The Evolution of Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems Fire Marshal s Association of Colorado January 18, 2013 Warren Olsen, CFPS CBCO FSCI wolsen@firesafetyfsci.com 1
Disclaimer: The comments and opinions made during the presentation of this session are solely those of the presenter and do not reflect an official position of the National Fire Protection Association, its employees, or any of its technical committees. 2
Overview 4 NFPA 72 Recent Significant Document Changes When is supervising station monitoring required NFPA 72 Definitions affecting Supervising Station Alarm Systems Supervising Station Alarm Systems general chapter review Differences in Supervising Station levels of service Communication method requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems
NFPA 72 Recent Significant Document Changes 2007 Edition 11 Chapters - Did not address MNS 2010 Edition Renamed National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code 2010 Edition Mostly eliminated the word fire proceeding alarm system 2010 Edition Provided numbered chapters 1 29 for future expansion 2010 Edition Added 3 new chapters including Circuits and Pathways, Emergency Control Functions, and Emergency Communications Systems (MNS, EVAC, Radio Enhancement) 2013 Edition Added new chapter on Documentation 2016 Edition Begins its cycle in June 2013 5
When is Supervising Station monitoring required International Fire Code Definitions Approved. Acceptable to the fire code official. Supervising Station. A facility that receives signals and at which personnel are in attendance at all times to respond to these signals. 6
When is Supervising Station monitoring required International Fire Code 7 Monitoring Sprinkler Systems Monitoring. Alarm, supervisory and trouble signals shall be distinctively different and shall be automatically transmitted to an approved supervising station* or, when approved by the fire code official, shall sound an audible signal at a constantly attended location. * 2006 and previous editions indicated approved central station, remote supervising station, or proprietary supervising station Monitoring Fire Alarm Systems Monitoring. Fire alarm systems required by this chapter or by the International Building Code shall be monitored by an approved supervising station in accordance with NFPA 72.
When is Supervising Station monitoring required Life Safety Code Definitions Approved. Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction. Supervising Station. A facility that receives signals and at which personnel are in attendance at all times to respond to these signals. Emergency Forces Notification Where fire department notification is required by another section of this Code, the fire alarm system shall be arranged to transmit the alarm automatically via any of the following means acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and shall be in accordance with NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code. (2) Central station fire alarm system (3) Proprietary supervising station fire alarm system (4) Remote supervising station fire alarm system 8
NFPA 72 Definitions affecting Supervising Station Alarm Systems Definitions Section 3.2.1 Approved. Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction. Section 3.3.XXX Supervising Station. A facility that receives signals from a protected premises fire alarm system and at which personnel are in attendance at all times to respond to these signals. Section 3.3.XXX - Runner. A person... available for prompt dispatching, when necessary, to the protected premises. 9 Section 3.3.XXX Runner Service. The service provided by a runner at the protected premises, including restoration, resetting and silencing of all equipment transmitting signals to an offpremises location.
NFPA 72 Definitions affecting Supervising Station Alarm Systems Definitions Section 3.3.266.1 Central Supervising Station. A supervising station that is listed for central station service and that also commonly provides less stringent supervising station services such as remote supervising station services. Section 3.3.268.1 Central Station Service. The use of a system or group of systems including the protected premises fire alarm system(s) in which the operation of circuits and devices are signaled to, recorded in, and supervised from a listed central station that has competent and experienced operators who, upon receipt of a signal, take such action as required by this Code. Related activities at the protected premises, such as equipment installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and runner service, are the responsibility of the central station or a listed alarm service local company. Central station service is controlled and operated by a person, firm, or corporation whose business is the furnishing of such contracted services or whose properties are the protected premises. Section 26.3 Specific requirements for Central Station Service 10
