Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) are government organizations, offices, or individuals that have the power to enforce and interpret the requirements of a fire code and approve equipment, materials, installations or procedures. They are a critical aspect of ensuring the safety and effectiveness of fire systems and fire system monitoring. By working closely with the AHJ, installers and monitoring centers can demonstrate their commitment to maintaining a safe and reliable system for detecting and responding to fires.
In New York City, the AHJ is the FDNY and the New York City Department of Buildings. These organizations set stringent standards for fire systems installers and monitoring centers to follow. For example, all commercial fire alarm systems must be monitored by a monitoring center that has been approved by the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). All monitoring agents must go through rigorous training, pass an FDNY-issued test, and hold a valid certificate issued by the FDNY. Approval by the FDNY is a major source of pride for DGA because it is one of the most difficult-to-achieve certifications in the monitoring industry.
