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LIABILITY EXPOSURE WITH LOW TEMP SENSOR 
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Ken
 I read your daily emails and find them very informative and helpful.  We are a fire alarm installing company and do commercial sprinkler monitoring as well. I was discussing with some people today the idea of installing low temp/freeze sensors in sprinkler rooms as an ‘added’ service to the sprinkler monitoring and additional protection. Right now it isn’t something we customarily are suggesting or offering.  The question I had is would we be opening ourselves up to more liability by installing a low temp/freeze sensor if the pipe bursts/breaks and the low temp did not go off because the break occurred below the freeze line (and outside the room)? We heard of a business that had over $100K in damages because their sprinkler pipe broke, but the break was caused by the pipe breaking in the ground and then pushing 1000’s of gallons of water throughout the building. If there was a low-temp sensor in the sprinkler room, it would not have been tripped as the room temperature had not dropped, it was due to conditions below the ground.  Often the sprinkler rooms are located on the side of a building that is not frequently visited and often cooler as they are typically outside walls that tend to get colder faster than the rest of the building.  We don’t want to open ourselves up to potentially more liability by offering an add-on service that could detect, with the right conditions, a potential low temperature in the sprinkler room, however we do think it could detect in many situations, as the room itself does get cold enough that it could trip a low temp/freeze sensor.
 Thanks for your advice on this matter.
Anon
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RESPONSE
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      The issue raised would be the same discussion no matter what type of detection device you decided to add to an alarm system.  Every service you provide opens another door for liability.  That doesn't mean you shouldn't offer the service.  It does mean that you properly protect yourself as best you can with the Standard Form Agreements.
 Fire alarm and fire suppression services are related but quite different.  Our Fire Suppression All in One covers the installation, inspection and repair of fire suppression systems and equipment.  Our Commercial Fire All in One covers the installation, monitoring, inspection and repair of fire alarm systems, and that certainly includes smoke detectors, heat sensors and water flow sensors all of which report back to the panel for signal communication to the central office.
        Temperature control sensors may be installed in connection with the fire sprinkler system when you have a wet system.  But temperature control can also be useful for non fire alarm systems where you are looking to monitor room temperature that doesn't involve freezing, such as a library or flower hot house [or an indoor pot field].  I've had alarm companies ask me about temperature sensors for buildings and also for outdoor fields.  When you undertake a duty to perform a task you'll be expected to perform according to your contractual duties, and your liability will be measured and limited by the terms of your agreement.   If you use the proper agreement you will have the best contractual protection you can get.  You can get those forms at www.alarmcontracts.com.


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CUSTOMER UPGRADE AFTER INSTALL
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Ken,
 If a customer has basic monitoring via cell and wants to upgrade to where they can arm and disarm their alarm via their phone or web do we need to get a new contract signed with the higher price or can we do this with just an email.  We do not need to go to the site to get this done.
Thanks,
Jack
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RESPONSE
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 Whether you have to go to the site to perform the work is not determinative of whether you're entitled to more money.  If you want more money you need a new contract.  If you want to provide a new service, you need a new contract. 
    If you're asking if you can get the new contract signed by sending it through the mail or by email, then the answer is yes.  But you do need a new contract.  The residential or the commercial All in One Agreement will cover you for the remote services.