Statcomm Inc.

Thank you Ken!

https://bit.ly/3gXhPhi

(Credit NFPA)

E-commerce, and the need for fulfillment facilities, has surged during the pandemic. Download the "Warehouse Fire Safety Fact Sheet" to learn more about the importance of inspection, testing, and maintenance of these facilities from NFPA 13: http://nfpa.social/hvM350HWzso

E-commerce, and the need for fulfillment facilities, has surged during the pandemic. Download the "Warehouse Fire Safety Fact Sheet" to learn more about the importance of inspection, testing, and maintenance of these facilities from NFPA 13: http://nfpa.social/hvM350HWzso

Happy Valentines Day from all of us at Statcomm!

3G Is Going Away—Is It Taking Your Life Safety Systems with It?

As cellular technology continues to become more popular and evolve further, slow, outdated or obsolete systems are gradually eliminated from the technosphere. This process, known as “sunsetting,” is intended to free up bandwidth and spectrum for companies to provide faster service and broader data access capabilities to its customers. We’ve already witnessed the demise of first- and second-generation cellular technology as 3G arose to become the gold standard. Now, 4G, 5G and LTE or Long-Term Evolution networks, have rendered 3G obsolete—and the change may be closer than you think, with repercussions which may surprise you.
As early as the end of this year, carriers are ceasing activation of new 3G equipment such as cellphones in favor of redirecting customers to later-gen technology which will be better equipped to cope with the new demands of the enhanced systems. Customers with 3G already in place will have a grace period to upgrade to newer tech, but this period ranges from a matter of a few months to as long as three years depending upon the carrier and location. But one fact is definite.
On January 1st, 2023, the 3G network in the United States will cease to exist.
The basic reason given by the carriers for sunsetting the 3G network is simple: cost. At its base, it’s more cost-effective for carriers, and less expensive for customers, to encourage existing users to adapt to new tech compatible with the new 4G/5G and LTE networks, with a more robust spectrum of voice and data access, than to maintain legacy equipment which only accounts for a modest fraction of their user base, for years or decades.
Many, if not most, modern life safety systems rely on cellular communication to contact and summon help in the event of an emergency such as a fire. As the 3G network and the equipment which relies on it goes away, a frustrating nuisance for many cellphone users becomes a literal matter of life and death for life safety systems which use 3G-based tech and networks to function. And it has led to a great deal of confusion, and some frequently asked questions, about how the 3G sunset will affect your life safety systems. Since we’ve fielded a lot of these questions, here are a few of the more common ones we’ve received.
How do I know if my life systems work on 3G or some other wireless protocol? Is there a way to check?
That information would typically be provided by your current monitoring company or their current fire alarm service company of record.

https://bit.ly/3sycodS

What’s the Best Alternative to Cellular for My Life Safety Systems?

