Central station monitoring is commonly used with fire alarm systems to provide a means of notifying your local fire department in the event of an incident. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code 101 allows for the following forms of “Emergency Forces Notification” when acceptable to your authority having jurisdiction (AHJ):
- Central Station Monitoring
- Auxiliary Alarm Systems (Direct Connect)
- Proprietary Supervising Systems (if you have appropriately-trained 24-hour on-site security, you may not need to be monitored by an outside source)
- Remote Supervising Station Connections (similar to Central Station Monitoring)
However, by far, Central Station Monitoring is the most common.
A Central Station Monitoring “System” includes all of the on-site alarm equipment and the remote monitoring “central station” service. The central station must comply with the governing Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards. Additionally, there are other requirements under NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) for a Central Station Monitoring System including the retransmission of signals, record keeping and reporting, testing and maintenance, a runner service, etc. An executed contract is also required with the subscriber (the end-user/owner) and the prime contractor (i.e., Ryan Fireprotection).
Ryan Fireprotection uses Emergency24, a state-of-the-art central station monitoring service that is both UL-listed and FM Global‑approved. Emergency24 is an established service that has been in business since 1967. It has a nationwide network of five monitoring stations located in Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and Washington D.C. that provide 24-hour constant monitoring. Additionally, this service also monitors for sprinkler malfunction and trouble signals indicating electrical malfunction. Emergency24 updates Ryan Fireprotection twice a day, alerting any issues that indicate our customers may be having with their system. With this information, a Ryan Fireprotection expert can promptly contact the facility manager or building owner to schedule a maintenance visit to assess the issue.
A good monitoring service can be the difference between life and death, and a prompt response can also lead to reduced property damage. Contact Ryan Fireprotection today to make sure your facility is meeting the code requirements for a Central Station Monitoring System.
