Provider comparisons · California
A California-licensed alternative to Guardian Fire Protection
Buyers comparing this name are usually mid-cycle on inspections and testing. The thing worth verifying is how deficiencies are documented and who is licensed to correct them without a second contractor.
Guardian Fire Protection (guardianfireprotection.com) is a separate company with no affiliation to Fireside Security. We publish no claims about their services — go read their site and compare for yourself. Everything below about Fireside is publicly verifiable.
Do this first
What actually matters in this comparison
- Whether inspection and repair are handled by the same licensed team
- How deficiency reports are documented for your AHJ and insurer
- Whether NFPA 72 test frequencies are tracked for you or left to you
- What the response time commitment is for a trouble or supervisory signal
Side by side
Fireside's answers, and the questions to bring
| What to compare | Fireside Security | Ask Guardian Fire Protection the same |
|---|---|---|
| California contractor license | CSLB #978023, C-10 Electrical. Verifiable on the CSLB license lookup before you sign anything. | Ask for the CSLB number and check the class, status, bond, and workers' comp yourself. |
| Alarm company operator license | BSIS ACO #7133. Technicians are BSIS-registered, which California requires for alarm work. | Ask for the ACO number and confirm it is active with BSIS, not just an out-of-state license. |
| Central station monitoring | UL-Listed monitoring under UUFX S36457, 24/7/365. | Ask for the UL listing number of the central station that will actually receive your signals. |
| Who does the engineering and permitting | In-house. Fireside handles plan submittal, AHJ corrections, inspection, and closeout as one team. | Ask whether design, permitting, install, and service are the same company or subcontracted. |
| Geographic focus | California only, with offices in Santa Fe Springs, Hayward, San Mateo, and Sacramento. | Ask which physical office will dispatch your service calls and how far away it is. |
| Scope under one vendor | Fire alarm, monitoring, access control, video, intercom, and POTS replacement from one contractor. | Ask which parts of your scope get handed to a third party you'll never meet. |
| Years in operation | Operating since 1999. | Ask how long the local branch — not the parent holding company — has served your area. |
Questions
About this comparison
- Is Fireside Security affiliated with Guardian Fire Protection?
- No. Guardian Fire Protection is a separate, unaffiliated company. This page exists for California buyers comparing commercial fire protection contractors.
- Does Fireside do inspection and testing as well as installation?
- Yes. Fireside performs NFPA 72 inspection and testing, documents deficiencies, and — because it holds the C-10 license — can correct them without bringing in a second contractor.
- How do I check a California fire alarm contractor's license?
- Look up the license number on the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) site and confirm the alarm company operator license with the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). Fireside Security holds CSLB #978023 (C-10 Electrical), ACO #7133, and UL-Listed monitoring UUFX S36457.
- Where does Fireside Security operate?
- California only, with offices in Santa Fe Springs, Hayward, San Mateo, Sacramento. Fireside has operated since 1999.
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