Fire Alarm System Communication (2018) - Recorded Webinar

Format: Instant Access Recorded Webinar

CEUs: Based on 1 contact hour of training (see CEUs tab for details)

Course Description: Telephone companies are rapidly replacing copper telephone lines with fiber optic lines which means POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) is being phased out. This, along with adoption of modern methods of communication, is driving a major transformation in how fire alarm systems communicate with the monitoring centers. There are advancements in older technology such as Mesh radio networks and there are newer avenues of communication methods like the Internet and cellular that will continue to grow rapidly. This webinar will discuss how this transition impacts fire alarm systems and will highlight the communications system requirements in Chapter 26 of NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code. Participants will also learn about best practices for transitioning a fire alarm system using POTS lines to a more modern method of communicating including pros and cons of Internet and cellular communications.

Learning Objectives:
• Explain the POTS line ‘sunsetting’ impact to fire alarm communications.
• Describe the methods acceptable to NFPA 72 for fire alarm communications.
• Understand what additional requirements and pitfalls apply for IP based communications as compared to cellular or radio.
• Learn best practices for planning and implementing the communication transition of a fire alarm system.

Tom Parrish, SET, CFPS, PSP

Tom Parrish has more than 25 years’ experience in fire protection and emergency response. He has held positions with municipal fire, law enforcement and emergency medical services and in private industry system design and installation programs. He serves on several NFPA technical committees including NFPA 72 Signaling Systems for the Protection of Life and Property and Emergency Communications Systems. He is a board member of AFAA and is a senior instructor for NFPA. His professional credentials include Level IV NICET Certified Fire Alarm Technician, Level III NICET Inspections and Testing, Certified Fire Protection Specialist and Master Electrician. He is board certified as a Physical Security Professional by ASIS and holds a bachelor’s in Industrial Technology from the Kean University of New Jersey.

Continuing Education (see details under Certificate section below)

- International Code Council - ICC Approved for 0.1 CEU's

- NICET Continuing Professional Development

- Pennsylvania UCC Approved Continuing Education Provider

- Texas Commission on Fire Protection Continuing Education

Certificate of Completion:

• Each participant registered, attending the full live training webinar or viewing the post-live recorded on-demand webinar will receive a Certificate of Completion (you must be registered under your name to receive a certificate, one certificate per registered participant). This certificate will include the participants name, training subject, date, number of training hours completed and the Fire Smarts name, address and phone number.
• Certificates will comply with International Code Council (ICC) CEU requirements for ICC approved training courses. Fire Smarts is an approved training provider of the ICC. ICC CEU’s are assigned based on 0.1 CEU per training contact hour.
• Certificates can be used as supporting documentation for CPD points required for NICET certification. This applies to the “Additional Education” section of NICET Policy #30 on Continuing Professional Development that allows for CPD points for education to advance, broaden and enhance technical knowledge and job skills.
• Certificates can be used as supporting documentation for credit hours required for re-certification as part of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) program. Continuing education credit is determined as one credit per training contact hour.
• Certificates can be used as supporting documentation for continuing education (CE) hours for Texas Commission on Fire Protection certifications. Fire Smarts is a continuing education source under "Nationally Recognized Training Providers”. Continuing education hours are determined as one CE hour per training contact hour.

Webinar Training

This webinar is presented online in a directing and discussion style of teaching. A clear and detailed presentation of the content is given with the aid of PowerPoint presentation slides. Participant questions are encouraged to facilitate understanding and practical application exercises will be given where applicable to the content.