Statcomm is committed to giving you the information you need to keep your property, tenants, and employees safe in the event of a life safety emergency such as a fire. In the previous article, we talked about the 3G sunset and its implications in terms of function for life safety systems. In this article, we’re going to evaluate the different alternatives to cellular communications strategies in terms of both their advantages and drawbacks.
We at Statcomm have our own recommendations, which we will get into later in this article, but we want to (i) present to you all of the available options first so that you can have a better understanding of the current state of technology today. Here are the possibilities and pros and cons of each system and how it affects your fire and life safety systems!
Landline
Pros: Landline or POTS, short for “Plain Old Telephone Service,” technology is commonly seen. Landlines are used for elevator emergency phones, lottery machines, central fire alarm monitoring systems, and even in voting machines!
Many security providers’ systems require a landline connection if the system is managed through the consumer’s broadband cable network. In the event of a blackout, power outage or other similar events where cell phone service would be affected, landlines often still function allowing people to stay in touch and summon help. At first look, this list of pros alone would make landline seem like the obvious choice. Please continue reading to find the cons of landline systems.
Cons: Unlike cellular service, which can reroute communications through another tower in case of a service outage, if your landline goes down due to inclement weather, accidents or natural disasters, you could be completely disconnected until the carrier can dispatch people technicians to fix it. It is important to know also that your phone service may be through one provider, while another company is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure. If the line fails, contacting your carrier directly may not be the most expeditious way toward a resolution.
In addition, POTS is more vulnerable to Denial of Service (DoS), attacks than cellular or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) would be. Last, but not least, AT&T and other major telecom providers are working to sunset the copper landline system in favor of a mass migration to VoIP. This means maintaining the lines is becoming (W) more expensive as fewer people use landlines for anything, potentially putting remaining customers on the hook to pay to maintain the infrastructure.
Bottom line: If you have landline service for your life safety systems, it will most likely get you through the 3G sunset—but your connection is probably living on borrowed time, and could be costing you more than it needs to.
IP Network Communicator
Pros: Modern iterations of this cellular alternative use the Internet to send packets of information from your system to a monitoring station, which will then summon emergency services. An IP network communicator can switch from one information route to another with no lapse in response which is appreciable to most human senses, so if one pathway is corrupted or goes down, another can be utilized nearly seamlessly. Many IP network communicators can utilize next-generation VoIP and fiber-optic connections as well as conventional POTS outlets, which means expensive retrofits are not typically necessary. The hardware is reasonably inexpensive and easy to install for a trained technician. The electrical power redundancies required by modern building codes help ensure continued function even in the event of primary power loss to the property. And in the event of a catastrophic failure or missed automatic check-in from the system, the monitoring station will still receive an alert.
Cons: No security technology is 100% bulletproof, and network alarm communicators are no exception. Because they work over the Internet, a malicious hack against your equipment or the monitoring station can compromise your system’s function due to a DoS, replay or man-in-the-middle, jamming or spoofing attack. While the high encryption level and hackers’ preference for softer or higher-profile targets make such an attack unlikely on a level akin to winning the lottery immediately after being struck by lightning and just before being bitten by a shark, the possibility must be taken into account.
Bottom line: A solid mix of economical, customizable, effective and secure, IP network alarm communicators are one of Statcomm’s recommended options as an alternative to cellular-based alarm communications.
AES Mesh Network
Pros: Much like the network alarm communicators above, the AES radio mesh network uses a subscriber network to communicate between your life safety control panel and the monitoring station. Because this is a private radio network which operates on specific, seldom-used radio frequencies, there is less risk of vulnerability arising from hacking. Packets of data are sent along the subscriber chain by locating the closest available point in the chain at any given time and moving it on to the next. The initial installation is reasonably inexpensive and simple, and the operating costs versus other cellular alternative systems are lower over time. Also, later-generation versions of the radio mesh network are hardened against unintentional interference from natural and manmade sources, reducing the likelihood of loss of services from these causes to near zero.
Cons: As with any other alarm monitoring protocol, the system is reasonably secure but not bulletproof. Radio-frequency attacks are far less common than other cyberattacks but are difficult to defend against if they do occur.
Bottom line: Statcomm strongly recommends the AES radio mesh network as a cellular alternative due to its robust mix of economy of use, security, connectivity, and stability. If you are considering a switch from cellular-based monitoring, this is your best starting point.
For more information about cellular alternatives or to request Statcomm to craft a monitoring plan which works with your budget and needs, please call us at (650) 988-9508 or email us at [email protected].

https://bit.ly/3B6mIOj

Statcomm Is Your All-In-One Fire Protection Resource...

Statcomm has been proudly serving the Bay Area since 1992, including Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties. In that time, we have become one of the Bay Area’s premier life safety installation, maintenance, and inspection services, with a great reputation and an ongoing commitment to client service and safety.
Below, you can learn more about the services Statcomm provides, including fire safety and fire suppression systems, inspection services, fire protection engineering, and much more.

• Access Control Systems

Statcomm’s access control systems are designed to add security and peace of mind for tenants, occupants, property managers, and owners. Our range of access control offerings are designed to keep unauthorized personnel out, maximize inventory and personnel safety, and limit the damage fire and other disaster events can cause. We also offer periodic maintenance for doors!

• Automatic Gates

An automatic gated entry system can help give you and your tenants’ peace of mind by limiting access to an area, increasing security and safety for everyone. Statcomm offers automatic gate and other access control solutions that allow you full control over who may and may not enter, including keycard- and keypad-actuated systems among other options.

• Emergency & Exit Lighting

In an emergency, being able to find the way out can be a literal lifesaver. Statcomm is proud to offer a wide range of self-illuminating and hardwired lighting systems that work automatically to keep you, your tenants, and employees safe in case a fire or other emergency occurs.

