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 white list ken@kirschenbaumesq.com ****************************** Definitive answer to paper stuffed in fire alarm control panel June 8, 2022 ********************* Definitive answer to paper stuffed in fire alarm control panel re article on June 1, 2022 ********************* In my response in the June 1, 2022 article to the comment on the Doc Box I wrote this: “The Doc Box does seem like the reasonable alternative to stuffing paper into the control panel. I think we have sufficiently established that paper in the control panel is not a good idea and may border on, or constitute, negligence, perhaps gross negligence [grossly negligent for not reading and heeding advice in these newsletter].” I think fire alarm experts Joe Hayes and Larry Rietz puts this discussion to rest. You should not leave paper in the panel; period. If you do and it starts a fire you are likely to be found grossly negligent. Maybe only thing worse you can do is leave a pack of matches in there, moving on from gross negligence to willful misconduct. Here are Joe’s and Larry's comments, always appreciated. ****** Ken NFPA-72 (2016) Section 7.7.2 requires a documentation cabinet for storage of record documents and test reports. Storage of paperwork in the FACP is prohibited. It is not impossible that heat from the power supply can dry out the paperwork and possibly ignite same. While not applicable to older installations, it would still be good practice to install a cabinet during system maintenance. Better than explaining to a jury why there wasn’t one. My contact information is: Joseph Hayes, CPP, PSP, SET West Palm Beach, FL 33411-5747 914-645-1289 ******************* Ken: The requirement to provide a separate System Record Document cabinet has been around since the 2013 Edition of NFPA 72, where it says specifically that “All record documentation shall be stored in the documentation cabinet” (NFPA 72-2013 §7.7.2.2), and the Annex A material for this requirement says that “The intent is that paper documents should not be stored inside the control unit because control units are not typically approved for the storage of combustible material.” This applies to all types of documentation including installation documents, manuals, and annual test records. These documentation cabinets are easily obtained from several companies (e.g., H.R. Kirkland, Space Age, etc.) and usually come with an on-board USB drive allowing electronic documents (including as-built drawings, system programming, etc.) to be stored electronically at the site. Combustible materials, especially paper, should never be stored within a fire alarm, access control, or burglar alarm control unit. LARRY D RIETZ, SET, CFPS Technical Fellow Global Service Line Leader, Fire Detection & Alarm ******************* Response ******************* By the way, if you want to discuss any fire alarm issue give Joe a call. I’ll let you know if he complains about too many calls. ******************** To order up to date Standard Form 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
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