Pye-Barker Fire & Safety strengthens East Coast footprint with Alarm Engineering acquisition

Integrated life safety systems provider Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has announced the acquisition of Alarm Engineering Inc., expanding its presence across Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia as part of its ongoing regional growth strategy.

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, the largest full-service fire protection and security systems provider in the United States, has completed its acquisition of Alarm Engineering Inc., a Maryland-headquartered company with longstanding operations across the Delmarva region. The move strengthens Pye-Barker’s integrated life safety services offering in the Mid-Atlantic corridor, aligning with its broader goal to provide unified fire protection and electronic security solutions across the U.S.

The transaction brings Alarm Engineering’s commercial security operations under the Pye-Barker umbrella while allowing the acquired company to retain its regional service delivery and technical personnel. Founded in 1985, Alarm Engineering delivers a suite of electronic safety services, including intrusion and fire detection systems, 24/7 alarm monitoring, real-time notification infrastructure, and customised integrations that support access control, video surveillance, and analytics-driven security applications.

The company services a wide spectrum of clients, including financial institutions, government agencies, and industrial enterprises, with technology platforms designed to provide comprehensive visibility and control across physical assets. Its operating footprint includes key Mid-Atlantic geographies—Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia—which now become part of Pye-Barker’s consolidated service network.

How Does the Acquisition Strengthen Pye-Barker’s Regional Position?

The acquisition of Alarm Engineering enhances Pye-Barker Fire & Safety’s ability to deliver end-to-end fire code compliance, security system installations, and life safety monitoring under a single provider model. By integrating Alarm Engineering’s capabilities into its existing fire protection operations in the region, Pye-Barker aims to offer a comprehensive life safety portfolio to commercial customers navigating increasingly complex compliance and monitoring requirements.

Alarm Engineering’s customer base is expected to benefit from Pye-Barker’s nationwide scale, access to technical resources, and regulatory expertise, while retaining continuity in on-the-ground service delivery. Pye-Barker indicated that the acquired team will continue to operate across their current territories, with no disruption to client-facing roles.

Bart Proctor, Chief Executive Officer of Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, said that the acquisition of Alarm Engineering presents a significant opportunity to deepen the company’s service impact across the Mid-Atlantic. He stated that Pye-Barker looks forward to collaborating with Alarm Engineering’s experienced team to maintain service standards while enhancing customer support through shared operational learnings.

What Services Will Be Delivered Through the Integrated Offering?

The integrated entity will provide commercial and industrial clients with consolidated services across fire alarm systems, intrusion detection, fire suppression, access management, video analytics, and monitoring infrastructure. Pye-Barker, through this acquisition, is expected to reinforce its position as a single-source provider for life safety, electronic security, and regulatory compliance services, aligned to both National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and local jurisdictional codes.

Alarm Engineering’s existing systems are designed to detect unauthorised activity, monitor fire risk, and provide continuous updates through remote alert mechanisms. These capabilities are increasingly relevant for businesses pursuing digitised safety compliance protocols and integrated building management solutions.

By absorbing these offerings, Pye-Barker is positioned to support enterprise-level customers in their transition toward connected safety ecosystems—combining fire protection and electronic surveillance into a unified platform with cloud-accessible dashboards and automated incident workflows.

What Were the Terms and Process of the Transaction?

While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, both companies confirmed the acquisition had been finalised as of May 1, 2025. On Pye-Barker’s side, the transaction was coordinated by Phil Gardner, with legal representation provided by Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. Alarm Engineering was advised by the Law Offices of Marc P. Katz, LLC.

Melanie Mason, co-owner of Alarm Engineering, noted that the company has focused on customising safety solutions for clients without applying sales pressure. Ron Boltz, also a co-owner, added that Pye-Barker was a natural fit to acquire Alarm Engineering due to shared priorities around customer service continuity and workforce support.

Both parties have signalled a commitment to ensuring minimal disruption during the transition, with the Alarm Engineering team continuing its operational role across all territories.

How Does the Acquisition Fit Within Pye-Barker’s Broader Strategy?

The acquisition aligns with Pye-Barker’s broader inorganic growth strategy, which has included numerous regional purchases across the United States over the past three years. With more than 250 operational locations and over 8,000 employees, the company continues to pursue national consolidation within the fragmented life safety sector.

By targeting acquisitions that enhance geographic density while adding specialisation in regulated sectors like government, industrial security, and financial infrastructure, Pye-Barker has positioned itself as a national leader in fire protection and commercial safety systems.

The integration of Alarm Engineering’s Mid-Atlantic presence is expected to provide operational synergies, particularly in technician utilisation, maintenance scheduling, cross-trained installations, and centralised monitoring across combined customer portfolios.

While Pye-Barker is a privately held company and not subject to public market scrutiny, the transaction is reflective of sustained M&A activity in the U.S. life safety and electronic security services industry, particularly in the mid-market commercial segment. The industry has seen continued investor interest amid rising regulatory complexity, digital infrastructure upgrades, and heightened demand for integrated safety and security platforms.

Institutional investors have demonstrated strong appetite for asset-light service providers with recurring revenue models in the fire protection space, especially companies positioned for regulatory resilience and regional scalability.

From an industry sentiment perspective, consolidation in the fire and life safety segment remains robust as providers look to deliver bundled services that comply with both municipal codes and private insurance protocols. Pye-Barker’s ongoing acquisitions signal a strategic intent to secure long-term contract revenues through integrated service offerings, particularly in areas like digital monitoring, data-secured access systems, and AI-enabled safety analytics.

What Comes Next for Alarm Engineering Under Pye-Barker?

Alarm Engineering will continue to serve customers in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, operating under its existing structure but within Pye-Barker’s national compliance and service framework. The acquisition allows Alarm Engineering to retain its client relationships while benefiting from the infrastructure and vendor partnerships available through Pye-Barker’s scale.

As Pye-Barker continues to invest in cloud-enabled safety solutions, advanced analytics, and remote monitoring technologies, the company may introduce new digital capabilities across the Alarm Engineering portfolio. These could include cloud-based access dashboards, predictive maintenance alerts, and AI-enhanced video surveillance, aligning the combined offering with evolving commercial client expectations.