I have spoken with many contractors who said they are never responsible for their fire alarm installations because they always subcontract them to fire alarm subcontractors. When I press them for what they look for in their fire alarm subcontractors, many respond that their only concerns are the installation price and the engineer’s approval. They further stated that the most important consideration was that the subcontract price was equal, but preferably less than, their estimate for the installation.

However, they fail to include the costs for the project being held up (causing frustration and anger with the client) because the subcontractor only has one programmer with multiple projects due at the same time. Or perhaps the subcontractor does not follow the specifications and the engineer demands changes, or they do not follow the requirements of NFPA 72 and the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) does not sign off. Or maybe the intelligibility of the EVACS does not meet code requirements, and a large number of loudspeakers must be added to the system. 

As you can see, it’s important to ensure the subcontractor is qualified to install a fire alarm system and certified by the supplied equipment manufacturer to sell and program the equipment for the project.

More than meeting the code

I suspect you have already decided that, because you ask the subcontractor to “meet the code” and they agree, they always comply and you have nothing to worry about. But the real question is, how do you know?

What I mean is, if you are not conversant in all NFPA 72 requirements, then how do you know the sub is compliant? The answer is, you don’t know, and what you don’t know is going to cost you money and reputation.

If your system will be connected to a supervising station, what do you need to meet the code? NFPA 72 2025 has a new section in Chapter 10 that requires the following: 

1. “Evidence of qualifications and/or certification [of the supervising station] must be provided to the AHJ upon request.”
2. “A license or qualifications listing must be current in accordance with the requirements of the issuing authority or organization.”

When speaking of connections off-site to a supervising station, are you aware that the telecom companies are eliminating their copper circuits? Many older systems installed with digital alarm communicator transmitters (DACT) may not work as owners switch to some form of voice over internet protocol system. 

NFPA 72-2025 now states in Section 26.6.4.2.1 that a DACT must be connected to a managed facilities-based voice network (MFVN), which is defined in NFPA 72 as “A physical facilities-based network capable of transmitting real-time signals with formats unchanged that is managed, operated, and maintained by the regulated communications provider to ensure service quality and reliability from the subscriber location to the supervising station via the public-switched telephone network (PSTN) or interconnection points with other MFVN peer networks.” 

The goal as I see it is to provide the DACT with either copper line connections (getting rare at this point) or simulated lines that provide a dial tone to the DACT. The MFVN is part of the communications network, not the fire alarm system. 

But your responsibility is to ensure all the signals from a fire alarm control unit will be transmitted to the supervising station. The final acceptance testing should include the successful transmission of fire alarm, supervisory and trouble signals to the supervising station. The installation will not provide the intended life safety to the building occupants if it fails to transmit these necessary signals. 

My point is that it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure the fire alarm system installation performs as intended in accordance with the code. There are only three ways to avoid this responsibility:

1. Don’t provide the fire alarm system.
2. Subcontract the fire alarm system installation, but with your strict oversight.
3. Install the fire alarm system with trained technicians conversant with the code. 

Obviously, only numbers two or three make any sense. 

The point is that you are always responsible for the system installation, regardless of if you use a sub or not. If you do use a subcontractor, make sure they are a trusted adviser who wants all your current and future business. You may pay a little more but you will save money.

A STOCKPHOTO / STOCK.ADOBE.COM