APCO International is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited Standards Developer (ASD). As such, APCO ensures that public safety communications has a role in the development of standards that affect our industry. APCO’s standards development activities include developing standards as well representing public safety communications in other standards development areas. Learn more about the standards development process.
Contribute to Producing Public Safety Communications Standards
Take your professional game to the next level and contribute to producing standards for public safety communications.
It may seem intimidating but it is not. You will meet people from across the country who share common interests and goals in public safety communications. Not only will you be contributing your knowledge and experience to the standard but you will learn a lot from your peers during the process.
You do not need to be an expert to participate. You just need to be willing to contribute and use your skills to accomplish a common goal.
Join a Working Group
When APCO creates a new standard or revises an existing one, the working groups are the creative minds behind the standard. Groups include about 15 volunteers with training, operations or technical backgrounds who research and write a standard together. Working groups will generally meet twice a month for a 50-minute conference call and conduct some work offline. Before you join a working group, be sure you have time in your busy schedule to join the monthly meetings and to conduct some additional work offline. You do not need to be an APCO member to participate in APCO Standards Development activities. All parties with a direct and material interest are encouraged to participate.
The following working group are currently seeking members.
1.111.3-202X Emergency Communications Common Disposition Codes for Data Exchange – Revision
Emergency communications centers (ECCs) across the country rely on disposition codes to accurately identify and communicate the outcomes of events and incidents. The current disposition codes standard requires revision and ongoing maintenance to reflect modern emergency response practices and evolving incident types.
An up-to-date standard is critical for:
- Ensuring consistent incident outcome classification across ECCs
- Facilitating accurate data exchange between agencies
- Supporting effective interoperability during multi-jurisdictional responses
- Maintaining compliance with current emergency management protocols
- Enabling meaningful data analysis and reporting
The Working Group will meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. ET for 50 minutes each meeting.
1.117.2-202X Emergency Communication Center (ECC) Key Performance Indicators – Revision
This revised standard will establish specific, measurable areas of communications center performance to effectively benchmark operational effectiveness and provide management with essential performance indicators. The standard will address, but not be limited to, call volume and response metrics, technology and communication channels, and overall system performance and operations.
The working group will develop comprehensive guidelines and metrics that enable communications center management to:
- Establish standardized performance benchmarks across ECCs
- Implement data-driven decision-making processes
- Enhance operational efficiency and service delivery
- Ensure consistent measurement and reporting practices
- Support continuous improvement initiatives
The Working Group will meet on the first and third Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. ET for 50 minutes each meeting.
2.103.3-202X Public Safety Communications Common Incident Types for Data Exchange – Revision
This essential standard revision will establish a comprehensive, standardized vocabulary of incident types that enables seamless information sharing and resource coordination across public safety agencies during emergency responses. We are seeking dedicated volunteers to participate in a critical working group to develop and refine a standardized list of descriptive terms that clearly identify incident types requiring emergency response.
This standard will not require agencies to modify their internal incident type classifications. Instead, it provides a common framework to which agencies can map their existing internal data structures.
The Working Group will meet on the second and fourth Mondays at 1:00 p.m. ET for 50 minutes each meeting.
Check back often to join this important work and contribute to the future of public safety communications.
Join a Standards Development Committee
APCO has five committees that are involved in governing and managing the standards development process, the Standards Development Main Committee (SDC) and four subcommittees for Operational, Technical and Training Standards, plus the Occupational Analysis Subcommittee.
- SDC Operational Subcommittee
- SDC Technical Subcommittee
- SDC Training Subcommittee
Recruitment for the standards development committee is continuous. At different times, we might need:
- Users of public safety equipment and processes
- Producers of public safety equipment and processes
- Those with a general interest in public safety standards, such as academia, consultants, and other governmental agencies.
If you are interested in joining one of the committees, complete the survey now to be considered for current needs or as they arise. You do not need to be an APCO member to participate in APCO standards development activities. All parties with a direct and material interest are encouraged to participate.
APCO's Standards Development Process
As an ANSI-accredited Standards Developer (ASD), APCO International must adhere to ANSI’s essential requirements for due process. APCO has developed policies for the development and coordination of American National Standards (ANS). These procedures provide a method for:
- Announcing standards development activities
- Ensuring that qualified organizations develop them
- Harmonizing duplicate or conflicting standards
- Coordinating the approval of standards
ANSI further ensures that persons directly or materially affected by the activity under development has access to the standards process – including an appeals mechanism. It also requires periodic reviews to ensure the standard is a “living” document.
Adherence to these guidelines ensures that APCO’s standards development process provides due process, balance and lack of dominance. It provides opportunities to address all interests and work together toward a common solution.
Questions?
Email [email protected] or call the Standards Program Manager at (386) 944-2459 .
