HomeMy WebLinkAbout405.014 - Non-UL Certified Central StationsEffective Date: June 2008 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 2/13/2025 Section 405.014
Next Revision (1) Date: 2/13/2028 Page 1 of 3
Fresno City Fire Department
400 Prevention Manual
SECTION 405.014 NON-U.L. CERTIFIED CENTRAL STATIONS
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to clarify the Fresno Fire Department’s (FFD or
Department) requirements related to all FFD approved, non-Underwriters
Laboratories (non-U.L.) certified central stations.
APPLICATION
This policy applies to all FFD approved, non-U.L. certified central station alarm
companies, and subscriber’s utilizing the services of these companies within the City
of Fresno (COF) and contract service areas. This policy applies to both required and
voluntary fire alarm systems.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
Based upon the need for uniformity in application across the Department’s diverse
service delivery area, and after careful deliberation, the Department has determined
that all FFD approved, non-U.L. certified central station alarm companies must
conform to all of the following requirements:
1. All non-U.L. certified central station alarm companies must maintain a
minimum of two, qualified operators on duty at the central station
terminals at all times.
2. There must be a minimum of two, dedicated transmission means “out”
for retransmission of emergency signals to FFD Communications.
3. There must be at least one copy of FFD approved, written operating
procedures at the non-U.L. certified central station terminals.
4. All information from the protected premises must be transmitted to the
FFD approved, non-U.L. certified central station via an approved
transmission means in accordance with the currently adopted edition of
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72 – National Fire Alarm
and Signaling Code.
5. Call bumping is prohibited.
Effective Date: June 2008 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 2/13/2025 Section 405.014
Next Revision (1) Date: 2/13/2028 Page 2 of 3
6. All transmissions must be recorded, and time stamped. It is the
obligation of the FFD approved, non-U.L. certified central station alarm
company to maintain all recordings for a minimum of two calendar years,
or until any litigation has been adjudicated.
7. It is the obligation of the non-U.L. certified central station alarm company
to comply with all provisions of the California Fire Code (CFC) related to
termination of monitoring service and fire alarm system monitoring as
applicable.
8. An FFD approved, back-up power supply capable of supplying the non-
U.L. certified central station alarm company’s operations for a minimum
of twenty-four (24) hours of must be available at all times.
9. The non-U.L. certified central station alarm company must maintain
records of all equipment maintenance, testing and out of service
occurrences for a minimum of two calendar years.
10. Non-U.L. certified central station alarm companies that do not have staff
members physically located within the COF (including all transmission
equipment) are not permitted. All central station companies that do not
meet the above requirements must be U.L. certified.
An economic condition, artificial project time constraint, or building design
concern shall not form the basis of a request to modify these requirements.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
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PROCESS
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INFORMATION
As noted in the CFC, the fire code official has the authority to formulate policies they
deem necessary based upon local conditions related to all fire alarm systems and
signal monitoring.
Because the COF has long had a more restrictive automatic fire sprinkler system
installation ordinance, many sites, facilities and buildings are required to have
automatic fire sprinkler system monitoring by a central station where they might not
Effective Date: June 2008 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 2/13/2025 Section 405.014
Next Revision (1) Date: 2/13/2028 Page 3 of 3
otherwise. This has led to more local alarm companies providing central station
monitoring service. To facilitate the ability of local firms to compete with larger, U.L.
certified central station firms, the Department has prepared this policy.
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, Currently adopted edition
California Fire Code, Currently adopted edition