Fire Alarms - residential and commercial - which contracts? /

  VoIP comment  

June 12, 2012

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Question
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Ken,
    We have an opportunity to provide monitoring for residential fire in single family and multi family dwellings
that have sprinkler systems installed per the building code. Because these are classified as residential units, which of your contracts is best suited for monitoring and annual inspections?
PS. We currently use all of you security and isee video contracts.
Respectfully,
John
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Answer
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    The Standard All in One, which is a residential contract, can be used for installation, monitoring and service of residential fire alarm systems.  You will note that the contract provides that fire alarm systems may not be to "code" unless a "fire alarm system" is described as the system to be installed.  Too many alarm companies installing a basic intrusion system will include one or more smoke detectors.  Unless you are in a jurisdiction that accepts one or two smoke detectors as a fire alarm system to code, you want to be sure that you and your subscriber are not under any misconceptions that you've installed a "fire alarm system".

 
    For commercial fire alarms the premier contract is the Standard Fire All in One.  This covers installation, monitoring, runner service, inspection and service.  Importantly, it calls for a system to be installed pursuant to code and AHJ requirements, permit,  inspection and approval.  

    Residential contracts can be used for commercial subscribers.  However, commercial contracts cannot be used for residential subscribers.  The reason for that is that commercial contracts do not comply with all of the consumer contract laws and regulations, the cancellation notice being the most well known and ubiquitous.  You won't be able to turn a commercial contract into a consumer contract on your own; there are too many consumer requirements usually.  
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