The Importance of Alarm Transmission in Fire Safety
A quick response is the cornerstone of fire safety. According to Section 3of the Rescue Act (379/2011), anyone who discovers a fire and is unable to extinguish it immediately is required to call the emergency dispatch center without delay. Automatic alarm transmission ensures that emergency services are notified of a fire immediately, even if no one is present on the premises.
Manual alarms via phone take time and require a person to be present. An automated system operates around the clock, including at night and on weekends. This is particularly important in properties where staff are rarely on site, such as warehouses, industrial facilities, or office buildings outside of business hours.
Alarm transmission not only speeds up the arrival of emergency responders. It also enables the property’s own staff or security guards to respond quickly. When information about a fire is relayed immediately, evacuation and initial firefighting efforts can begin even before emergency responders arrive.
Technical Methods for Alarm Transmission
Modern fire alarm control panels, such as the Panasonic EBL512 G3 supplied by PAP Group, use several different communication methods to ensure the transmission of alarms. A typical primary connection is a fixed data link, which provides fast and reliable data transmission. A mobile network often serves as a backup connection, ensuring connectivity even in the event of a fixed-line network outage. An alternative to a fixed connection can be a solution using two separate, independent mobile connections.
Redundancy is an essential part of alarm transmission. If the primary connection is lost, the system automatically switches to the backup connection. This ensures that the alarm is delivered even in the event of network problems. Modern fire alarm control panels continuously monitor the status of their connections and immediately report any disruptions.
Emergency Call Center Connectivity and Its Requirements
Connection to an emergency response center is the most common method of alarm transmission in Finland. When a fire alarm is connected to an emergency response center, the customer first enters into an alarm transmission agreement with the operator of their choice and then submits a connection application through the emergency response center’s ILMO system.
When the fire alarm control panel is connected to the emergency response center, every fire incident is automatically reported to emergency services. The emergency response center receives the alert, verifies the location details, and dispatches the fire department to the scene.
Transfer to Control Rooms and Other Systems
In addition to the emergency dispatch center, alarms can be forwarded to other control rooms. Large buildings and industrial facilities often have their own control rooms that receive alarms in real time. Staff working in the control room can respond immediately, assess the situation, and take the necessary actions.
Security company monitoring centers are another common destination for alarm transmissions. Especially in buildings that do not have their own 24-hour security staff, security services can provide a rapid response to fire emergencies. A security guard can arrive on the scene to assess the situation and, if necessary, direct emergency responders to the location.
Alarms can also be integrated with other building automation systems. For example, automatically shutting down ventilation, activating smoke extraction, or closing fire doors can be linked to the fire alarm system. This enables a coordinated response in which all safety systems work together to manage a fire situation.
Legal Requirements for Alarm Transmission
The EN54 standard and the Rescue Act 379/2011 set clear requirements for fire alarm systems and alarm transmission. According to the law, the owner or occupant of a building must ensure that a fire can be reported without delay. An automatic fire alarm system is one way to fulfill this obligation, but the mere existence of the system is not sufficient.
The Ministry of the Interior’s decree on fire safety in buildings specifies in more detail the types of facilities where an automatic fire alarm system is required. These include, among others, lodging facilities with a capacity of more than 50 people, hospitals, nursing homes, and large commercial buildings. In these facilities, forwarding alarms to the emergency dispatch center is, in practice, mandatory.
Insurance companies also have their own requirements regarding alarm transmission. In many cases, insurance coverage requires a connection to an emergency dispatch center or, at a minimum, to an approved monitoring station. Failure to meet these requirements may result in reduced insurance payouts or a denial of coverage in the event of a fire.
Testing and Maintenance of Alarm Transmission
A connection to the emergency response center requires regular testing, which is essential to ensure the reliability of alarm transmission. The transmission connection for fire alarms from a fire alarm system connected to the emergency response center is tested monthly as part of what is known as a monthly test. Monthly connection tests are usually performed by a fire alarm system technician who has received the necessary training.
During testing, it is verified that an alarm is triggered from the fire alarm control panel, transmitted to the receiving party, and that the recipient receives the correct information about the location. The functionality of the backup connection must also be tested regularly. The testing is carefully documented so that the system’s functionality can be demonstrated during inspections by the authorities.
If a malfunction is detected in the alarm transmission connection, the message transmission system generates a fault report, which is forwarded to the alarm transmission operator or to a separately agreed-upon connection fault monitoring service. These parties are responsible for initiating follow-up measures as agreed upon in the subscription and monitoring agreements. The emergency response center is not responsible for the technical monitoring of transmission connections; rather, the handling of connection failures and notification thereof fall under the agreement between the system operator and the service provider.
Common Problems and Their Solutions
Network issues are the most common cause of disruptions in alarm transmission. A disruption in the fixed network, poor mobile network coverage, or service provider outages can prevent an alarm from being delivered. This is why backup connections are so important. When the primary connection is lost, the backup connection automatically takes over data transmission.
False alarms can overload the alarm transmission system and result in unnecessary response calls. Dirty detectors, construction work, or incorrect detector settings can trigger false alarms. PAP Group’s maintenance services regularly check the contamination levels of detectors and replace dirty detectors with new ones, which significantly reduces the number of false alarms.
