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 
****************************** 
Kickbacks and smoke detector liability / Liability issues Regarding Fire Alarm Panels  Series 6 / ISC Free Private Meetings -schedule now
October 12, 2024
*************************
Schedule your free private meeting with KK at ISC East
***************************
    If you're interested in a private [yes, it's free] meeting at ISC East [we will be meeting just outside the exhibit hall] please contact Stacy Spector,Esq at 516 747 6700 x 304 or SSpector@Kirschenbaumesq.com. Concierge Clients will have priority.
**********************
Kickbacks and smoke detector liability
**********************
Ken,
          I have two questions this time:
          If a doctor, clinic or a senior facility talks to a patient/resident about our service and we pay them a referral fee do we (or them) have a problem with the Kickback law?
         If we install a smoke detector connected to our platform, do we incur in any legal issues? We could trigger an emergency call through our PERS central if smoke is detected. Any liabilities there?
  Thanks,
Alan
**********************
Response
**********************
          This is not what the kickback rule for doctors’ means; yes you can pay commission or referral fee as long as the institution that employs the doctors hasn’t required you sign something that prohibits the practice.  Doctors, lawyers, accountants and Indian Chiefs can all moon light as commissioned sales people for the alarm industry, Tubaware or any other industry, except medical labs and other doctor offices, which might encourage collaboration for unnecessary service, labs or drugs.
           You cannot provide fire alarm monitoring using a PERS agreement; you need the Commercial Fire All in One or more likely Residential All in One.  Fire alarm monitoring most definitely includes the installation of a smoke detector and monitoring it.  What else could it be?  The potential liability is pretty much the same as if you installed a code compliant commercial fire alarm.
******************
Liability issues Regarding Fire Alarm Panels  Series 6
************************
          System improvement at no cost. Believe it or not, if the customer is still persistent regarding no surge suppression on SLC/NAC or data loops, I would follow some simple NEC code rules. Underwriters’ knots: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwriter%27s_knot ).  I pulled this information from Wikipedia for easy access.  Our low voltage wires used on the system can use these knots to help increase the impedance of the low voltage side of the PC board, as well as for the AC power.  Many professionals call for straight lines of wires, but the way I see it not all designs are the same.   
          The complication of the newer designs requires to somehow reinstall or put back the impedance in the system. This requires how cleaver you really are (smart).  Anytime you have nighty degree angles in the line, lightning has trouble making that turn, and as a result the wire can or will burst.  There might be some damage, but it is better than nothing at all.  These knots work really great when there is actually surge suppression installed.  Using these knots helps you create an alternative pathway for lightning to by-pass the panel based on the least resistive pathway lightning will travel. 
          Make sure you install knots that they are on the PC board side (load side), and before the surge suppression. Putting the knots on the line side defeats the efforts of creating an alternative path way for lightning to by-pass the system in either direction. 
John Pecore, BSEET, MBA,
Power Quality Engineer in the Life Safety Industry
Stormin Protection Products Inc.
www.firealarmprotection.com
727-823-6100 x 1
Jpecore@earthlink.net
**********************
Help this forum grow - and thanks to those who have already responded
********************
            If you are on The Alarm Exchange you should welcome exposure on this forum provides.  Send in your email lists.  Thanks
*****************************
K&K Holiday Party - Save the date:  December 12, 2024
********************
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