The Evolution of
Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
Fire Marshal’s Association of Colorado
January 18, 2013
Warren Olsen, CFPS CBCO
FSCI
wolsen@firesafetyfsci.com
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Disclaimer: The comments and opinions
made during the presentation of this
session are solely those of the presenter
and do not reflect an official position of the
National Fire Protection Association, its
employees, or any of its technical
committees.
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Overview
 NFPA 72 – Recent Significant Document Changes
 When is supervising station monitoring required
 NFPA 72 Definitions affecting Supervising Station Alarm
Systems
 Supervising Station Alarm Systems general chapter review
 Differences in Supervising Station levels of service
 Communication method requirements for Supervising Station
Alarm Systems
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NFPA 72 – Recent Significant Document Changes
 2007 Edition – 11 Chapters - Did not address MNS
 2010 Edition – Renamed “National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code”
 2010 Edition – Mostly eliminated the word “fire” proceeding “alarm system”
 2010 Edition – Provided numbered chapters 1 – 29 for future expansion
 2010 Edition – Added 3 new chapters including Circuits and Pathways, Emergency
Control Functions, and Emergency Communications Systems (MNS, EVAC, Radio
Enhancement)
 2013 Edition – Added new chapter on Documentation
 2016 Edition – Begins its cycle in June 2013
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When is Supervising Station monitoring
required…
International Fire Code
 Definitions
 Approved. Acceptable to the fire code official.
 Supervising Station. A facility that receives signals and at which personnel are
in attendance at all times to respond to these signals.
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When is Supervising Station monitoring
required…
International Fire Code
 Monitoring Sprinkler Systems
 Monitoring. Alarm, supervisory and trouble signals shall be distinctively
different and shall be automatically transmitted to an approved supervising
station* or, when approved by the fire code official, shall sound an audible
signal at a constantly attended location.
 * 2006 and previous editions indicated “…approved central station, remote
supervising station, or proprietary supervising station…”
 Monitoring Fire Alarm Systems
 Monitoring. Fire alarm systems required by this chapter or by the International
Building Code shall be monitored by an approved supervising station in
accordance with NFPA 72.
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When is Supervising Station monitoring
required…
Life Safety Code
 Definitions
 Approved. Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.
 Supervising Station. A facility that receives signals and at which personnel are
in attendance at all times to respond to these signals.
 Emergency Forces Notification
 Where fire department notification is required by another section of this Code,
the fire alarm system shall be arranged to transmit the alarm automatically via
any of the following means acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and
shall be in accordance with NFPA 72,
National Fire Alarm Code.
• (2) Central station fire alarm system
• (3) Proprietary supervising station fire alarm system
• (4) Remote supervising station fire alarm system
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NFPA 72 – Definitions affecting Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
 Definitions
 Section 3.2.1 –
Approved. Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.
 Section 3.3.XXX – Supervising Station. A facility that receives signals from a protected
premises fire alarm system and at which personnel are in attendance at all times to respond to
these signals.
 Section 3.3.XXX - Runner. A person . . . available for prompt dispatching, when necessary, to
the protected premises.
 Section 3.3.XXX – Runner Service. The service provided by a runner at the protected premises,
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including restoration, resetting and silencing of all equipment transmitting signals to an offpremises location.
NFPA 72 – Definitions affecting Supervising Station Alarm
Systems
 Definitions
 Section 3.3.266.1 – Central Supervising Station. A supervising station that is listed
for central station service and that also commonly provides less stringent supervising
station services such as remote supervising station services.
 Section 3.3.268.1 – Central Station Service. The use of a system or group of systems
including the protected premises fire alarm system(s) in which the operation of circuits
and devices are signaled to, recorded in, and supervised from a listed central station that
has competent and experienced operators who, upon receipt of a signal, take such action
as required by this Code. Related activities at the protected premises, such as equipment
installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and runner service, are the responsibility
of the central station or a listed alarm service local company. Central station service is
controlled and operated by a person, firm, or corporation whose business is the furnishing
of such contracted services or whose properties are the protected premises.
 Section 26.3 – Specific requirements for Central Station Service
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NFPA 72 – Definitions affecting Supervising Station Alarm
