atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Just had to pass this along

Technically speaking, NFPA 72 8.5.3.2.1.4 is the NFPA requirement for communication services which can be, on the second line, unconventional telephone service. HOWEVER, the AHJ, in my particular instance, required two POTS lines, no jack and no sharing of service. So, even if the National Code is clear, everyone is subject to the local AHJ requirements.

Checking NFPA, I am told that section 8.5.3.2.1.4 is being re-written to include non telephone sources for communication including web based connections.

Rcaman

Wonder how he feels about cable modems and the demise of copper.

-Hal

Sadly, manufactures of this type of eq, (alarm sys, etc.), will need to develope eq to work with today's technically. Which of course is IP.

What I've been seeing more and more is cellular backup. I don't think IP is allowed for a class A fire system.

Nothing beats the reliability of a couple of copper lines. While it may no longer be five nines because of the new generation that maintains it, today's technology is garbage because nobody knows or cares about reliabilty and quality anymore. All they care about is can they access Facebook and text their friends. As long as they can "it's working great".

-Hal

@hbiss - Nearing 50 now and I believe, in general, that Americans have been conditioned to settle for less quality. With wireless phones, for example, it is almost a joke how we get dropped, shrug our shoulders, and call again. We settle for inferior goods from foreign countries because we are not willing to pay for quality. I will admit wiring has never been my strong suit in this industry but it is fairly neat, labeled on both sides, tested, and run to standard. My jaw drops when I see some wiring job I lost to a low bidder. Of course they can't fix anything because it is a mess and splice to splice to splice... I think we are seeing the long term trend here.

Customers want reliability until they have to pay for it. Joe Cabler out of his trunk can put in phones, data, and internet for half the price of the old fart that doesn't know technology. I laugh to myself when that customer finally decides to do it right after going through a couple of the hosted solutions out there.

I am not against hosted. I think, when properly implemented, it is another tool of the trade. We have sites where TDM is still the best solution because they have perfectly good cabling. The trunker peddles IP koolaid and knocks the old stuff. I come in and say, I can actually do this TDM, IP, whatever. I am offering a solution for YOU, not trying to fit you to the latest and greatest. Decide what you think is best. It is a good thing I make my living as a tech because I would surely starve as a salesman. Rant over~ Mike

Thank you for a good post...

Some municipalities are switching to wireless systems to monitor fire alarm panels. The old copper cables that connect to the familiar Gamewell pull boxes are being abandoned. Come to think of it, pull boxes are being removed as well.

I had exactly that problem on a site about a year ago. Extremely frustrating until we figured it out!!