The Fire Research Seat Monitor and Data Acquisition System meets and exceeds the requirements laid out in NFPA 1901 (2009) paragraph 4.11 requirements for a Vehicle Data Recorder and paragraph 14.1.3.10 requirements for a Seat Belt Warning system. The display module has seat belt icons to display the current state of up to 13 programmed seats in the vehicle, a silence button for the audible alarm, a message display, push buttons for navigating through programs, and vehicle system warning indicators.

The separate Vehicle Data Recorder (VDR) houses the on-board computer and software, the hardware for all system interconnections, and the wireless interface. It is capable of processing input data from the vehicle J1939 CAN Bus, the data link, or separate hard-wired inputs. The VDR communicates via the proprietary FRC data link with the system modules.