Fire service monitoring providers
ADT Fire Monitoring
Owners
Tyco New Zealand Ltd, part of the global Tyco empire, based in the United States. Despite a change involviong the selloff of a number of New Zealand companies, Tyco remains an extremely large player in the global economy.
Services
Solely fire monitoring, but very closely run with their security monitoring service. The communication is via the Telecom CDMA cellular network, with a dedicated phone line required as a backup.
Upside
This is the existing provider, and no action is required. The service is stable, and the company sound.
Downside
Our opinion is that the contract has a number of very tight clauses, including automatic renewal of contract, and a requirement to pay “liquidated damages” in the event that you might wish to terminate the contract early (including the sale of the building).
Numerous other charges
exist, for very simple services such as changing owner's information ($250.00+GST) and relocating the communicating unit anywhere inside the building ($450.00+GST). These charges are available on their website to view: http://www.adtfiremonitoring.co.nz/fire_monitoring/fees#services POST SCRIPT: We note that they have now removed this page - perhaps due to too many people clicking through...
The
service itself has included paging to fire companies being directed from an Australian provider, resulting in confusing signals being received in incorrect order, and delays of up to two hours. Some signals have been duplicated such as a test “fault” signal is sent out as a
real “fault” signal, often resulting in unnecessary attendance by technicians.
Automatic Fire Alarm Monitoring (AFAM)
Owners
10 fire protection contractors throughout New Zealand, 2 fire alarm manufacturers, and a number of individuals from in-and-out of the fire industry. Many of these organisations were involved in the ownership of the original AFA Monitoring.
Service
Solely Fire Monitoring. Uses a similar cellular connection through the Vodafone GSM Network and has a backup using any (not necessarily dedicated) phone line. There is no relationship with Security Monitoring providers.
Upside
This allows the invoicing to be through the Fire Agent, with their usual invoice for testing. The service is variable to the owner’s preferences and ensures rapid response by technicians, as paging is almost instant.
The service has been developed by the fire industry in New Zealand
to match the requirements of those who use the service most – the agents themselves. The monitoring contracts are free of fishhooks, and most of the services charged heavily for by ADT are free-of-charge. The fire agent handles any issues directly with AFAM and they are not going to
try to sell you any further services.
Downside
This requires change, and can only be undertaken when your contract with ADT is at an end. The AFAM System cannot communicate with out-of-date transmitter cards such as SAFE and Benecoda which were used in Christchurch in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
For sites with one fire system
utilising SAFE transmitters most can accept the AFAM equipment without change but for those with two or more SAFE connected systems a small fee of around $150+GST applies per system.
For more information, please contract your fire alarm agent.
Alarm NZ Ltd
Owners
A private company based in Auckland, providing a wide range of Security Monitoring Services, now incorporating Fire Service monitoring within their services.
Service
A variable signal transport devices, using (dedicated, independent) ADSL Broadband, or Wireless Broadband but does not require a backup dedicated phone line. This unit can also transport CCTV, Burglar, BMS and many other services.
Upside
The service is innovative and is able to transport many other services under the same unit. The broadband connection means extremely fast signal passage. This would appeal to the building which requires the transport and monitoring of many signals by the same organisation.
No term
contracts exist.
Downside
The service is more expensive that ADT, when you don't have a dedicated phone line as a back up, but is cheaper if you have to have this as a requirement. The service requires its own dedicated ADSL service which can be installed on any line which does not have ADSL currently on it. You are also required to change from your existing ADT connection, and this will take effort also.
A sizeable up-front payment is required for the connection to their system, which can be reduced substantially if the owner signs a term contract.
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