NFPA 72 Definitions affecting Supervising Station Alarm Systems Definitions Section 3.3.266.2 Proprietary Supervising Station. A supervising station under the same ownership as the protected premises fire alarm system(s) that it supervises and to which alarm, supervisory, or trouble signals are received and where personnel are in attendance at all times to supervise operation and investigate signals. Section 3.3.268.2 Proprietary Supervising Station Service. The use of a system or group of systems including the protected premises fire alarm system(s) in which the operation of circuits and devices are signaled to, recorded in, and supervised from a supervising station under the same ownership as the protected premises that has competent and experienced operators who, upon receipt of a signal, take such action as required by this Code. Related activities at the protected premises, such as equipment installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and runner service, are the responsibility of the owner. Proprietary supervising station service is controlled and operated by the entity whose properties are the protected premises. 11 Section 26.4 Specific requirements for Proprietary Supervising Station Service
NFPA 72 Definitions affecting Supervising Station Alarm Systems 12 Definitions Section 3.3.266.3 Remote Supervising Station. A supervising station to which alarm, supervisory, or trouble signals or any combination of those signals emanating from protected premises fire alarm systems are received and where personnel are in attendance at all times to respond. Section 3.3.268.3 Remote Supervising Station Service. The use of a system including the protected premises fire alarm system(s) in which the operations of circuits and devices are signaled to, record in, and supervised from a supervising station that has competent and experienced operators who, upon receipt of a signal, take action as required by this Code. Related activities at the protected premises, such as equipment installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance, are the responsibility of the owner. Section 26.5 Specific requirements for Remote Supervising Station Alarm Systems
Supervising Station Alarm Systems General Chapter Review Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire) Alarm Systems When is the Chapter Applicable? Section 26.1 Application. The performance, installation, and operation of alarm systems at a continuously attended supervising station and between the protected premises and the continuously attended supervising station shall comply with the requirements of this chapter. 13
Supervising Station Alarm Systems General Chapter Review Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire) Alarm Systems When does a Protected Premises a alarm system become a Supervising Station Alarm System? 2007/2010 eds. Section 8.1.1/26.1.1 Where a protected premises fire alarm system has its signals sent to a supervising station, the entire system shall become a supervising station alarm system. 2013 ed. Section 26.1.1 - Where any system regulated by this Code sends signals to a supervising station, the entire system shall become a supervising station alarm system. 14
Supervising Station Alarm Systems General Chapter Review Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire) Alarm Systems What other chapters may apply? 2007 ed. Section 8.1.2 The requirements of Chapters 4 (Fundamentals), 6 (Protected Premises) and 10 (Testing and Maintenance) shall also apply unless in conflict with this chapter. 2010 ed. Section 26.1.2 Revised the existing chapters to 10 (Fund.), 14 (T & M), and 23 (PP) and added 12 (Circuits and Pathways) 2013 ed. Section 26.1.2 Also added chapter 7 (Documentation) 15
Supervising Station Alarm Systems General Chapter Review Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire) Alarm Systems How are alarm signals to be handled? 2007/2010 eds. Section 8.2.1/26.2.1 Alarm Signal Disposition. Except as permitted by 11.7.8.2/29.7.8.2, all fire alarm signals received by a supervising station shall be immediately retransmitted to the public fire service communications center. 2013 ed. Section 26.2.1 Same basic requirement exists, but now allows for Alarm Signal Pre-Verification and Alarm Signal Verification. 16
Supervising Station Alarm Systems General Chapter Review Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire) Alarm Systems What is Pre and Alarm Signal Verification? 2013 ed. Section 26.2.2.1 Alarm Signal Pre-Verification. Where alarm signal verification is required by the responsible fire department, the supervising station shall immediately notify the communications center that a fire alarm signal has been received and verification is in process. 2013 ed. Section 2.2.2 Verification shall meet the requirements of 26.2.3. 2013 ed. Section 26.2.3.1 Alarm Signal Verification. supervising station personnel shall attempt to verify alarm signals prior to reporting them to the communication center where all of the following conditions exist: 17
