Fires can strike without warning, and when they do, the response time can be the difference between minor damage and catastrophic loss.
This is where monitoring center station comes in—offering a vital layer of protection and peace of mind for businesses of all sizes.
In this blog, we’ll explore what is a central station fire alarm system and why it’s an essential investment for safeguarding your property.
What is FDNY Approved Central Station Monitoring?
Central Monitoring Station (CMS) is a relay station. It relays (re-transmits) fire alarms from automatic fire alarm systems in buildings on to the fire department. The central station alarm monitoring also relays other types of signals from the automatic fire alarms systems to the owners of the building.
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) makes sure the communication system works from the building or premises being protected by an automatic fire alarm system to the fire department’s dispatch center.
Central station alarm – Needed to Sort Automatic Calls
The fire department is there to rush to burning buildings to save lives and to control and extinguish fires. This is their primary purpose. Calls like “The fire sprinkler system is turned off” (Supervisory) or “The batteries need replacing” (Trouble with the fire alarm system) are not emergency calls and only distract the firefighters from their primary purpose.
While the automatic fire detection and alarm system in a building will call about any fires it has detected, the problem is that it will also call if something compromises the fire alarm system.
To prevent the fire department from getting a flurry of non-emergency phone calls, someone is needed to sort out the emergency calls for the fire department from the non-emergency calls for the building owners.
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Start your journey with a free custom quote today.
To do the sorting, the fire alarm central monitoring is in the chain of communication. Whenever an automatic fire alarm system calls the fire alarm monitoring station with an emergency message, the CMS immediately contacts the fire department to dispatch the trucks. Whenever an automatic fire alarm system calls the CMS with a non-emergency message, the CMS verifies the non-emergency call with someone on-site or someone on a call list.
So that a technician can be dispatched to fix anything that’s not right with the automatic fire alarm system, the fire alarm central station may also call the fire alarm service company.
The central fire alarm monitoring system for business also keeps records of the calls from the building’s automatic fire alarm system.
Approved by the Fire Department of New York (FDNY)
Between the automatic fire alarm system in a building and the fire department’s dispatch center, the central fire alarm system is part of the chain of communication.
To make sure the central alarm monitoring will re-transmit fire alarms correctly and promptly, the FDNY requires that the CMS registers with the FDNY.
Because the central fire monitoring system is part of the emergency communication system for reporting fires, the FDNY also governs the maintenance of the CMS facilities. Before issuing a Certificate of Operation, the FDNY inspects the CMS facilities to make sure the facility will operate correctly.
PROTECT WHAT MATTERS
Request a free quote today and take the first step toward ultimate protection and peace of mind.
The FDNY also requires continued listing or approval by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (like Underwriters Laboratory {UL}) and the testing laboratory will also inspect the facilities regularly and require proper record-keeping by the CMS.
Once the central station fire alarm monitoring is certified by the FDNY, all individual fire alarm systems that the CMS is monitoring have to also be approved by, and sometimes be inspected by the FDNY. This inspection is to make sure the automatic fire alarm system will properly protect the building or premises.
Why your business needs central station monitoring fire alarm
No matter what type of business you run, fire safety should always be a priority. For large commercial properties, multi-story buildings, or industrial facilities, the stakes are even higher. Without fire alarm central station monitoring, your business could face significant risks, including:
- Delayed emergency response times leading to more damage or loss of life.
- Increased costs due to fire-related damage or downtime.
- Failure to meet compliance standards resulting in legal or financial penalties.
SECURE YOUR FUTURE
Ensure the safety of what you value most with a tailored solution designed just for you.
By opting for central station fire alarm monitoring, you’re not only investing in the safety of your employees and assets, but you’re also ensuring that your business can continue to operate smoothly in the face of an emergency.
