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.