Supervising Station Alarm Systems General Chapter Review Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire) Alarm Systems What steps are required during the alarm signal verification (ASV) process? (1) ASV is required by the fire department for a specific protected premises (2) The fire department must provide documentation of the ASV requirement to the supervising station and protected premises (3) If the ASV requirement changes, the fire department must provide documentation to the supervising station and protected premises (4) The ASV shall not take longer than 90 seconds from the time the alarm signal is received at the supervising station until the time that retransmission of the verified alarm signal is initiated 18
Supervising Station Alarm Systems General Chapter Review Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire) Alarm Systems What steps are required during the alarm signal verification (ASV) process? (5) ASV is only permitted from authorized personnel within the protected premises (6) Verified alarm signals are immediately retransmitted to the communication center and include information that the signal was verified at the protected premises to be an emergency (7) Alarm signals where verification is not conclusive are immediately retransmitted to the communications center (8) Alarm signals that are verified as nuisance alarms are not dispatched and are handled in accordance with 26.2.3.2* *26.2.3.2 Alarm signals not reported to the communications center shall be reported to the responsible fire department in a manner and at a frequency specified by the responsible fire department. 19
Supervising Station Alarm Systems General Chapter Review Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire) Alarm Systems What is required when someone changes a supervising station service provider? 2007/2010 eds. Section 8.2.3.1/26.2.3.1 Requires supervising station customers or clients be notified within 30 days of any scheduled change in service which results in signals going to a different supervising station facility. Effective 2013 ed. The AHJ must also be notified of the change or termination! 07 ed. - 8.2.3.2 and 8.2.3.3/10 ed. - 26.2.3.2 and 26.2.3.3/13 ed. -26.2.7.2 and 26.2.7.3 Requires that all zones, points, and signals be tested from the protected property (either by the supervising station or prime contractor) Definition: 3.3.186 - Prime Contractor. The one company contractually responsible for providing central station services to a subscriber as required by this Code. The prime contractor can be either a listed central station or a listed alarm service-local company. 20
Differences in Supervising Station levels of service Sections 8.3 and 26.3 Central Station Service Basic requirements have not changed: Installation of alarm transmitters Monitoring of all signals Retransmission of signals Associated record keeping and reporting Testing and maintenance Runner service Signed contract covering all of the above through the listed Central Station and/or Listed Alarm Service - Local Company Conspicuously posted indication of system compliance from an approved organization (UL, FM, ETL, etc.) 21
Differences in Supervising Station levels of service Sections 8.4 and 26.4 Proprietary Supervising Station Alarm Systems Basic requirements have not changed: Examples Wal-Mart (Monitoring all of their stores from their Bentonville, Arkansas supervising station) Walgreens (Monitoring all of their stores from their Deerfield, Illinois supervising station) 24
Differences in Supervising Station levels of service Sections 8.5 and 26.5 Remote Supervising Station Alarm Systems Basic requirements have not changed Some changes of note that did occur: 2010 ed. Section 26.5.2 Indication of Remote Station Service. Requires that the owner of a remote supervising station alarm system provide annual documentation to the AHJ identifying the party responsible for the I.T.&M. of the system. Documentation requirements indicated in the code. 2013 ed. Section 26.5.2 Now requires the representative of the service provider to sign the documentation 25
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems 26
Reconfiguration of Communication Methods Item/Edition 2007 2010 2013 Application 8.6.1 26.6.1 26.6.1 General 8.6.2 26.6.2 26.6.2 Communication Methods Active Multiplex, McCulloh, Directly Connected Non-Coded, Private Microwave, Other Trans Tech 8.6.3 26.6.3 26.6.3 8.6.3.1, 8.6.3.3, 8.6.3.6, 8.6.3.7, 8.6.4 Specifically Named 26.6.3.1 General Covers Anything Not Specifically Covered 26.6.3.1 Performance-Based Tech. Covers Anything Not Specifically Covered DACTs 8.6.3.2 26.6.3.2 26.6.3.2 2-Way RF Radio 8.6.3.4 26.6.3.3.1 26.6.3.3.1 1-Way Private Radio 8.6.3.5 26.6.3.3.2 26.6.3.3.2
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems 2007 ed./2010-2013 eds. Section 8.6/26.6 Communication Methods for Supervising Station Alarm Systems 8.6.1/26.6.1 Application. This section covers: The transmitter located at the protected premises The transmission channel between the protected premises and the supervising station or subsidiary station If used, any subsidiary station and its communication channel The signal receiving, processing, display, and recording equipment at the supervising station 28
