November 24, 2011
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Comment on licensing / smoke detector battery
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Ken
Lee raises many good points about proper installation and service as it relates to FALSE ALARMS and UNNECESSARY DISPATCHES. As you and the rest of your readers know, I am very involved with alarm education as well as installation and service. Education in the proper methods to use and proper supervision to ensure that work is done properly are necessary to raise the quality of work in any trade.
With regard to the 4AH battery that is standard in most kits, if you have 1 smoke detector installed, this battery cannot meet the code requirement for standby time. ( Adding 1 fire device makes this a FIRE SYSTEM) The selling company cannot allow the customer to ELECT to violate the code and NOT install the proper battery. To not install a properly sized battery seems to me would expose someone to liability? (That is why you are the attorney and I am not...)
We must first educate the consumer to only deal with properly trained and licensed installers. In those states that have no licensing and training requirements the operating companies must understand that a properly drafted and enforced license requirement is a good thing for a trade that wants professional recognition. Even if training is NOT required in your state, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain in taking advantage of any training you can get. (Manufacturers seminars, ESA/NTS training, and technical schools.)
TRAINING DOES NOT COST. IT PAYS......
All I can do from this perch is thank you for presenting the wealth of information and knowledge and maintaining a forum for professionals to communicate with each other.
Joel Kent
FBN Security
Windsor Ct.
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Question on remote programming
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Ken,
On occasion our company provides remote programming from our office for customers that wouldn’t fall under the typical alarm customer profile. They could be electricians that need help programming a fire panel, residential do-it-yourselfer’s that aren’t going to monitor the system or other dealers that we are doing a favor for. What contract would you recommend to protect our company?
Thanks,
JK
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Answer
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You could have the electrician or the self installing home owner sign either a Sales Contract or Service Contract. The contract would have to spell out the precise service you are providing, in this case, remote programming.