Information security risks are a growing concern in systems connected to the internet. Cyber threats can also target fire alarm systems, which is why data communication connections must be properly secured. Encryption, firewalls, and regular security updates are an essential part of a modern alarm transmission system.
PAP Group's Expertise in Alarm Transmission
PAP Group specializes in the design, installation, and maintenance of fire alarm systems. Proper configuration of a fire alarm system is a critical part of every installation. Our trained installers ensure that the systems operate reliably with all connected systems and that all required standards are met.
PAP Group primarily services Panasonic systems in Finland, but also systems from other brands. During service visits, the functionality of the alarm transmission is always tested to ensure the system’s overall reliability. Regular maintenance prevents problems before they arise and keeps the system continuously operational.
User training is an important part of our comprehensive service. PAP Group provides training as needed to ensure that property staff understand how the alarm transmission system works and how to respond in various situations. Well-trained staff know how to react quickly and correctly, which is of the utmost importance in fire safety.
Practical Tips for Property Owners
Make sure all contact information is up to date. If the persons in charge of the property change or contact information changes, update it immediately in the ILMO system at the emergency response center, with the alarm transmission operator providing the service, or with the fault monitoring service, check the fire department’s property record, and also notify the fire alarm maintenance company of the updated contact information. Outdated contact information can result in critical information not reaching the right people at the right time.
Document all testing and the contact information used for alert routing. Keep a list of where alerts are sent, via which connection, and who is responsible for system maintenance. This greatly facilitates troubleshooting and ensures that information is retained during staff changes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alarm Forwarding
- Is it mandatory for all buildings to have an alarm system that forwards alerts to the emergency dispatch center?
Forwarding alarms to the emergency response center is not mandatory in all buildings, but it is required in those locations where a fire alarm system is mandated by the terms of the building permit. The Rescue Act and the Ministry of the Interior’s decree specify the types of buildings in which an automatic fire alarm system is required. In these locations, alarm transmission is practically essential. Insurance companies may also make a connection to the emergency response center a condition for full insurance coverage. Even if alarm transmission is not mandatory, it is often recommended to improve safety.
- How quickly is the alarm relayed to the emergency dispatch center?
In modern systems, an alarm is transmitted to the emergency response center within a few seconds. The fire alarm control panel sends the alarm immediately when a detector senses signs of a fire. The emergency response center receives the information, verifies the location details, and dispatches the fire department to the scene. The entire process typically takes less than a minute. This is significantly faster than manually dialing the emergency number, especially in situations where no one is present at the property.
- What happens if there is no internet connection?
Modern alarm transmission interfaces always have a primary connection and a backup connection. If the primary connection is lost, the system automatically switches to the backup connection. This ensures that the alarm is delivered even if network problems occur. The system continuously monitors the status of its connections and immediately alerts you if there are any issues with data transmission. This allows the service provider to respond quickly and resolve the problem before it compromises security.
- Can alarms be forwarded to multiple control rooms at the same time?
Yes, it can. Alarms can be forwarded simultaneously to multiple control rooms. A typical setup is for an alarm to be sent both to the emergency response center and to the property’s own control room or security company. This enables both the authorities and the property’s own staff to respond quickly. The system can also be programmed to send different types of alarms to different destinations. For example, local malfunctions can be sent only to the maintenance company, while actual fire incidents are forwarded to the emergency dispatch center.
- How often should the alarm transmission be tested?
In Finland, fire alarm signal transmission is tested at least once a month, in accordance with standard practice. Regular testing ensures that any potential problems are detected in a timely manner and corrected before they can compromise safety. During testing, the functionality of both the primary and backup connections is verified. All tests are carefully documented.
- Do alarm transmissions cost the emergency dispatch center anything?
The Emergency Response Center Agency bills for the alarm device connected to the emergency response center in accordance with the agreement. The total cost of alarm transmission is also affected by the selected alarm transmission operator and fault and alarm monitoring services. The rescue authority may also charge a fee if a fire alarm device connected to the emergency response center repeatedly triggers false fire alarms.
PAP Group helps design a cost-effective solution that meets legal requirements and provides reliable security. Insurance companies may offer discounts when a property has an appropriate alarm transmission system.
Contact our experts
Proper implementation of alarm transmission requires in-depth expertise in fire alarm systems, telecommunications, and legislation. PAP Group offers comprehensive expertise in all of these areas. PAP Group helps ensure that your fire alarm system’s alarm transmission operates reliably both in everyday use and during emergencies. Our services include the design, delivery, and implementation of alarm transmission solutions, as well as the coordination of connectivity and fault monitoring with the selected operator, along with testing and documentation through our TIETO data storage service. Whether you’re planning a new system or improving the reliability of an existing one, our experts will help you find the best solution for your specific property.
Contact PAP Group to discuss the fire safety needs of your property. We’ll help you design, implement, and maintain a reliable alarm transmission system that meets all requirements and provides peace of mind around the clock.
This article was created by PAP Group's experts using artificial intelligence.