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems 2007 ed./2010-2013 eds. Section 8.6.2.2/26.6.2.2 Alternate Methods The code does not prohibit the use of listed equipment using alternate communications methods that provide a level of reliability and supervision consistent with the requirements of Chapter 4 (07 ed.)/10 (10,13 eds.) and the intended level of protection. 29
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems Sections in the three different editions try to deal with technologies not specifically covered by the Code. 2007 ed. Section 8.6.4 Other Transmission Technologies 2010 ed. Section 26.6.3.1 General 2013 ed. - Section 26.6.3.1 Performance-Based Technologies 30
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems 2007 ed. Section 8.6.4 Other Transmission Technologies 8.6.4.4 Communications Integrity Any technology pathway failure has to be annunciated at the supervising station within 5 minutes If a signal can t be sent to the supervising station, then a signal has to be annunciated at the protected premises If the technology pathway cannot be supervised, a redundant path, which can be monitored, is needed If there is a redundant path, the failure of either pathway has to be annunciated at the supervising station within 24 hours That s it in the 2007 ed.! 31
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems 2010 ed. Section 26.6.3.1 General 2013 ed. Section 26.6.3.1 Performance-Based Technologies 26.6.3.1.4 Communications Integrity Must monitor the integrity of the transmission technology and the communications path. 32
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems 2010 & 2013 eds. General & Performance-Based Technologies 2010 ed. 26.6.3.1.4.1 Single Communications Technology failure of the communication pathway shall be annunciated at the supervising station within 5 minutes of the failure. 2013 ed. 26.6.3.1.5 Single Communications Path Unless prohibited by the AHJ a single transmission path shall be permitted path shall be supervised at an interval of not more than 60 minutes failure of the path shall be annunciated at the supervising station within not more than 60 minutes failure to complete a signal transmission shall be annunciated at the protected premises in accordance with Section 10.15 (200 seconds). 33
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems 2010 & 2013 eds. General & Performance-Based Technologies 2010 ed. 26.6.3.1.4.2 Multiple Communications Technologies (1) Must monitor for integrity each communications path (2) Must annunciate the failure of any communications path at the supervising station and at the protected premises within 24 hours of the failure 2013 ed. 26.6.3.1.6 Multiple Communications Paths (1) Must supervise each path (2) The failure of any path shall be annunciated at the supervising station within not more than 6 hours (3) The failure to complete a signal transmission shall be annunciated at the protected premises within 200 seconds 34
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems 2010 & 2013 eds. General & Performance-Based Technologies 2010 ed. 26.6.3.1.11 Sharing Communications Equipment On-Premises If the fire alarm transmitter is sharing on-premises communications equipment, the shared equipment shall be listed. 2013 ed. 26.6.3.1.14 Sharing Communications Equipment on Premises shall be listed as communications or information technology equipment. 35
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems 2010 & 2013 eds. General & Performance-Based Technologies 2010 ed. 26.6.3.1.12 Secondary Power Secondary power capacity in accordance with 10.5.6 shall be provided for all equipment necessary for the transmission and reception of alarm, supervisory, trouble, and other signals located at the protected premises 2013 ed. 26.6.3.1.15 Secondary Power (1) Fire alarm transmitters not requiring shared communications equipment must meet the requirements of 10.6.7 (2) If fire alarm transmitters share on-premises communications equipment the shared equipment must have a secondary power capacity of 24 hours 36
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems Digital Alarm Communicating Transmitters (DACT) 2007 and 2010 eds. No significant changes 2013 ed. - Changes DACTs shall employ one telephone line/number (not a party line) and (1) one-way private radio (2) two-way RF radio (3) transmission means complying with 26.6.3.1 37
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems Digital Alarm Communicating Transmitters (DACT) Additional 2013 ed. - Changes (1) Supervision of each communication channel shall not exceed an interval of 6 hours (24 hours in previous code eds.) (2) Each transmission means shall automatically initiate and complete a test signal transmission sequence to its associated receiver at least once every 6 hours (3) A successful transmission of any other signal within the same 6 hour period satisfies the test requirement 38
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising Station Alarm Systems Radio Systems Two-Way Radio Frequency (RF) Multiplex Systems Radio Telemetry One-Way Private Radio Alarm Systems Keltron, AES radio networks No major changes 39
Questions? Warren Olsen, CFPS CBCO FSCI wolsen@firesafetyfsci.com 40