Elk M1 with EST Fire panel

[Lunchb0x]

Hello
 
The company I work for has built a new facility and I have been tasked with the access control, security, networking and fire installations, set up.  Although this is new to me I have installed and set up the M1G system to control our doors. Now he tells me to try to integrate the fire panel, which was already installed, to the M1 system.  The only info I have on the fire panel is the manual, which seem to have been written in 1985. Is there a way to have the Fire Panel (FP) report to the M1 system and then have the M1 call out to what ever we set up? Do I need any additional equipment to accomplish this, or is this not a possibility? 
 
Thanks

 

[Del91574]

DON'T DO IT.
 
The M1 is not listed for commercial fire service nor is it a commercial fire communicator. Opening yourself and your company for large liabilities. Did I mention how much of a bad idea this is?
 
The M1 is listed for commercial burglar alarm, that's it. If you're introducing any hardware to a commercial fire alarm system, it needs to be listed for commercial fire alarm, even down to a simple relay.
 
I won't get into what can and cannot be integrated and how, as if there are omissions or errors...we're up to lawsuit or worse, criminal negligence.
 
Also, your statement contradicts itself..."built a new facility" and "fire panel manual from 1985 [sic]". A new facility would not have an almost 30 year old panel installed, and generally, if such a renovation or new tennant making space tenable, most AHJ's or insurers would require some form of update to the FACP, so something isn't adding up here in my mind.

 

[Lunchb0x]

Thanks you for your reply.  I will communicate to my boss the reasons you listed.  He thought we could wire in the FP, sort of, into the smoke alarm input of the M1.  My comment of the 1985 manual came from a section of it describing how to connect to "other computer, Telnet sites, bulletin board systems"  It was not an indication of the age of the FP.

 

[Del91574]

If your boss is intending on having the FACP monitored, then an appropriate slave dialer or smaller FACP for such purposes would need to be installed. The M1 could be used for supplementary annunciation, after a compliant system and dialer is connected, however many AHJ's and insurers do not like when non-listed equipment is connected to a FACP.
 
There's so many code items that come into play...annunciators, DACT's, listed components, proprietary monitoring and supervising stations...
 
BBS', Telnet and similar dates it, doesn't it? Pretty obsolete.