comment on justification for government monitoring fire alarms
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All commercial fire alarm systems in this area are subject to final testing and inspection by the "AHJ". Systems are subject to a 3 minute dispatch rule. If activation of any initiation device (pull, smoke, flow switch, etc.) does not result in a call to central dispatch from the alarm monitoring center within 3 minutes the system does not pass inspection. Obviously there is no time related justification for government monitoring of fire alarms. I find it difficult to imagine that any fire alarm system inspection by an "AHJ", anywhere, would not have a similar time related rule.
Seth Oginz
SECURITY CONSULTANTS UNLIMITED
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electronic contract question
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Ken;
This question may be redundant. In reference to electronic contracts. Would it make a difference or would it be possible to say get a hard copy signed contract for the initial contract period, keep that on file and THEN use electronic contracts/docusign, etc after that? I have no problem sending out contracts every five years, but if I could do it electronically, it might be better. I'm not trying to save trees or anything, I'm just asking from a legal standpoint.
John from NJ
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Response
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Electronic contracts are legal. You just need to figure out how to comply with the various consumer laws dealing with giving a written contract at time of execution, the cancellation form in duplicate and others. These consumer laws, for the most part, pertain with door to door sales transactions. If your contracts are getting signed on line you probably avoid some consumer issues. Another idea, once you have your electronic contracts send them to the subscriber in paper. Don't start your work until 3 days after the paper contract is delivered.
We are going to have lots of confusion for some time until technology for electronic contracts becomes more available and affordable, electronic contracts are more acceptable and legislation catches up with technology and addresses the actual execution of electronic contracts so that they can be used in a practical way.