Fire Alarm Systems Buyer's Guide

Understanding fire alarm monitoring

While the equipment in your office will detect fire or smoke, the central fire alarm monitoring station plays a critical role in protecting your employees.

When your alarm is tripped, the control panel sends your relevant details to the fire alarm monitoring station, who will notify the fire department. Because of this critical role, the monitoring station has to be dependable and fast-acting.

In addition, the central station should frequently activate and test all of your devices and connected phone lines. They're also required by law to maintain accurate logs of activity and system functionality in case authorities want to review incident details.

Who operates fire alarm monitoring stations?
Small fire alarm companies often license the services of third-party fire alarm monitoring stations, while larger companies usually have their own central stations that can simultaneously watch over thousands of businesses and homes. The independent Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) sets standards for monitoring station equipment and procedures — companies that meet their guidelines provide maximum safety and reliability, but that comes at an increased cost.

All central stations must contact authorities within 30 to 60 seconds of the alarm going off. And much like your fire alarm, they must have a reliable backup source — either a second station, or a backup generator with 10-15 days worth of power on reserve.

In some cases, you may not need fire alarm monitoring service for your system: certain municipalities require you to connect directly to local fire departments. The AHJ will determine which setup you'll need.