Systems
 Definitions
 Section 3.3.266.2 – Proprietary Supervising Station. A supervising station under the
same ownership as the protected premises fire alarm system(s) that it supervises and to
which alarm, supervisory, or trouble signals are received and where personnel are in
attendance at all times to supervise operation and investigate signals.
 Section 3.3.268.2 – Proprietary Supervising Station Service.The use of a system or
group of systems including the protected premises fire alarm system(s) in which the
operation of circuits and devices are signaled to, recorded in, and supervised from a
supervising station under the same ownership as the protected premises that has
competent and experienced operators who, upon receipt of a signal, take such action as
required by this Code. Related activities at the protected premises, such as equipment
installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and runner service, are the responsibility
of the owner. Proprietary supervising station service is controlled and operated by the
entity whose properties are the protected premises.
 Section 26.4 – Specific requirements for Proprietary Supervising Station
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Service
NFPA 72 – Definitions affecting Supervising Station Alarm
Systems
 Definitions
 Section 3.3.266.3 – Remote Supervising Station. A supervising station to
which alarm, supervisory, or trouble signals or any combination of those signals
emanating from protected premises fire alarm systems are received and where
personnel are in attendance at all times to respond.
 Section 3.3.268.3 – Remote Supervising Station Service. The use of a system
including the protected premises fire alarm system(s) in which the operations of
circuits and devices are signaled to, record in, and supervised from a supervising
station that has competent and experienced operators who, upon receipt of a
signal, take action as required by this Code. Related activities at the protected
premises, such as equipment installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance,
are the responsibility of the owner.
 Section 26.5 – Specific requirements for Remote Supervising Station
Alarm Systems
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Supervising Station Alarm Systems – General Chapter Review
 Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station
(07-Fire) Alarm Systems – When is the Chapter Applicable?
 Section 26.1 – Application. The performance, installation, and operation of
alarm systems at a continuously attended supervising station and between the
protected premises and the continuously attended supervising station shall
comply with the requirements of this chapter.
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Supervising Station Alarm Systems – General Chapter Review
 Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station
(07-Fire) Alarm Systems – When does a Protected Premises a
alarm system become a Supervising Station Alarm System?
 2007/2010 eds. Section 8.1.1/26.1.1 – Where a protected premises fire
alarm system has its signals sent to a supervising station, the entire system shall
become a supervising station alarm system.
 2013 ed. Section 26.1.1 - Where any system regulated by this Code sends
signals to a supervising station, the entire system shall become a supervising
station alarm system.
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Supervising Station Alarm Systems – General Chapter Review
 Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station
(07-Fire) Alarm Systems – What other chapters may apply?
 2007 ed. Section 8.1.2 – The requirements of Chapters 4 (Fundamentals),
6 (Protected Premises) and 10 (Testing and Maintenance) shall also apply
unless in conflict with this chapter.
 2010 ed. Section 26.1.2 – Revised the existing chapters to 10
(Fund.), 14 (T & M), and 23 (PP) and added 12 (Circuits and
Pathways)
 2013 ed. Section 26.1.2 – Also added chapter 7 (Documentation)
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Supervising Station Alarm Systems – General Chapter Review
 Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station
(07-Fire) Alarm Systems – How are alarm signals to be handled?
 2007/2010 eds. Section 8.2.1/26.2.1 – Alarm Signal Disposition.
Except as permitted by 11.7.8.2/29.7.8.2, all fire alarm signals received by a
supervising station shall be immediately retransmitted to the public fire service
communications center.
 2013 ed. Section 26.2.1 – Same basic requirement exists, but now
allows for Alarm Signal Pre-Verification and Alarm Signal Verification.
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Supervising Station Alarm Systems – General Chapter Review
 Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station
(07-Fire) Alarm Systems – What is Pre and Alarm Signal
Verification?
 2013 ed. Section 26.2.2.1 – Alarm Signal Pre-Verification. Where alarm
signal verification is required by the responsible fire department, the supervising
station shall immediately notify the communications center that a fire alarm
signal has been received and verification is in process.
 2013 ed. Section 2.2.2 – Verification shall meet the requirements of
26.2.3.
 2013 ed. Section 26.2.3.1 Alarm SignalVerification. …supervising
station personnel shall attempt to verify alarm signals prior to reporting them
to the communication center where all of the following conditions exist:
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Supervising Station Alarm Systems – General Chapter Review

Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire)
Alarm Systems – What steps are required during the alarm signal
verification (ASV) process?
(1) ASV is required by the fire department for a specific protected
premises
(2) The fire department must provide documentation of the ASV
requirement to the supervising station and protected premises
(3) If the ASV requirement changes, the fire department must provide
documentation to the supervising station and protected premises
(4) The ASV shall not take longer than 90 seconds from the time the
alarm signal is received at the supervising station until the time that
retransmission of the verified alarm signal is initiated
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Supervising Station Alarm Systems – General Chapter Review

Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire)
Alarm Systems –What steps are required during the alarm signal verification
(ASV) process?
(5) ASV is only permitted from authorized personnel within the protected
premises
(6) Verified alarm signals are immediately retransmitted to the communication
center and include information that the signal was verified at the protected
premises to be an emergency
(7) Alarm signals where verification is not conclusive are immediately
retransmitted to the communications center
(8) Alarm signals that are verified as nuisance alarms are not dispatched and are
handled in accordance with 26.2.3.2*
*26.2.3.2 – Alarm signals not reported to the communications center shall be reported to the
responsible fire department in a manner and at a frequency specified by the responsible fire
department.
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Supervising Station Alarm Systems – General Chapter Review
 Chapters 8 (07 ed.) or 26 (10, 13 eds.) - Supervising Station (07-Fire)
Alarm Systems – What is required when someone changes a supervising station
service provider?
 2007/2010 eds. Section 8.2.3.1/26.2.3.1 – Requires supervising station
customers or clients be notified within 30 days of any scheduled change in
service which results in signals going to a different supervising station facility.
Effective 2013 ed. – The AHJ must also be notified of the change or
termination!
 07 ed. - 8.2.3.2 and 8.2.3.3/10 ed. - 26.2.3.2 and 26.2.3.3/13 ed. -26.2.7.2
and 26.2.7.3 – Requires that all zones, points, and signals be tested from the
protected property (either by the supervising station or prime contractor)
Definition: 3.3.186 - Prime Contractor. The one company contractually
responsible for providing central station services to a subscriber as required by this
Code. The prime contractor can be either a listed central station or a listed alarm
service-local company.
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Differences in Supervising Station levels of service
 Sections 8.3 and 26.3 – Central Station Service
 Basic requirements have not changed:
 Installation of alarm transmitters
 Monitoring of all signals
 Retransmission of signals
 Associated record keeping and reporting
 Testing and maintenance
 Runner service
 Signed contract covering all of the above through the listed Central
Station and/or Listed Alarm Service - Local Company
 Conspicuously posted indication of system compliance from an
approved organization (UL, FM, ETL, etc.)
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Differences in Supervising Station levels of service
 Sections 8.4 and 26.4 – Proprietary Supervising Station
Alarm Systems
 Basic requirements have not changed:
 Examples –
 Wal-Mart (Monitoring all of their stores from their
Bentonville, Arkansas supervising station)
 Walgreens (Monitoring all of their stores from their
Deerfield, Illinois supervising station)
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Differences in Supervising Station levels of service
 Sections 8.5 and 26.5 – Remote Supervising Station Alarm
Systems
 Basic requirements have not changed
 Some changes of note that did occur:
 2010 ed. Section 26.5.2 – Indication of Remote Station Service.
Requires that the owner of a remote supervising station alarm
system provide annual documentation to the AHJ identifying the
party responsible for the I.T.&M. of the system. Documentation
requirements indicated in the code.
 2013 ed. Section 26.5.2 – Now requires the representative of the
service provider to sign the documentation
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Communication Method Requirements for
Supervising Station Alarm Systems
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Reconfiguration of Communication Methods
Item/Edition
2007
2010
2013
Application
8.6.1
26.6.1
26.6.1
General
8.6.2
26.6.2
26.6.2
Communication
Methods
8.6.3
26.6.3
26.6.3
Active Multiplex,
McCulloh, Directly
Connected Non-Coded,
Private Microwave,
8.6.3.1, 8.6.3.3,
8.6.3.6, 8.6.3.7,
26.6.3.1
26.6.3.1
General
Other Trans Tech
Specifically Named
Covers Anything Not
Specifically Covered
Performance-Based
Tech.
DACTs
8.6.3.2
26.6.3.2
26.6.3.2
2-Way RF Radio
8.6.3.4
26.6.3.3.1
26.6.3.3.1
1-Way Private Radio
8.6.3.5
26.6.3.3.2
26.6.3.3.2
8.6.4
Covers Anything Not
Specifically Covered
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
 2007 ed./2010-2013 eds. Section 8.6/26.6 – Communication
Methods for Supervising Station Alarm Systems
 8.6.1/26.6.1 Application. This section covers:
• The transmitter located at the protected premises
• The transmission channel between the protected premises and
the supervising station or subsidiary station
• If used, any subsidiary station and its communication channel
• The signal receiving, processing, display, and recording
equipment at the supervising station
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Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
2007 ed./2010-2013 eds. Section 8.6.2.2/26.6.2.2 –
Alternate Methods
• The code does not prohibit the use of listed equipment using
alternate communications methods that provide a level of
reliability and supervision consistent with the requirements of
Chapter 4 (07 ed.)/10 (10,13 eds.) and the intended level of
protection.
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Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
Sections in the three different editions try to deal with
technologies not specifically covered by the Code.
2007 ed. – Section 8.6.4 Other Transmission Technologies
2010 ed. – Section 26.6.3.1 General
2013 ed. - Section 26.6.3.1 Performance-Based Technologies
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Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
 2007 ed. – Section 8.6.4 Other Transmission Technologies
 8.6.4.4 Communications Integrity
• Any technology pathway failure has to be annunciated at the supervising station within 5
minutes
• If a signal can’t be sent to the supervising station, then a signal has to be annunciated at the
protected premises
• If the technology pathway cannot be supervised, a redundant path, which can be
monitored, is needed
• If there is a redundant path, the failure of either pathway has to be annunciated at the
supervising station within 24 hours
That’s it in the 2007 ed.!
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Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
2010 ed. Section 26.6.3.1 General
2013 ed. Section 26.6.3.1 Performance-Based
Technologies
 26.6.3.1.4 Communications Integrity – Must monitor the
integrity of the transmission technology and the
communications path.
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Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
 2010 & 2013 eds. General & Performance-Based Technologies
 2010 ed. 26.6.3.1.4.1 Single Communications Technology – “…failure of the
communication pathway shall be annunciated at the supervising station within 5 minutes of
the failure.”
 2013 ed. 26.6.3.1.5 Single Communications Path – “Unless prohibited by the AHJ…a
single transmission path shall be permitted…path shall be supervised at an interval of not more
than 60 minutes…failure of the path shall be annunciated at the supervising
station within not more than 60 minutes…failure to complete a signal transmission
shall be annunciated at the protected premises in accordance with Section 10.15 (200 seconds).”
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Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
 2010 & 2013 eds. General & Performance-Based Technologies

