KEN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE You can read all of our articles on our website. Having trouble getting our emails? Change your spam controls and whitelist ken@kirschenbaumesq.com ****************************** Comment on How should central station communicate July 27, 2024 ************************ Comment on How should central station communicate from article on June 24, 2024 ************************* Ken A subscriber has requested we begin text messaging them in the event a trouble condition is received at the Central Station. Please advise what UL’s take is on this? Is UL (i.e., NFPA-72) OK with this - since we really are not ‘talking with a real human, or leaving a voice mail message’ and thus nothing is actually recorded? I’ve had occasions where a text message ‘goes through’ and yet the end user NEVER actually gets anything on their cell phone (I even had a lead disappear even though it showed up as properly sent & received). Are you sure we in the industry really want to go down this slippery slope? In our central station, for security reasons none of the Central Station Dispatchers have internet access – we would need to open that door (something I really am hesitant doing despite firewalls and anti-virus protections). We have indications we sent a text message, nothing is acted upon and then LAWSUIT CITY’ – or, as in the case of one property manager who did not answer the telephone, neither his building engineer, neither did the property manager assistant, SINCE WE KNEW we did not get a response, we again tried 30-minutes later and PRESTO roused the Property Manager out of a warm bed………..all the offices were saved – the heater in the riser room had failed and we know what Doctor offices look like after a riser bursts………. Joe ************************* Response ************************* The above was originally directed to someone at UL for comment. Here is the response: ****** HI Joe, This is a frequently asked question. Once upon a time, in 2015 I made a training presentation to a central station to address many signal handling questions. The very last slide of my presentation was specific to your question in interpretation of the language used in NFPA 72. Here is the text – What methods of communication are acceptable when the code says to communicate or to notify my subscriber or the AHJ of changes to system status? Evaluation of compliance to these requirements are performance based when specific means of communication are not specified. Follow this general rule in selecting the mode of transmitting information to your stakeholders: If the Code says “Communicate”, then you should get some acknowledgement that the information was received and understood. If the Code says “Notify”, then you do not have to record an acknowledgement of the notification. If the Code says “immediately”, then the initiation of transmitting the required information is not to be delayed. SO, I believe the current NFPA 72 sections on how to handle supervisory and trouble signals for central station service type systems, is to communicate with the persons designated by the subscriber. However, for remote station type fire alarm systems, it says to notify the owner or owner representative. I hope that this helps you. Very best regards, eric *************************** STANDARD FORMS Alarm / Security / Fire and related Agreements click here: www.alarmcontracts.com *************************** CONCIERGE LAWYER SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THE ALARM INDUSTRY - You can check out the program and sign up here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/concierge or contact our Program Coordinator Stacy Spector, Esq at 516 747 6700 x 304. *********************** ALARM ARTICLES: You can always read our Articles on our website at ww.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/alarm-articles updated daily ******************** THE ALARM EXCHANGE - the alarm industries leading classified and business exchange - updated daily ************************* Wondering how much your alarm company is worth? Click here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/what-is-my-alarm-company-worth ****************************** Getting on our Email List / Email Articles archived: Many of you are forwarding these emails to friends or asking that others be added to the list. Sign up for our daily newsletter here: Sign Up. You can read articles and order alarm contracts on our web site www.alarmcontracts.com ************************** Ken Kirschenbaum,Esq Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum PC Attorneys at Law 200 Garden City Plaza Garden City, NY 11530 516 747 6700 x 301 ken@kirschenbaumesq.com www.KirschenbaumEsq.com
