ASIS Fire & Life Safety Community

5-Minute Facts: Lithium Ion Battery Fires Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in many devices, from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and power tools. While they are efficient and reliable, they also can pose significant fire risks. Battery related fires are on the rise in industrial and manufacturing operations, transportation, residential, commercial businesses and parking structures. Understanding the hazards and precautions can help reduce your risk. The Fire Safety Research Institute has developed a resource page (batteryfiresafety.org) to raise awareness to this issue. These materials can help you improve your fire prevention and emergency response efforts.  

Since it is difficult to know if the person who needs to activate the Fire Alarm System is going to be a lefty or a righty you should install two pull stations close to each other.... Is that the rationale here? #UL38 #NFPA72 #UL #NFPA70 #AHJ #AlarmExpert #JeffreyZwirn

When did Scotch Tape become UL Listed for Pull Stations? Why not just replace the Manual Pull Station? #UL38 #NFPA70 #NEC #NFPA72 #AHJ #AlarmExpert #JeffreyZwirn

Shocker: FACU non-functional Failure to adhere to Nationally Recognized Industry Standards and Best Practices will likely have consequences. #UL864 #NFPA72 #NEC #NFPA70 #AlarmExpert #JeffreyZwirn

One of the Worst Installations Ever! With over 44 years in the industry, this is one of the worst "installations" I have ever seen. #NFPA13 #NFPA25 #UL #Fail #AlarmExpert #JeffreyZwirn

Customer States: The System False Alarmed Alarm Company States: There were Signs of Forcible Entry Each alarm activation needs to be fully investigated because just assuming that the alarm system activated falsely is not prudent under any circumstances. #FalseAlarms #SignsOfForcibleEntry #UL #ESA #SIA #AlarmExpert #JeffreyZwirn

THIS CONDUCT SMACKS OF INTENTIONAL WRONGDOING! This "Installer" ran a 120 VAC circuit into a junction box with a Fire Alarm cable in the same raceway. Astonishingly, instead of performing this work correctly, he decided to conceal his improper work by stripping the insulation off of the fire alarm wire and using it to “cover over” the THHN wiring. Undeniably, the intent was to deceive the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). #CodeViolation #LicenseViolation #Fraud #Fail #NEC #AHJ #AlarmExpert #JeffreyZwirn

Do you think we should replace the battery now? #UL #AlarmSystems #AlarmExpert #JeffreyZwirn

Since 1837, the Alarm Industry has used relays. That said, in one example, the instructions for a 120-Volt Accessory Relay Module states that the relay should not be used for life safety alarm supervision. The specifications further indicate that if supervision of an area is necessary (almost as if it was optional), a smoke detector connected to a fire alarm panel should be used. If you are looking for life safety and supervision (and I hope that there was never a question in your mind about this for household fire alarm systems), you can never connect this Accessory Relay Module to a UL Listed 217 Smoke Alarm(s), only Smoke Detector(s). Yet, many alarm contractors across the country are using these relays to trigger a control unit. Can alarm contractors connect an accessory relay module to Smoke Alarms in a home for monitoring? The answer is no, not without violating the manufacturer’s specifications, UL standards, and NFPA standards. According to the equipment manufacturer, the relay portion of the module can be used to activate auxiliary warning devices such as interior lighting, internal sirens, or bells. That said, I have never seen a household installation where a smoke alarm, through an accessory relay module, activated lighting, a bell, or a siren. Have you? In closing, activating a bell or siren simultaneously with a smoke alarm would cause confusion, as it disregards Temporal-3 distinctive sounding requirements. Frankly, I find these concepts to be nothing less than idiotic and completely misguided. #UL217 #AccessoryRelayModule #SmokeAlarm #SmokeDetector #AlarmExpert #JeffreyZwirn

If you are in Orlando for GSX24, please join the Fire and Life Safety Steering Committee as we present an educational session on "Fatal Flaws: When Life Safety and Security Conflict". We will be presenting at 2:00 PM EST on 9/24 in room S210BC. Following the presentation we will be hosting The HUB on the GSX tradeshow floor at 3:30 PM EST. We would love to meet you in person.