Relaxed code requirements should make it easier than ever to use alternate communications formats for commercial fire panels, but how quickly will the industry follow?
As telecommunications technology moves further and further away from communications based on traditional landline voice, engineered systems distributors are gaining more flexibility in how they can meet communications requirements for commercial fire systems.
For years these systems were required to have two phone lines to help ensure that a fire alarm would get through to the central monitoring station — and the phone lines had to be tested every 24 hours to make sure they were functional. More recently many jurisdictions have adopted new fire alarm codes that allow one of the phone lines to be replaced with a wireless or landline broadband connection. Some authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) will even allow fire systems to use a single digital cellular, landline broadband Internet protocol (IP) or approved private wireless system connection — as long as the connection is tested every five minutes.