Subrogation: Utilizing Alarm Systems as a Silent Witness to the Loss
For further context, the system’s Fire Alarm Control Unit (FACU) had an internal event log, and since it operates on EEPROM technology, all of the data recorded in real-time still remains and is accessible even though the system had no AC or DC power as a result of the loss.
Despite the Alarm Contractor’s decision not to cooperate with the forensic investigation, I successfully accessed the system’s internal event log, which required me to harvest the electronic data without damaging the equipment. This task also required a specialized alarm downloader.
Once this data was forensically harvested, I identified that the system had in fact detected the fire on multiple zones of the system, and I was able to determine that the time the fire started, and the location where the fire started by analyzing the data and how it spread following the system zone sequencing.
So why didn’t the fire alarm system transmit signals to the Central Station? The answer, in part, depends on the communication path(s) that were being used for this Fire Alarm System, whereby it could either be phone lines, and/or internet signaling, and/or a Cellular Alarm Transmitter. Here, the Fire Alarm System was equipped with a sole path Cellular Alarm Transmitter; accordingly, since this Fire Alarm System did not connect to the phone lines or the internet for its communications path, the functional or non-functional condition of the phone lines or internet as a result of the Fire had no nexus to the Central Station not receiving any fire alarm signals.
Precisely, NFPA 72®-National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code specifically requires the Cellular Alarm Transmitter to be supervised to check in with the Network Operations Center (NOC) every six (6) hours when it is designated as a Sole Path Communicator. In the event the Cellular Alarm Transmitter is unable to communicate with the Network Operations Center (NOC), every six (6) hours, this failure to communicate is required to be immediately detected by the Central Stations UL 1981 Listed Automation Software.
Thereafter, NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, specifically requires the Central Station to institute immediate subscriber notification so that the Fire Alarm system is serviced by the Alarm Service Company (ASC).
Resultantly, immediate corrective action can be taken to restore Central Station Monitoring before a fire emergency occurs. Here, despite this being a mandatory minimum requirement of NFPA 72, approximately four (4) months prior to the fire, the Cellular Communicator stopped checking in with the Network Operation Center (NOC), meaning that it was non-functional. Incredibly, instead of notifying the subscriber and servicing the account, the Alarm Contractor directed the Central Station to suppress all test fail conditions indefinitely. This material information was never disclosed to the subscriber, nor was it provided to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), the local Fire Official. This action constitutes violations of NFPA 72®.
In the meantime, the subscriber was billed and continued to pay for their Central Station Alarm Monitoring Charges, despite the fact that their Alarm Contractor and the Central Station knew that the system was technically unable to communicate with the Central Station, meaning there was no way for the system to be monitored.
Utilizing Forensic Alarm Science, it was revealed that the actions and inactions of both the Alarm Contractor and Central Station were a proximate cause of the millions of dollars of damages that were sustained. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the responsible parties identified violated their statutory duties and the adopted Fire Code in the State.
Simplified, but for the fire alarm system not being monitored and in compliance with NFPA 72® when the fire was detected by the Building Fire Alarm System, upon receipt of alarm signal(s) the Central Station would have been able to immediately notify and dispatch the Fire Department to the premises, who in turn, would have been able to intervene and significantly minimize the damages sustained.
Technical Fact
EEPROM stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. It is a type of non-volatile memory used in computers and other electronic devices to store critical data that remains intact even when no AC or DC power is present.
What is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), and Understanding Different UL Listings
UL is the most authoritative Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) in the United States and the world. UL Standards are an equipment standard for alarm systems. For a commercial fire alarm system, the Fire Alarm Control Unit requires a UL 864 –10th Edition listing. Smoke Detectors are required to be listed to UL-268, and Carbon Monoxide detectors are required to be listed to UL-2075. For Household Combination Listed Control Units, for the fire alarm system side of the equipment, the equipment is required to be listed to UL 985
What is NFPA-72® – National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code
NFPA-72-National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code is the most authoritative treatise on Fire Alarm Systems in the country and around the world. It is an installation standard for fire alarm systems. Each State of the United States has adopted NFPA-72 either through its building or fire code. Resultantly, if an alarm contractor violates NFPA 72, it violates their statutory duties, and this aligns with an alarm contractor violating Alarm Contracting Licensing Laws.
Written by:
Jeffrey D. Zwirn
President, CPP®, CFPS®, CFE®, SET, ITFAS-I, ITFAS-II, CHPA-IV, NFPA 3000(PS), MSYL, MBAT, SSI Hall of Fame Inductee, IDS Research & Development, Incorporated
© 2026- IDS Research and Development, Inc.
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