2007 Edition of NFPA 72, Section 8.3.7.1.2 requires that the central station dispatch "a runner or technican to the protected premises to arrive within 2 hours after receipt of a (alarm) signal." Section 8.3.7.4 requires that a central station upon receipt of a trouble signal "dispatch personnel to arrive within 4 hours to initiate maintenance if necessary" and "when the interruption is more than 8 hours, provide notice to the subscriber and the fire department." I would appreciate it if anyone can tell me if they are enforcing these sections and if so, how. I frequently go into new and existing buildings for a fire alarm system inspection where the system is in trouble and has been for days without anyone paying any particular notice. I am a Code Compliance inspector not a Fire Marshal, but I want to make sure I am conducting the inspection properly. Thanks.
Joe, the first question that needs to be asked is are you actually looking at a "full blown" central station installion? 99.9% of the time when someone is speaking of fire alarm systems they always refer to it as a "central station" when in reality 99.9% of the fire alarm systems are actually "remote stations."
It's kinda like when someone says they have a "Hurst" rescue tool or the "Jaws of Life" on one of their rescue vehicles. In reality they have rescue tools made by "Amkus" or "Holmatro." Hurst has become a generic name just as central station has become a generic name associated with fire alarm systems. If that make sence.
A building may be using a monitoring company that is approved and meets all of the requirements for a central station however, it is the monitoring company that is the only thing meeting the requirements and the reason your system has been in trouble for so long. The rest of the system does not meet central station requirements. You are dealing with a remote station system, no matter what they want to call it it is a remote station. Look at NFPA 72-07 Section 8.5.
