The document discusses the history and evolution of fire alarm signal transmission technologies. Early methods included smoke, bells, and church bells. Leased telephone lines were then used to transmit signals to monitoring stations. The McCulloh loop circuit allowed multiple call boxes to share a circuit connected to the station. Modern panels can activate outdoor call boxes. Traditional DACT systems used copper telephone lines, but these were replaced with fiber. Alternative transmission technologies now include cellular and IP due to telephone network changes. NFPA standards have adjusted terminology and requirements to accommodate new technologies performance-based approach.

1. • Shift of technology?
• NFPA?
•Legislation?

2. “We have come full circle
using wireless
transmissions to send
signals to responders”
Smoke, firefighter rattles
and church bells were
used.
Early Alarm Reporting

3. 33
Direct Connect
Ladder Co. 1
3 4 4
Running Cards

4. 44
Leased Lines
•The Auxiliary Fire Alarm System utilized leased lines from the local telephone
company for signal transmission.
• A leased line is always active

5. 55
McCulloh Loop
• The next major improvement to fire alarm signal transmission came in the early
1880’s with the development of the McCulloh Loop. The benchmark for
reliability. The first transmission technology used by supervising station
systems.
• This circuit allowed multiple manual call boxes to share a single circuit
connected to the monitoring station.
• The Code Wheel method of signal transmission is still in use in some areas
today.

6. 66
Modern FACP connected to outside Call Box
Using add-on modules, modern day Fire Alarm Control Panels have the
ability to activate call boxes that are located outside the protected premises.

7. 77
Traditional DACT Communications
Detectors
Fire Panel
Alarm Monitoring &
Automation Software
Telephone
network
Telephone line
alarm receiver
• Birth of CS
•1980’s Trunk lines
are converted from
copper to Fiber
•Situation with
DACTS
• CO office had over 24 hours
Standby
•Codec has 8 hours standby

8. 8
American Recovery and Reinvestment ACT of
2009
8

9. 9
American Recovery and Reinvestment ACT of
2009
9

10. 10
FCC Request for Comments
10

11. 11
AT&T response
11

12. 12
AT&T Urges POTS Sunset
12

13. 13
Test Market IP
13

15. 1515
NFPA adjusted the name of
“Other Transmission Technologies”
 NFPA72 – 1999 “Other Transmission Technologies”
 NFPA72 – 2007 “Other Transmission Technologies”
 NFPA72 – 2010 “Alternative Technologies”
 NFPA72 – 2013 “Performance – Based Technologies”
The last sentence of A.26.6.2.2 contains important guidance: “It is
further expected that suitable proposals for stating the requirements of
such technology will be submitted for inclusion in subsequent editions
of this code”.

16. 1616
Five Communication methods are addressed in
the Code. NFPA 72 - 2013
26.6.3.2 -
26.6.3.1 -
26.6.3.1 -
26.6.3.3 -

17. 1717
NFPA makes it easier to use Alternative
Technologies
NFPA 72 – 2110 26.6.3.1.4.1 Single Communications Technology. Where
only one communications technology is used, any failure of the communications
path shall be annunciated at the supervising station within 5 minutes of the
failure.
NFPA 72 – 2013 26.6.3.1.5 Single Communications Path. Unless prohibited by
the enforcing authority, governing laws, codes, or standards, a single
transmission path shall be permitted, and the path shall be supervised at an
interval of not more than 60 minutes. A failure of the path shall be annunciated at
the supervising station within not more than 60 minutes. The failure to complete
a signal transmission shall be annunciated at the protected premises in
accordance with Section 10.15.

18. 1818
NFPA makes it harder to use Phone Lines
NFPA72 – 2010 26.6.3.1.4.2 Multiple Communications Technologies. Where
two or more different technologies are used, the following requirements shall be
met:
(2)Failure of any communications path shall be annunciated at the supervising
station and at the protected premises within not more than 24 hours of the
failure.
NFPA72 – 2013 26.6.3.1.6 Multiple Communications Paths. If multiple
transmission paths are used, the following requirements shall be met:
(1)Each path shall be supervised within not more than 6 hours.
(2)The failure of any path of a multipath system shall be annunciated at the
supervising station within not more than 6 hours.

19. 1919
NFPA makes is harder to use Phones Lines
NFPA72 – 2013 26.6.3.2.1.4 Transmission Channels.
(A) A system employing a DACT shall employ one telephone line
(number). In addition, one of the following transmission means shall be
employed:
(1) One-way private radio alarm system
(2) Two-way RF multiplex system
(3) Transmission means complying with 26.6.3.1

20. 20
AFAA’s Role in Codes & Standards Arena
20

21. 21
The Future
21
www.broadband.gov/plan/

22. 22
Cellular
22
•Active Technology
•Wireless pathway
•Drop in replacement
•Needs only power
•Ease of installation
•Data side of the network
• GSM (today)
•LTE (Tomorrow)

23. 23
Understand Wireless Spectrum
23
•Natural limited resource
•Narrow Banding
•Spectrum efficiency
•GSM and LTE disruptive technologies.

24. 2424
How to use the IPGSM-4G and IPDACT-2 as
a growth driver for your business!
Be a Hero to Your Customer
Open Doors to New Business
Position Yourself as a Solution Provider

25. 2525
Digital IP & Wireless Communications
Central Station
Primary Receiver
Backup Receiver
Automation Server
Telephone
Network
Telephone Line
Receiver
Cellular
Network
Connects to ANY Existing Fire Panel