Fire Alarm Monitoring / Putting System on "Test" Follow

Fire alarm monitoring in Illinois involves the continuous monitoring of a building's fire alarm system by an approved central monitoring station. The central monitoring station is responsible for receiving and processing signals from the building's fire alarm system and taking appropriate action in the event of an alarm.

The state of Illinois requires all commercial buildings and high-rise residential buildings with fire alarm systems to have 24-hour fire alarm monitoring by an approved central monitoring station. This is typically done through the use of a dedicated phone line or through a wireless communication system.

The central monitoring station is responsible for monitoring the building's fire alarm system and initiating the appropriate response in the event of an alarm. This typically involves contacting the local fire department and providing them with information about the location and type of alarm, as well as any other relevant details. The central monitoring station may also contact the building's designated emergency contacts or on-site security personnel to alert them to the situation. Often when you take over management of a new property, the emergency contact sheet must be updated with your information. 

Overall, fire alarm monitoring is an important aspect of fire safety in Illinois, helping to ensure that building occupants and emergency responders are promptly alerted in the event of a fire. By working with an approved central monitoring station and following state regulations, building owners and managers can help ensure the safety of their occupants and property in the event of a fire.

When doing standpipe, sprinkler or alarm tests, the central monitoring service must put your system in “test” mode, to ensure the fire department is not dispatched during testing. To put your alarm system on test mode, follow these general steps:

1. Contact your alarm monitoring company: Call your alarm monitoring company's customer service line and inform them that you would like to put your system on test mode. They will guide you through the process and provide any specific instructions or information.
2. Provide your account information: Provide the monitoring company with your account information, including your name, address, and account number. This will help them identify your account and locate your system in their database. Often there is a code required to put your system in test. This should be located in the property journal. 
3. Define the time and reason: Request that the monitoring company initiate a test of your system during a specific timeframe. Let them know the reason so they can notate in the system. 

It is important to put your alarm system on test mode before conducting any maintenance or testing to avoid triggering false alarms or unnecessary emergency response. By following these steps, you can help ensure that your alarm system is working properly and that emergency responders will be notified in the event of an actual emergency.