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Question 

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Hi Ken,

    Is there a special form that the fire alarm industry uses to document the annual fire test for a client?  I do mostly commercial work in NJ.

Thank you in advance.

Bob D

UB&F

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Response

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    The inspection checklist and form can be found in Chapter 10 of the NFPA 72 2002 Edition as Figure 10.6.2.3

In NFPA 72 2010, it is in Chapter 14. 

    Thanks to Bob Williams of Briscoe Protective Services and J.R. McCotter, also of Briscoe Protective for providing the answer.

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False Alarms

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Ken -

    Tucson Alarm Company has no false alarm problems [see article Dec 7, 2013]. The problem is industry generated and tolerated by Cities, who use the crisis to generate revenues. Tucson Alarm’s cross-zoning technology offers property protection without annoying false alarms.

Roger D. Score, Owner 

Tucson Alarm Company

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Should you get a new contract signed during term

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Ken-

    I appreciate the daily information that you provide to our industry that is forever changing and growing as new technologies emerge.

    My question has to do with the potential liability of using an addendum to an original agreement.     Example…..2 years into a 5 year agreement, the customer wants to add devices/services etc. If we write up an addendum for the additional, are there any hazards or pitfalls associated with doing so? If I have a solid contract, with more than half of the original term remaining, I do not want to open the door on a complete re-negotiation on all of the terms…i.e. “if its’ not broken, don’t fix it”. Conversely, if the customer is near the end of their original term, or in a renewal term, I would probably get a fresh agreement with a new original term. All of the protections associated with the original agreement cover the new additions so I don’t see there being a risk there, but I just want to double check with you to see if I am missing anything.

Please advise

Erik Haston

First Alarm

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Answer

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    The answer depends on the quality of the original contract.  If it's a solid proper contract providing the protection you need then you can supplement the system and services using an addendum.  In fact we provide a Supplemental Form when you purchase the Standard Form Contracts which is used as an add on or change in services.  But the real question is what does that original contact look like, because if it's not "state of art" contract then you have to ask yourself would you continue to use a less than state of art component, or one you know has a "recall".  The answer is you wouldn't.

    Use every opportunity to upgrade your contract with your subscriber.  Also, if you are hesitant to pull out your contract then you are going to convey that to your subscriber.  You shouldn't be apologizing about your contract or hesitant using it.  It's the most important part of your business, it states the "deal" in clear terms and it should leave both you and your subscriber with a clear understanding of your duties, the alarm's capabilities and limitations.  


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