Managing alarm signals: a question of systems
A fire detection and alarm system must monitor the environment to be protected, detect a fire early, monitor the efficiency of active protection systems, activate alarm signals, effectively communicate the alarm or fault status of the system and initiate the foreseen protective and management measures.
When a system is considered compliant
To be effective, an alarm reporting system must guarantee the transmission and reception of the signal and must be able to discriminate between real emergencies and false alarms or malfunctions.
Current standards no longer consider radio relay-based communication to be compliant, nor are solutions in which a telephone dialer reports the alarm to an ineffectively manned station, as such configurations expose the company to a level of risk that is no longer tolerable, given other available technology.
On-site watchperson
A simple watchperson is not enough; to be compliant this service must guarantee substantial teams of guardians capable of guaranteeing uninterrupted and competent supervision 24/7
Company contact person (non-certified)
The transmission of the signal to a company contact person is evidently insufficient from a technological point of view (lack of GSM coverage) as well as organizationally (continuity of supervision)
Non-certified supervisory institute
The UNI CEI EN 50518 standard requires that the Institute have the physical, technological and/or organizational requirements provided to monitor, detect and manage the alarm signal or fault
Non-certified operations center
Generally a Supervisory Institute has an operations center, but it is not compliant if it does not guarantee the high standards provided by the UNI CEI EN 50518 standard
UNI EN 50518 certified operations center
A compliant operations center is not enough if the entire system does not guarantee the correct transmission of the signal (UNI 9795 compliant system and UNI EN 54-21 transmission system)
Alarm or fault signal transmission mode
Compliant according to law
Potentially not adequate
Not compliant
Not feasible
The advantages of an integrated system
it's compliant
Mozzanica is qualified to install active and passive fire protection systems, fire detection and fire alarm signaling systems (IRAI) compliant with UNI 9795 and is able to provide 24/7/365 operations of a Monitoring and Alarm Reception Center compliant with UNI CEI 50518 requirements.
it's dependable
Mozzanica guarantees that the system is always manned by competent technicians. Thanks to the telephone technical assistance service, Mozzanica technicians can assess the state of the fault, immediately understand its characteristics and, if necessary, plan a timely technical intervention.
it's competitive
Mozzanica not only guarantees the reporting and management of alarms, as a supervisory institute can, but thanks to its experience in industrial fire-fighting systems it is able to maintain the entire management system for fire safety, from system adjustments, to rigorous ordinary and extraordinary maintenance plans, from the development of operational safety procedures, to technical training for system management.
it's evolved
Mozzanica is able to integrate the entire system with its proprietary IoT technology See.iT through which it offers a remote monitoring and diagnostics service.
Thanks to See.iT, every alarm signal or fault can be investigated in detail remotely and in real time.
See.iT is part of the Mozzanica CtRM system that allows complete digital management of the system, from design and installation to ordinary and extraordinary maintenance.
it's safe
Mozzanica is an authorized installer of the main brands in the detection and alarm reporting market.
It uses a level 4 Operations Center on the Vanini Scale, equipped with separate, independent and redundant backup systems at high heat, manned by sworn Special Security Guards.
The structure and organization of the Operations Center comply with UNI CEI EN 50518 and ISO/IEC 27001-2013 standards, offering extremely high levels of physical security and cybersecurity.
Adapting the system to the regulations is mandatory
UNI 9795 5.5.3.2
What does the law say about fixed automatic fire detection and alarm signaling systems?
When the operation center is not under constant control by the personnel in charge, a transmission system must be provided by means of which fire and fault alarms and out-of-service signals are transferred to one or more alarm and intervention operation centers and/or manned locations from which the personnel can initiate the necessary intervention measures at any time and in a timely manner.
The connection to these alarm and intervention centres must be constantly monitored, so the devices used must comply with EN 54-21.
How much does it cost to be non-compliant?
Penal Consequences
The employer and possibly the managers responsible for fire safety, as well as the installers themselves, are criminally sanctionable.
Also criminally relevant are failure, inadequate or delayed fire detection if it endangers the safety of people and property affected by the flames, as well as environmental damage caused by the fire.
Procured alarm caused by false alarm, which triggers emergency procedures without the presence of a real danger, can also trigger criminal charges.
Administrative consequences
Failure to take appropriate preventive measures, which results in cost savings for the enterprise and/or another type of benefit, or damage to third parties, may constitute an administrative violation.
The failure to provide a Declaration of Conformity (DICO) of the monitoring and alarm detection facility will result in administrative sanctions proportionate to the size and complexity of the facility as well as the degree of hazard.
Financial Consequences
Regulations on alarm monitoring and detection ensure that systems provide the highest technically achievable safety, preserving people's health and safety, corporate business continuity, and minimizing the risk of causing environmental damage.
Furthermore, economic compensation in the event of a claim is tied to a finding of compliance with the regulations of the mandatory systems and their maintenance in efficiency.