UL and NFPA have totally and completely failed when it comes to understanding how modern VoIP communication systems work . There strong and weak points. Specifically when it comes to Dial up tone over VoIP and how the Digital Dial Up Dialer's fail to catch problems with modern VoIP provided dial tone.
UL and NFPA still want 2 phone lines hooked up it is worthless on VoIP dial up if the VoIP signal goes out both lines goes out . Worse yet the voltage detector on the dialer never picks this fact up as voltage is still maintained when VoIP signal goes out . Unlike traditional land lines.
Any time I hook a fire panel to VoIP I strongly encourage customers to have a back up cellular communicator . Even if it is not UL Commercial fire communicator its better than running just via VoIP dial tone. and its permitted under codes as an ancillary device.
With this in mind you think UL and NFPA would be more prudent in how they allow systems to communicate and not interfere with there designs.
Below is a picture of a Honeywell IGSM Internet and Cellular communicator.
As you can see it is a compact design with a self contained battery so even if you cut lines to it it still goes out by cellular . It also has a front tamper switch and rear tamper option so any one trying to open it sets off the alarm .the unit is supervised to the alarm panel and warns of cellular or internet is not available and can be set to test every 24 hours or 30 days like a dial up communicator.
It uses the internet as Primary communication path and cellular as back up via 3 different radio bands
its sends signals first via GPRS and if this does not work then by SMS service in effect 3 distinct methods to make sure this signal gets thru.
But unfortunately for UL Commercial fire this is not good enough Instead if you want to use this unit for Commercial fire you must use the IGSMCF as shown below.
Notice how the IGSM has been put inside a tampered metal cabinet which effectively stops the cellular signal from getting out and instead there's an external antenna which can be easily unscrewed and tampered with. To make matters worse this communicator has to be supervised to cell tower every 10 minutes or central station notified which means that $10.00 a month cell charge is now $24.95 a month and higher depending on usage. The question is who was the ass who required this unit to be put in a red metal can and made more vulnerable to tampering and makes it more costly to monitor a fire panel when it does not have to be the case. In many cases cellular service is much more stable than VoIP voice dial up lines so why this massive beef up when it is not needed. and goes to further dissuade customers to not want to pay for monitoring their property. due to the high costs. There is no justification to have to install this communicator which actually makes your install a less safe unit. Yes the central will know when the antenna is unscrewed but with the normal unit you can not do this and communications is assured vs. we know there's a problem at site but do not know whats going on. Why would UL make such an asinine decision and put people at risk.
Well as usual it all comes down to special interests, graft and corruption . With people in the industry pushing there own agendas instead of whats best for the community.Because they can bullshit there way thru things instead of actually fully understanding how the technology works. Never talk to us guys in the field make a decision based solely on junk science not fact based matters
Which communicator would you want protecting your property the normal unit or the beefed up unit. I will take the normal unit any time over the way UL and NFPA want it. Like I have said before its time for UL and NFPA to go away and a new group of codes people come into force.
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