2010 ed. 26.6.3.1.4.2 Multiple Communications Technologies –
(1) Must monitor for integrity each communications path
(2) Must annunciate the failure of any communications path at the supervising station and at
the protected premises within 24 hours of the failure

2013 ed. 26.6.3.1.6 Multiple Communications Paths –
(1) Must supervise each path
(2) The failure of any path shall be annunciated at the supervising station within not more
than 6 hours
(3) The failure to complete a signal transmission shall be annunciated at the protected
premises within 200 seconds
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Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
 2010 & 2013 eds. General & Performance-Based Technologies
35

2010 ed. 26.6.3.1.11 Sharing Communications Equipment On-Premises –
“If the fire alarm transmitter is sharing on-premises communications equipment, the
shared equipment shall be listed.”

2013 ed. 26.6.3.1.14 Sharing Communications Equipment on Premises –
“…shall be listed as communications or information technology
equipment.”
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
 2010 & 2013 eds. General & Performance-Based Technologies
36

2010 ed. 26.6.3.1.12 Secondary Power –
“Secondary power capacity in accordance with 10.5.6 shall be provided for all equipment
necessary for the transmission and reception of alarm, supervisory, trouble, and other signals
located at the protected premises… ”

2013 ed. 26.6.3.1.15 Secondary Power –
(1) Fire alarm transmitters not requiring shared communications equipment must
meet the requirements of 10.6.7
(2) If fire alarm transmitters share on-premises communications equipment the
shared equipment must have a secondary power capacity of 24 hours
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
 Digital Alarm Communicating Transmitters (DACT)

2007 and 2010 eds. – No significant changes

2013 ed. - Changes
DACTs shall employ one telephone line/number (not a party line)
and
(1) one-way private radio
(2) two-way RF radio
(3) transmission means complying with 26.6.3.1
37
Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
 Digital Alarm Communicating Transmitters (DACT)

Additional 2013 ed. - Changes
(1) Supervision of each communication channel shall not exceed an interval
of 6 hours (24 hours in previous code eds.)
(2) Each transmission means shall automatically initiate and complete a test
signal transmission sequence to its associated receiver at least once every 6
hours
(3) A successful transmission of any other signal within the same 6 hour
period satisfies the test requirement
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Communication Method Requirements for Supervising
Station Alarm Systems
 Radio Systems

Two-Way Radio Frequency (RF) Multiplex Systems
•

One-Way Private Radio Alarm Systems
•

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Radio Telemetry
Keltron, AES radio networks
No major changes
Questions ?
Warren Olsen, CFPS CBCO
FSCI
wolsen@firesafetyfsci.com
40