• Fire & Security Doors

One of the key points in fire suppression is containment. Fire requires oxygen, and fire and security doors help choke off oxygen to a space as an integral part of an effective fire suppression system. In addition, security doors allow you to limit access to part or all of a facility, giving you more control over who comes in and out. Statcomm is proud to offer a wide variety of fire and safety doors from top manufacturers which offer robust protection and peace of mind for your unique needs. We even offer fire-rated doors for trash chutes!

• Fire Alarms

A fire alarm is often the first indication many people have that a fire safety problem is imminent. Properly functioning fire alarms alert personnel and tenants to danger, and can even summon the fire department remotely. Statcomm offers fire protection engineering, fire alarm panel inspection, fire monitoring, inspection and service to ensure your alarms are to the job at all times, making us one of the leading fire alarm companies in the Bay Area!

• Fire Extinguishers

A fire extinguisher that doesn’t work, or isn’t right for the job, isn’t going to do much good when you need it. Statcomm is proud to offer fire protection solutions from some of the biggest names in the industry, like Amerex, Badger, and Buckeye. We perform fire extinguisher service, certification, testing, and inspection, including the requalification of high-pressure CO2 fire extinguishers and 4B195 Amerex dry chemical fire extinguishers to make sure your fire extinguishers are at their best when the worst happens!

• Fire Alarm Monitoring

A fire alarm system that doesn’t offer active monitoring is a system that only does half the job. Statcomm offers remote fire safety monitoring by trained, professional technicians who can summon help quickly to your location and pinpoint the emergency area for responders. If your fire alarm system doesn’t include monitoring, Statcomm has the solution you need!
•Fire Sprinkler and Suppression
Fire sprinklers are an essential part of multi-residential and commercial structures’ fire suppression systems. Statcomm’s fire protection engineering services can design, install and service a new system from scratch, or retrofit an existing one to bring it up to code and full functionality.

• Inspections & Testing

National Fire Protection Association and AHJ specifications, as well as state and local laws, govern how often specific fire safety elements need to be inspected and tested. We offer a comprehensive suite of monthly, quarterly, semiannual, annual, five-year, and longer-term testing and inspection services, designed to ensure all aspects of your fire protection system comply with applicable laws and standards, function properly, and are ready to go if they’re ever needed. We proudly offer industry-leading inspection and testing for all your fire safety needs, making us one of the Bay Area’s top fire sprinkler and suppression contractors. But don’t take our word for it: look up “fire sprinkler companies near me” to see what our satisfied clients say about Statcomm’s service!

• Storefront Glass Doors

Statcomm is pleased to offer storefront glass doors that look beautiful and can stand up to the demands of heavy traffic. These doors also increase security by resisting break-ins, severe weather and aiding in fire suppression if required. It’s only one of the wide array of fire safety and access control solutions we have available. Whether your building is new construction or you want to retrofit and upgrade, Statcomm has you covered!
To learn more about how Statcomm can help you with your new construction or retrofitting project, and maximize your fire safety and access control functionality, click here to contact our Business Development team!

https://bit.ly/34iX7VW

What does “Local Alarm Only” mean on or above a pull station? What is a pull station anyway?

Good question! Pull stations are those little red things along walls in buildings, malls and condominium complexes. We have all seen them, but other than make a lot of noise what do they do? In short, pull stations alert the building with audibles and/or strobes lights. If your pull station is not a local alarm, then it is connected to a central station. This means in addition to the light and sound alerts for the building itself, that central station is going to alert the fire department and your fire system service company of the emergency. If a pull station is marked “Local Alarm Only,” it will make noise and lights may flash to alert people in the building that something is wrong, but you’re still going to need to dial 911.
Speaking of 911, who and where are you actually calling? Did you know that when calling 911, you probably aren’t making a local call? These days not many of us have landlines anymore, so when an emergency happens we usually grab our cell phone to dial 911. We don’t really think about where the call may go or how far away emergency dispatch may be from where you’re physically located. Because of this, it may take precious time for dispatchers to contact the appropriate first responders, placing lives and property in needless danger.
It is always best and safest to know the numbers of your local firehouse and police station. That way when you dial 911, you can tell them your local station number for faster, more efficient dispatching. For example, if an employee was making an emergency call from their cell phone because of a fire or other dangerous situation at Statcomm, the employee would tell the dispatcher that the closest fire station is Mountain View Station Five.
In an emergency, seconds count. Having information like the location and number of your nearest fire and police stations can reduce response time and the danger to residents, employees, pets and property when you need emergency services onsite quickly. Having a central-station system can also be a time and lifesaver in an emergency, but older buildings may not have the capability or money to change their entire system to a central station. This may be okay as long as the property is being tested and inspected according to Fire Code (NFPA 72) requirements for any deficiencies or problems with the fire alarm system, to make sure it’s operating properly. However, in such a circumstance, it is always best to confirm through written correspondence with your respective Fire Department (Fire Marshal’s office) as to whether fire system monitoring is or is not required for your specific building age and construction type.

