We’ve had several of our customers recently ask us, “What is the difference between a fire alarm system and fire alarm monitoring?” Here’s the answer. A Fire Alarm System alerts everyone in the building that a fire has been detected and to evacuate the building. This usually involves local audible devices that go off when a fire is detected. The Fire Alarm System does NOT notify the fire department that there is a fire in the building. Someone in the building must call 9-1-1 or else the fire department will not be dispatched.
Fire Alarm Monitoring means that you have a fire monitoring panel installed and connected to your fire alarm system. When the fire alarm system goes off, the fire monitoring panel will immediately send a signal to a Signals Receiving Centre (sometimes called a monitoring station). An operator dispatches the appropriate Fire Department to attend the building in alarm.
You will hear from time to time that fires break out and damage or destroy buildings. Many times those buildings only have a fire alarm system and not fire alarm monitoring. The residents in the building incorrectly assume that their building is monitored, and the call to 9-1-1 is delayed. In the case of a fire, a matter of minutes could make the difference between a building being destroyed or saved.
Most cities and municipalities require that any occupied commercial and multi-tenant residential buildings to have both a fire alarm system and fire alarm monitoring by a ULC-listed alarm company. But certain older buildings have clauses grandfathered in, not requiring them to have fire alarm monitoring.
Rose Security provides installations and maintenance of Fire Alarm Monitoring. Contact us for more information.