyond the event.

The Dealer Conference is more than a meeting—it’s a complete industry experience. Register early to secure your spot and join us in Natchitoches for two days of learning, collaboration, and professional growth.

For registration, schedules, venue details, and hotel information, visit the Dealer Conference page. We look forward to seeing you there.

In the life safety and property protection industry, codes and standards are more than reference documents—they are the foundation of professional practice. From system design and installation to inspection, testing, maintenance, and enforcement, the codes and standards that govern our work define what “safe,” “reliable,” and “compliant” truly mean. The image above highlights the breadth of fire-related standards used around the world, spanning detection, alarm, suppression, electrical systems, and building safety. For Louisiana professionals, understanding how these standards interact—and which ones apply—is essential to protecting lives, property, and your business.

At the national level, the work of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) forms the backbone of life safety regulation across the United States. NFPA standards such as the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, the Life Safety Code, and the National Electrical Code establish minimum requirements for system performance, installation practices, and ongoing maintenance. In Louisiana, many of these standards are adopted by reference through the State Fire Marshal’s Office and local authorities having jurisdiction. That adoption makes NFPA compliance not optional, but mandatory, and places the responsibility squarely on licensed professionals to know and apply the correct editions and requirements.

At the same time, the industry does not operate in a vacuum. International standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and European Norms (EN) influence equipment manufacturing, system design, and performance testing worldwide. Many devices installed in Louisiana—fire alarm control units, detectors, suppression systems, and extinguishers—are designed and built to ISO or EN standards before they ever reach the U.S. market. A working knowledge of these standards helps professionals better understand product capabilities, limitations, and intended applications, particularly when dealing with specialized hazards, clean agent systems, or global manufacturers.

Equally important are product safety and performance certifications issued by organizations such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Listings and labels verify that equipment has been tested to recognized standards and performs as intended when installed correctly. For Louisiana contractors, installers, inspectors, and sales professionals, recognizing the role of third-party certification is critical when specifying equipment, documenting compliance, and defending installations during inspections or audits.

Understanding codes and standards is not just about passing inspections—it is about professional credibility and risk management. Improper application of a standard, failure to follow testing and maintenance requirements, or misunderstanding how multiple codes intersect can expose companies to liability, enforcement actions, and reputational damage. More importantly, it can put occupants, first responders, and property at unnecessary risk. Codes exist because lessons were learned—often through loss—and they represent the collective knowledge of the industry.

For Louisiana life safety and property protection professionals, this knowledge is also directly tied to licensing, continuing education, and ethical practice. Staying current with adopted codes, amendments, and referenced standards is part of being a responsible professional. It allows you to communicate clearly with regulators, educate customers accurately, and design systems that truly meet the intent of the law—not just the minimum line items on a plan review checklist.

The Louisiana Life Safety & Security Association (LLSSA) exists to support professionals in navigating this complex landscape. Through education programs, conventions, regional meetings, webinars, and industry updates, LLSSA helps bridge the gap between evolving codes and real-world application. In an industry where standards continue to expand and technology evolves rapidly, understanding the “why” behind the codes is just as important as knowing the rule itself.

In the end, codes and standards are not obstacles to overcome—they are tools that empower life safety and property protection professionals to do what matters most: protect people, safeguard property, and uphold the trust placed in our industry across Louisiana.

In the life safety and property protection industry, one recurring question continues to surface: does a tenant need to sign a contract if the property owner has already signed one? A recent Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum article highlights why this issue matters and why alarm, fire, and security professionals should not treat it as a simple formality. The answer often depends on who owns the system, who uses it day-to-day, and who is expected to comply with the contractual obligations tied to monitoring, maintenance, testing, and response.

From a Louisiana perspective, this question carries added importance. Under Louisiana law, contracts are generally enforceable only against the parties who sign them and have legal authority over the obligations being assumed. When a property owner signs an agreement for life safety or property protection systems, that contract typically governs installation, ownership of equipment, and long-term obligations such as monitoring or service fees. However, tenants are often the daily users of these systems. They arm and disarm alarms, interact with access control systems, and may be responsible—by ordinance or lease terms—for false alarms, system misuse, or compliance with local alarm regulations. If a tenant is not a party to the alarm or monitoring contract, enforcing responsibilities such as user training, operational compliance, or cost recovery can become difficult.

This distinction is especially relevant in Louisiana municipalities with alarm ordinances that place specific obligations or penalties on the “alarm user” rather than the property owner alone. False alarm fines, permit requirements, and renewal obligations may fall on the occupant of the premises, even when the owner signed the original contract. Without a tenant’s signature—or a clearly documented agreement tying the tenant to system responsibilities—alarm companies may find themselves caught between owners, tenants, and local authorities. For life safety systems, including fire alarms, similar issues arise when tenants control daily operations but are not contractually bound to testing schedules, impairment notifications, or misuse provisions.

The takeaway for Louisiana life safety and property protection professionals is not that every situation requires the same paperwork, but that clarity is critical. Contracts should clearly define who owns the equipment, who is responsible for system operation, and who bears liability for misuse, false alarms, or noncompliance. In many cases, obtaining a tenant acknowledgment or a separate agreement—especially when the tenant is the primary system user—can reduce disputes and protect all parties involved. As the Kirschenbaum article underscores, strong contracts are not just legal documents; they are risk-management tools that help ensure systems are used properly, laws are followed, and expectations are understood from the start.

LLSSA encourages members to review their contract practices with these considerations in mind and to consult qualified legal counsel when structuring agreements involving both property owners and tenants. Doing so helps safeguard your business, supports compliance with Louisiana law, and ultimately strengthens the life safety and property protection services provided to customers across the state.

Kat Brown has made truly remarkable contributions to the life safety and security industry in Louisiana, and her impact on LLSSA cannot be overstated. While her retirement marks the end of an era, it also offers an opportunity to celebrate a career defined by leadership, service, and a genuine commitment to strengthening our industry. Kat’s steady guidance, thoughtful decision-making, and willingness to step up whenever needed helped shape LLSSA into the strong, respected association it is today.

Throughout her years of service, Kat held numerous key leadership roles within LLSSA, including Convention Committee Chairperson, Legislative Chairperson, Membership Chairperson, and Election Chairperson. In each of these roles, she brought focus, integrity, and a deep understanding of the life safety and property protection profession. Her work was instrumental in building meaningful events, advancing legislative awareness, growing membership, and ensuring transparent and effective governance. Simply put, Kat helped mold both the association and the industry it serves across Louisiana.

Beyond her formal titles, Kat has been a passionate advocate for people. Her dedication to the WISE Group—Women in Security Empowerment—created space for women in the life safety and property protection industry to connect, learn, mentor one another, and grow professionally. Through WISE, Kat helped foster confidence, collaboration, and community, leaving a lasting legacy of empowerment that will continue to benefit future generations of industry professionals.

As we celebrate Kat Brown’s retirement, we do so with gratitude, admiration, and best wishes for the adventures ahead. Her legacy of service, leadership, and encouragement will remain firmly woven into the fabric of LLSSA. We invite our members and industry partners to join us in recognizing Kat’s incredible journey and thanking her for the lasting mark she has left on Louisiana’s life safety and security community.