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SEE BELOW FOR FOLLOW UP ON NEW CO CODE

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Question:

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Ken,

   Thanks for all your wonderful information.  I have just a few questions regarding the 3 day cancellation.   I am in Washington State and I did not find and state laws on your site regarding the cancellation so I assume it is only the Federal Law we have to follow.  In this economy and with the Internet marketing and such, if a customer comes to us and wants an alarm do we still need the 3 day?.  This has arisen twice in the last week where customers wanted an alarm installed same-day.  They called us, got a quote and then said "great, come out and install it now!"   Also, does this apply to commercial?  And is it any sales done at the home?  We sometimes get called to re key locks due to a break in.  So we go on site to re key and it is a great time to up sell an alarm.   Our big concern is doing installs within the 3 days and having people cancel after the work is all done.   We feel for people and after a break in, or firing an employee they can want things right away. 

 One final thoughts is that we can and do install alarms without monthly monitoring.  The customer just pays for the alarm outright and it just makes noise, or calls their cell.  I am not sure if the 3 day applies there.   Any thoughts?

LT 

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Answer:

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 The laws for the cancellation notice requirement is posted on my web  site under Alarm / Alarm Law Issues at http://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/noticeofcancel.htm

 I don't see anything for Washington, but the Federal Law will apply if there is no state law.  The Federal Law is posted at http://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/noc-federal1.htm

 The cancellation notice requirement is for residential subscribers only.  It does not apply to commercial accounts.

 Here is a fairly good rule of thumb.  If you visit the home prior to execution of the contract then you should comply with the cancellation notice requirements.  Some jurisdictions permit a home owner to waive the three day notice of cancellation right.  The waiver must conform to whatever statute permits it.  Most common is the requirement that the waiver be handwritten by the subscriber on a paper separate from the contract stating that the 3 day cancellation provisions is waived and undersigned wants the system installed immediately because ........  [include some justification for the rush installation].

 If you are in a business that provides some one time service, such as a lock smith, or service call for an alarm system, then the three day notice won't apply unless you are having the subscriber sign a contract that covers something other than the single service call. 

 The Standard Service Contract raises an interesting issue.  That contract has the option of "per call" plan or "recurring revenue" plan.  If the per call option is taken then the cancellation notice isn't necessary because the subscriber is under no obligation to call you for service.  If the recurring revenue feature is selected then you must comply with the cancellation notice provision, assuming you have visited the home in connection with the contract.

 As far as installing alarm without monitoring, you are short changing yourself and losing the equity building model for this industry.

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Follow up on new CO code

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to all:

    I am very interested in knowing specifically what NFPA code this language regarding dispatching all CO alarms exists in.  It does not exist in the

fire alarm code NFPA-72.  If anybody knows exactly which of the hundreds of

NFPA codes it is in please let us know.

Ron--

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Ken

    With regards to the CO detection requirement for dispatch, NFPA 720 the NFPA standard for CO detection has not yet been adopted nationwide. In re-reading Johns letter he makes some good points.

    The standard was written, re-written and reviewed many times and the general thinking was that in residential applications, if the monitoring station cannot reach anyone at the home there is a high likelihood that there IS a CO buildup in the home and someone MAY be incapacitated. (The incidence of random FALSE alarms from CO detectors is fortunately diminishing greatly as manufacturers develop more sophisticated sampling systems and detectors.)

    That being said, if the likelihood of a door being forced or other damage to gain access is a concern, perhaps a Knox box or some similar key box is in use by the local fire department. (The town of Simsbury Connecticut REQUIRES A KNOX BOX in all residential fire /CO applications.)

    As you remarked CO detection is a tremendous add on to residential systems and since these devices have a 5 year sunset they make recurring service calls also. Properly installed and maintained CO detection is an asset to the homeowner and the alarm dealer.

Joel Kent

Windsor Ct.

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"In essence, they wake up the

next morning, DEAD. "

HOW DO YOU WAKE UP IF YOUR DEAD? 

BRENDA

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Responding to John from New Jersey

    The problem with Carbon Monoxide is that it is colorless , tasteless and can be mind numbing when saturated into the blood and brain. often people become disoriented and mistake CO poisoning with sleep deprivation.  Without other confirmation i.e. smoke or smell, they assume everything is OK.  Gerulitas was awoken by CO detectors and opened the door and went back to sleep when the alarm went off.  His already CO saturated body did not awaken to the second alarm.  Because of this Central Stations must respond and confirm.

    Wayne Alarm UL /FM of Lynn has a call and confirm procedure  which Ralph Sevinor will provide to fellow Central Station Companies.

    Disorientation is a key determining factor.

General procedures repeated to me by qualified EMT and Fire Departments

1. Evacuate residents, leave windows and doors closed

2. EMT responders go into premises with a breather pack and a CO sniffer

3. Place a CO stat on the occupants finger to determine CO poisoning and presence of Carboxyhemoglobin

4. IF Stat proves conclusive provide full oxygen to the occupant(s) and send by ambulance to a Hospital Hyperbaric chamber for full treatment.

5. The Site Responder Fire department  EMT should determine with windows closed where the source of the CO generation is, and appropriate remedial actions .(furnace repair)

6 Caution should be exercised as CO can be a first stage indication of a fire and the responder should be cross trained in fire fighting and response, EMT and hazardous materials.

    Cases have occurred where people say everything is OK when called by the Central Station although the CO alarm has gone off and they are found dead the next morning.

    Ignoring CO alarms is not an option

Blair Ames

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