January 12, 2012
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Comments
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Hi Ken,
I am glad to see you are raising these issues regarding both police and fire dept.'s failure to respond although they are funded by the public at large. I also hope this is what will be an ongoing forum on this subject. For some reason the trade magazines avoid this subject for the most part which leaves alarm dealers and the public without a voice, thus powerless. It is about time this was addressed and kept in ongoing focus. I hope you will do that and with alarm dealers joining in perhaps we can find a way to gain traction stirring public interest for the benefit of all.
Bob K, AAM
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Question
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Ken
I'm writing to see if you could clarify the boundaries of responsibility when it comes to fire alarm/life safety monitoring, more specifically where it lays with Timer Test signals. If the fire alarm fails to communicate and we receive the "No Timer Test" received signal, is it our responsibility to report that to the subscriber? If so, we have free Text/Email alerts on all accounts. Do those qualify as valid means to communicate the need for repair?
Our main concern is with cellular radio technology as the communication path. It has its place but has a high rate of minor or short interruptions in service. Are we obligated to report each blurp, and in the event of a fire and the radio fails to communicate, where does the liability lay? With the central station, with the dealer, etc?
Ralph E. Brickley
Sales/Customer Service Manager
Innovative Security & Communications
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Answer
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When it comes to fire, especially, your responsibility is to comply with AHJ requirements first; manufacturer requirements; custom and practice and of course, your contract duties. Your inquiry needs to be answered by the fire experts. Let's hear from them. From a legal perspective, your failure to report a non operational fire alarm system, when you are under a duty to report that information, leaves you exposed to liability.
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Comments on The 3 minute home fire; fire fighters refusal to respond
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Hi Ken,
I am glad to see you are raising these issues regarding both police and fire dept.’s failure to respond although they are funded by the public at large. I also hope this is what will be an ongoing forum on this subject. For some reason the trade magazines avoid this subject for the most part which leaves alarm dealers and the public without a voice, thus powerless. It is about time this was addressed and kept in ongoing focus. I hope you will do that and with alarm dealers joining in perhaps we can find a way to gain traction stirring public interest for the benefit of all.
Bob K, AAM
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Hi Ken,
If South Fulton, Tenn. told those same people that "if you have professional smoke detectors installed, then you are less likely to die in a fire", then some will choose to take the risk of dying in a fire.
Pain should accompany ignorance!
Danny Dunson
Direct Alarm