https://bit.ly/3ubvKrL

(Courtesy NFPA)

"Both the and teach us valuable lessons about public safety messaging, the importance of codes and standards, and more. Listen to the latest episode of The NFPA Podcast to learn more: https://www.nfpa.org/podcasts"

Both the and teach us valuable lessons about public safety messaging, the importance of codes and standards, and more. Listen to the latest episode of The NFPA Podcast to learn more: https://www.nfpa.org/podcasts

Inspection Stickers: Small Profile, Big Impact

If you have ever done a walkthrough of a property to either familiarize yourself with or see what fire and life safety devices are on site, you may have noticed various dated stickers. These stickers may be on any number of fire and life safety devices such as fire panels, fire sprinkler risers, FDC’s or a fire hose cabinet.

Inspection stickers may seem like small things, but their importance in verifying the proper function of life safety systems and the emphasis insurance companies and authorities place upon them cannot be overstated.

Often these quarterly or annual stickers give the date of which the property and its equipment were last inspected, this is important not only for scheduling but to help managers and owners alike remain in compliance with the law. If an emergency does occur, the records will reflect that the equipment is up to date with its inspections and in proper working order and read the rest here:
https://bit.ly/3GZaCsn

(Credit NFPA)

An investigation into deadly home fires in Chicago uncovers lapses at every level of local government, a critical component of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem. Read more in the latest Outreach blog from Lorraine Carli http://ow.ly/MmHo50HAaBO

An investigation into deadly home fires in Chicago uncovers lapses at every level of local government, a critical component of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem. Read more in the latest Outreach blog from Lorraine Carli http://ow.ly/MmHo50HAaBO

(Credit NFPA)

Do you know the who, what, when, where, and why of fire alarm systems? Find out more about how technologies notify occupants and responding personnel about emergencies. http://ow.ly/Z63M50Hr2IV

Do you know the who, what, when, where, and why of fire alarm systems? Find out more about how technologies notify occupants and responding personnel about emergencies. http://ow.ly/Z63M50Hr2IV

What Is The NFPA, And Why Does It Matter?

The National Fire Protection Association was founded in 1896 to help prevent injury, death and economic losses resulting from fires. Today, NFPA is a global nonprofit organization with a membership of over 60,000 worldwide. NFPA’s consensus standards and building codes are a recognized benchmark around the world for quality fire safety construction practices.

In addition to its standard-setting work, NFPA also serves the public with information, advocacy and outreach programs designed to emphasize a safety mindset in every stage of construction, equipment and occupation of commercial and residential buildings. This includes information and emergency planning for wildfires, a perennial problem in California; child and elder fire safety education; and advocacy within local, state and federal building code enforcement organizations to adopt codes which help preserve lives and property to the maximum possible degree.

Read the rest here at
https://bit.ly/3tdEtcg

(Courtesy NFPA)

Philly home fire kills 13, underscores the need for working smoke alarms. Read more in NFPA Today: http://ow.ly/eEFv50Ho022

Philly home fire kills 13, underscores the need for working smoke alarms. Read more in NFPA Today: http://ow.ly/eEFv50Ho022

Statcomm Is Your All-In-One Fire Protection Resource...
Statcomm has been proudly serving the Bay Area since 1992, including Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties. In that time, we have become one of the Bay Area’s premier life safety installation, maintenance, and inspection services, with a great reputation and an ongoing commitment to client service and safety.
Below, you can learn more about the services Statcomm provides, including fire safety and fire suppression systems, inspection services, fire protection engineering, and much more.

• Access Control Systems
Statcomm’s access control systems are designed to add security and peace of mind for tenants, occupants, property managers, and owners. Our range of access control offerings is designed to keep unauthorized personnel out, maximize inventory and personnel safety, and limit the damage fire and other disaster events can cause. We also offer periodic maintenance for doors!

