AFA Protective Systems’ 150th Anniversary
2023 marks the 150-year anniversary of AFA Protective Systems. Reaching such a remarkable milestone has us reflecting on what got us here. We are proud to have been protecting the people and assets of our customers for the past 150 years. The long-term relationships we have built with clients, partners, and employees remain extremely important to us.
AFA’s heritage as the nation’s first central station fire alarm company is a great source of pride for us. By striving to always meet the needs of our customers, we have grown into a company with lasting success providing unmatched service and solutions for all your fire protection and security needs.
AFA has been a reliable partner since 1873. As a pioneer in the life safety industry, our commitment to innovation and exceptional service has allowed us to maintain decades long relationships with many of our customers. We are honored to have been protecting and serving every one of our clients on this long journey.
There have been many notable milestones and achievements in AFA’s history. In 1875, the mayor of New York City asked our company to transmit fire alarm signals directly to the FDNY headquarters. AFA went on to develop the first multiplex signal transmission system, Centrak, in 1971. Using the enhanced Centrak II system, the company entered the high-rise life safety market in NYC beginning in 1973.
AFA’s NY Central Station became one of the first computerized central stations in the country in 1977, this was a major change in the fire industry. As the years went on, AFA started to use Digital Communicator Transmitters to send signals over the public switched telephone network. This allowed for the transmission of alarm signals from any location with phone service to AFA’s central station.
Our central station eventually started to receive signals via the internet, radio and cellular communicators which was a pivotal change for central station monitoring. In the years to follow, we launched our Vision Remote Services app to give subscribers the ability to access their central station account information and alarm activity at anytime from anywhere.
Our geographic footprint has grown over 150 years, giving more customers access to best-in-class services to better protect their people and assets. AFA currently has 18 branch offices serving customers up and down the east coast and a National Account Division to support retail chains and multi-location clients’ fire and security needs nationwide.
AFA finds the right technology, best approach, and best solution to give you peace of mind and ensure you are protected. Thank you for being with us the past 150 years! We look forward to many more years of meeting and exceeding your fire and security needs!
Contact us to learn more about how AFA’s experts can protect you.
