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 ******************************* comments and rebuttal on the Honeywell panel issue October 21, 2019 ********************** comments and rebuttal on the Honeywell panel issue from article on October 17, 2019 ******************** Ken,
Yesterday UL sent out an official notice to their customers claiming that the standards allowed for (did not mandate protection for) certain types of short circuits to shut down the alarm panel. According to NFPA 72 (and both UL 985 and 1023 are subject to NFPA 72) a short circuit is a short circuit regardless of how it is created. UL is wrong to assert that the NFPA and UL standards allow specific short circuits created one way to shut down the alarm system while only prohibiting some short circuits created other ways from shutting it down. To NFPA, a short circuit caused by a rodent is no different than a short circuit caused by an environmental issue if both can result in loss of life because the alarm system shuts down. NFPA 72 makes no such distinction regarding short circuits killing alarm systems and neither does real life. The only one attempting to make such a distinction is UL. These panels do not comply with the standards and UL has failed in its mission to certify that these panels meet UL 985 and 1023 standards. This will be a very expensive mistake to correct.
Regards,
Keith Jentoft
************************ Ken: Here is info we received from UL on this issue. Thanks RK *********** Dear Valued Customer, UL’s public mission is to promote safer working and living environments for all people. We make every effort to confirm that UL-certified products meet stringent safety requirements, including opening a Product Incident Report for any issue that comes to our attention. Consistent with our usual policies regarding product safety matters, when UL received the alarm system claims, UL immediately opened a Product Incident Report and began an investigation. During such investigations, certification documentation is reviewed, products are often re-tested, and if any issues are found, UL works with the product manufacturer to resolve the issues. In some instances, a public notice may be issued. Based on the investigation completed thus far, no safety issues have been identified. The investigation is still ongoing. UL sees no imminent hazard despite the assertions currently in the market. The current standards address reasonably foreseeable hazards, faults or misuse not intentional disablement of a life safety device. Those making claims have their own commercial interest in driving concern. The requirements being suggested around attack by fire and/or malicious intrusion inside the protected area are currently not mandated by the applicable standards or code. New suggested requirements could be brought to the attention of the Standard Technical Panel. Those making claims are part of the STP and have not brought suggested revisions to the STP’s attention to-date. For any questions related to this matter, please contact Kevin Faltin, Vice President of Building and Life Safety Technologies at Kevin.R.Faltin@ul.com. ********************** To order up to date Standard Form Alarm / Security / Fire and related forms, click here:www.alarmcontracts.com ************************* CONCIERGE LAWYER SERVICE FOR THE ALARM INDUSTRY PROGRAM 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. *********************** NOTICE: You can always read our Articles on our website at ww.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/alarm-articles *********************** THE ALARM EXCHANGE
This area is reserved for alarm classifieds, alarm company announcements, solicitations, offers, etc. There is no charge to post a listing here.Include your contact information, phone, email and web site. If you would like to submit a post, please send an email to ken@kirschenbaumesq.com. To create a reciprocal link to our website, click here. ************************************************ 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
