******************************
QUESTION
*****************************
Ken:
Next to getting into the alarm business, the best decision I made was purchasing your Agreements and staying in touch with your blog, thank you for all that you do for our industry.
I read ‘Watch Your Language (and Fire Codes)’ article from the August 2015 issue of Security Sales & Integration magazine written by Kevin Lehan.
My question and concern is, does your current language in your Fire Alarm Agreements cover the issues this article addresses? The paragraph in all the fire alarm agreements I purchased are titled ‘Monitoring Services Provided’.
The non-fire alarm agreements have different language when addressing alarm monitoring. Which seems to validate the value of differing language when it comes to fire alarm systems.
Any clarification in this matter would be appreciated.
Tom Riggio
Inner Security
*******************************
RESPONSE
*******************************
Kevin's article stresses that alarm companies should be involved in NFPA and need to be mindful of NFPA regulations and terminology, especially in contracts. The article focuses on fire codes and NFPA's terminology for central stations. According to the article,
"A supervising station that meets the standard of UL 827 [Standard for Central Station Alarm Services] may perform "central station services". which requires more stringent standards than remote station monitoring. One distinction between these two is that central station service is required to be controlled and operated by an entity that is contracted for installation, inspection, testing, maintenance and runner service. Conversely, remote monitoring service puts this onus on the system owner and does not require runner service."
The most recently updated Fire All in One [copyright 4/2015] refers to the designee communication center as the Remote Supervising Station. This is in contract to the terminology in the Residential All in One and the Commercial All in One which refer to the central station as the Central Office.
A word of caution. Just about every word in the alarm contracts is carefully selected, as are the placement of the provisions and font size. Just because your contract is front and back and looks like other forms you have seen that doesn't mean it's up to date or properly written in the first place. Your contracts are your most important asset. The "best contract" also is probably your least expensive option. So what are you waiting for? Go to www.alarmcontracts.com now and get new contracts.
***********************