Question:
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Hi Ken,
I enjoy your articles & find them very informative.
Can you create more dialog on the subject of line seizure capabilities, or lack there of as it pertains to VoIP, DSL, FIOS and how different installers are wiring their panels to attempt to provide the true line seizure that we used to be able to provide to customers who had POTS lines.
Thanks,
Rich
CHS, Inc.
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Answer:
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UL installation, as well as required by many AHJs.AHJ, customary in that type of installation or required by a nationally recognized testing lab.
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Anyone have any comment on this question?
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Line Seizure comment:
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Ken:
A lot of us take for granted the service you provide to the industry without charge. This forum is the most valuable EMAIL I read when I get into my office. (Usually 5 minutes after you send the current one.) Your topics are relevant, timely and your readers have a wealth of knowledge to share with us all.
RE The request for LINE SEIZURE INFORMATION.
Line seizure does not discriminate against VOIP (Facilities based, NOT VONAGE).
The alarm equipment MUST BE INSTALLED as the FIRST DEVICE from the incoming pair. This is complicated by installers of DIGITAL VOICE, VOIP etc. that take a short cut and simply put the modem WHERE THEY WANT instead of WHERE THEY SHOULD.
Most hit and run DIGITAL VOICE INSTALLATIONS BACKFEED the phone signal INTO the line in the middle thereby DEFEATING the RJ31 X Jack. (((The RJ31X jack is a Subscriber Network Interface device that assures that the alarm is FIRST in the line.
A proper IP phone installation involves the MODEM being wired to supply phone signal to the pair of wires taken off the TELCO DEMARK. In this way the alarm and all other downstream equipment will continue to work as installed.
TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING. Unfortunately when the cable companies ramp up to do installs in an area they hire SUB CONTRACTORS. The cable company is not allowed to TRAIN these subcontractors otherwise they become EMPLOYEES.
I'll get off the soap box now. Thanks for your ear.
Joel Kent
Windsor CT
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Ken,
Some companies have stepped up to the plate on the transition.
At the NFPA conference in 2010 Comcast very clearly went over their new package.
The representative indicated that the old technology could be plugged into an identical jack and transmittion would be seamless with Comcast and Verizon is on the same track. Batteries suitable for 8 hours would be provided and Comcast clearly indicated that further over the line and central office equivalent backup would be provided .
In the hodgepodge of internet protocols for sending alarms , one company stands out for sending Fire Alarms and that is Keltron with a UL 864 9th edition transmitter and receiver that has a personality serial port interface for 60 fire alarm panels . Ralph Sevinor, an industry Central Station icon, outlined the problem that every I/P transmitter needs it's own receiver which requires racks and racks of space and maintanence issues at the central station.
The Long Island and 5 burroughs of New York area have Cablevision's wireless I/P network mounted on poles for wireless interconnectability to ambulances , police vehicles as well as schools , public buildings and public use.
Again the Keltron I/P transceiver is listed for transmittion over this network but assurances would have to be made that a corporate commitment was provided by Cablevision that sufficient battery backup would be provided on their cable plant including the fiberoptic backhaul. Prioritization would have to be provided to Fire, Police,EMT services as well as Fire and Secuity alarms in the heirarchy of the internet transmittion protocols which is already inherent in the Cisco format. Anti-jamming techniques would place an emphasis on Life Safety transmittions and prevent a repeat of the jamming of frequencies that occurred on 911. If the cable and phone companies step up to the plate, NFPA which sets the standards may be convinced not to ban Dialers but a proliferation of low cost, 15 minute backup providers may convince NFPA Committee to prohibit dialers in the future as they be misapplied and jeopardize the users.
Blair Ames
Montgomery-Ames Associates
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Question:
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Dear Ken,
You have previously had some discussion in your newsletter about line seizure when a system goes into the alarm state. This seizure prevents the bad guy from defeating the call to the monitoring center by simply taking the phone off the hook as soon as he gains entrance during the entry delay.
The installation manual that comes with every system I have ever seen instructs the installer to install the system with line seizure. I suspect it's also a requirement in a UL installation, as well as required by many AHJs.
Problem is, I see many installations where the tech simply plugs the panel into the nearest phone jack. Thus, no line seizure. Isn't a company opening themselves up for a lawsuit by ignoring common professional standards and the printed manufacturer's instructions?
This procedure is very common with the newer, all wireless systems where the CPU and keypad and siren are all in one compact unit. Just hang it on the wall, plug it into a phone jack and an electrical outlet. I've actually seen 3 doors and a motion done in 23 minutes, which is a real incentive to the installer being paid by the job.
So what is my exposure if I knowingly install a system without line seizure? I know hold harmless and limitation of liability clauses can be pierced by willful negligence. Is this one of those situations?
Thanks,
Jim
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Answer:
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There is no liability exposure unless line seizure is manufacturer recommended, required by the contract, required by AHJ, customary in that type of installation or required by a nationally recognized testing lab.
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Comment:
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Ken
Ground Start Lines.
In some of the previous posts, several writers have linked the term “ground start” with dialing 9 first which is incorrect.
Typical loop start lines require a 600 OHM short across the pair or loop in order for the central office switch to start to provide dial tone, ground start trunks require an additional short to earth ground on the Tip side of the loop in order for the central office switch to provide dial tone. Ground start trunks are rarely used any longer and have been replace with T1’s PRI’s and SIP trunks.
What is required for fire alarms is a connection to the PSTN phone network, which is for the most part is a POTS line, what you don’t want to use is an extension off of a PBX (phone system) because if the PBX fails your fire signals won’t go anywhere.
Many installers assume incorrectly that if you have to dial a 9 or some other number that this must not be a PSTN connection or also assume that if you don’t have to dial another number that it’s safe to assume that it’s a POT’s line. Both assumptions are incorrect.
PBX analog extensions can easily be programmed not to require dialing a 9 to get an outside dial tone, it’s done all the time and there are PSTN Centrex services that do require an 8 or 9 to get outside the 4 digit calling plan.
While there is no absolute test that can be performed at the jack it does require the alarm installer to investigate beyond just trying to dial 9 and see what happens.
Much of this fuss about RJ31X jacks will go away as POT’s lines fade away into the sunset but now installers and inspectors will have to learn about IP and RF and how to test for compliance.
Morgan Hertel
Vice President and General Manager
Anaheim CA
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Fire Alarms contracts
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Question:
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Hi Ken,
I use your residential/commercial monitoring contract. What is the difference from your fire alarm monitoring contract? What makes the fire alarm monitoring contract worth the added expense?
Regards,
Tony
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Answer:
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The fire alarm contracts are designed so that you will comply with AHJ requirements; the fire contracts are commercial and specific for fire. Your exposure on fire jobs is significantly more and you need to be protected. These contracts provide that protection.