comment on communication and backup battery
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In some areas may be impossible to get plain POTS phone line. I just ordered two lines and Verizon installed huge FIOS box plugged into my outlet. I had big fight with Verizon. They never told me they will install fiberoptics. I asked for plain phone lines that work with fax and alarm. Now about two weeks after the installation Verizon still didn't remove the box and provided plain copper lines. This may drag on for a while, but I'm not going to pay Con Edison to power Verizon equipment which lasts only 8 hrs on power outage. This new technology is a joke. We dump perfectly good equipment to get unreliable throw-away electronic junk with toxic batteries, junk that requires power to increase our carbon foot. What happened to reducing pollution???
Dusan
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A quick reply to Mike from CSS, who questioned the capability of the battery backup for the cable companies network nodes (those located on the poles between subscriber and head end) and stated that "pots and radio backup is still the way to go". Sorry Mike, but "this ain't your Grandma's phone company any more". Pots lines will be gone in a few short years and the code enforcement community is working with the MFVN (Managed facilities voice networks, i.e. cable companies and FiOS) to correct the "last mile" battery issue. See John Druckers recent blog regarding NJ. While NJ is leading the way, NY and others will not be far behind. There will be NO Copper phone lines in our future, just IP and VoIP and our options must change to follow technology.
Joseph Hayes, CPP, PSP, SET
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re understanding of the backup requirement.
It’s my understanding that digital line services that qualify for UL Alarm and UL fire systems should be MFVN or managed facilities voice networks. One of the requirements is that the modem onsite have an eight hour backup battery. The backup battery is for when the site looses power. Signal from the phone company is there but the modem needs power to work. Further and even more important, the voltage going to the alarm shall drop when the modem looses signal from the provider giving the alarm panel a true phone line fail supervision. All of these combination of requirements make up a MFVN listed to UL864.
Here is a link to some information although lacking a little in details. http://www.cablelabs.com/downloads/pubs/NFPA_MFVN_Brochure_Final_CableLabs.pdf
Thank you,
Tony Huffstutter
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what's normal wear and tear? and does it really matter?
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Question
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Ken,
I have some customers insisting on full service fire alarm contracts. These systems are all takeovers; mostly residential apartments, i.e. outdoor conditions, no AC in control panel room, etc. and they are all approaching 10+ years in service. I took the liberty of adding the following words to your contract:
"Batteries, electrical surges, lightning damage, acts of nature, vandalism, terrorism, obsolete or proprietary components and components exceeding manufacturer’s useful life are not included under normal wear and tear and will be repaired or replaced at Subscriber’s expense."
Even with the above additions, I feel like there is going to be major debate with the sub over what is and what is not covered under the full service terms. In addition, I need a clear and concise way to explain to techs on site whether or not the specific work they are performing will be billable or not.
For example, a stripped or weathered pull station may be covered; but if a kid damages it by pulling it that's vandalism, right? What about intermittent ground faults caused by rainwater (we're in Florida)? Technically an act of nature? I'm not looking forward to having to explain this constantly to the customer. Thanks
RN
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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Answer
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First, before you cause a panic, there was no need to add to my contract. The Fire All in One has this provision:
"Batteries, electrical surges, lightning damage, obsolete components and components exceeding manufacturer’s useful life are not included in service and will be repaired or replaced at Subscriber’s expense. " The Service Contract has a similar provision. So it's covered.
But you raise a good point. What is normal wear and tear; what isn't; and will the subscriber really care about the subtlety of the difference? In other words, is your subscriber going to expect your Service Contract to cover most any non working equipment?
Is there a concise way to explain this to your techs? I don't know. Damage by sudden obvious cause would not be normal wear and tear. Maybe the best answer is how the US Supreme Court defined pornography - "not sure how to define it but I know it when I see it"
To some extent I think common sense has to come into play. As the expert you are in the best position to know why a component is no longer working unless the cause is obvious.