• Automatic Gates
An automatic gated entry system can help give you and your tenants peace of mind by limiting access to an area, increasing security and safety for everyone. Statcomm offers automatic gate and other access control solutions which allow you full control over who may and may not enter, including keycard- and keypad-actuated systems among other options.

• Emergency & Exit Lighting
In an emergency, being able to find the way out can be a literal lifesaver. Statcomm is proud to offer a wide range of self-illuminating and hardwired lighting systems which work automatically to keep you, your tenants and employees safe in case a fire or other emergency occurs.

• Fire & Security Doors
One of the key points in fire suppression is containment. Fire requires oxygen, and fire and security doors help choke off oxygen to a space as an integral part of an effective fire suppression system. In addition, security doors allow you to limit access to part or all of a facility, giving you more control over who comes in and out. Statcomm is proud to offer a wide variety of fire and safety doors from top manufacturers which offer robust protection and peace of mind for your unique needs. We even offer fire-rated doors for trash chutes!

• Fire Alarms
A fire alarm is often the first indication many people have that a fire safety problem is imminent. Properly functioning fire alarms alert personnel and tenants to danger, and can even summon the fire department remotely. Statcomm offers fire protection engineering, fire alarm panel inspection, fire monitoring, inspection and service to ensure your alarms are to the job at all times, making us one of the leading fire alarm companies in the Bay Area!

• Fire Extinguishers
A fire extinguisher that doesn’t work, or isn’t right for the job, isn’t going to do much good when you need it. Statcomm is proud to offer fire protection solutions from some of the biggest names in the industry, like Amerex, Badger, and Buckeye. We perform fire extinguisher service, certification, testing, and inspection, including the requalification of high-pressure CO2 fire extinguishers and 4B195 Amerex dry chemical fire extinguishers to make sure your fire extinguishers are at their best when the worst happens!

• Fire Alarm Monitoring
A fire alarm system that doesn’t offer active monitoring is a system that only does half the job. Statcomm offers remote fire safety monitoring by trained, professional technicians who can summon help quickly to your location and pinpoint the emergency area for responders. If your fire alarm system doesn’t include monitoring, Statcomm has the solution you need!

•Fire Sprinkler and Suppression
Fire sprinklers are an essential part of multi-residential and commercial structures’ fire suppression systems. Statcomm’s fire protection engineering services can design, install and service a new system from scratch, or retrofit an existing one to bring it up to code and full functionality.

• Inspections & Testing
National Fire Protection Association and AHJ specifications, as well as state and local laws, govern how often specific fire safety elements need to be inspected and tested. We offer a comprehensive suite of monthly, quarterly, semiannual, annual, five-year, and longer-term testing and inspection services, designed to ensure all aspects of your fire protection system comply with applicable laws and standards, function properly and are ready to go if they’re ever needed. We proudly offer industry-leading inspection and testing for all your fire safety needs, making us one of the Bay Area’s top fire sprinkler and suppression contractors. But don’t take our word for it: look up “fire sprinkler companies near me” to see what our satisfied clients say about Statcomm’s service!

• Storefront Glass Doors
Statcomm is pleased to offer storefront glass doors that look beautiful and can stand up to the demands of heavy traffic. These doors also increase security by resisting break-ins, severe weather and aiding in fire suppression if required. It’s only one of the wide array of fire safety and access control solutions we have available. Whether your building is new construction or you want to retrofit and upgrade, Statcomm has you covered!

Happy New Year from Statcomm!

What’s the Best Alternative to Cellular for My Life Safety Systems?

Statcomm is committed to giving you the information you need to keep your property, tenants, and employees safe in the event of a life safety emergency such as a fire. In the previous article, we talked about the 3G sunset and its implications in terms of function for life safety systems. In this article, we’re going to evaluate the different alternatives to cellular communications strategies in terms of both their advantages and drawbacks.
We at Statcomm have our own recommendations, which we will get into later in this article, but we want to (i) present to you all of the available options first so that you can have a better understanding of the current state of technology today. Here are the possibilities and pros and cons of each system and how it affects your fire and life safety systems!

Landline
Pros: Landline or POTS, short for “Plain Old Telephone Service,” technology is commonly seen. Landlines are used for elevator emergency phones, lottery machines, central fire alarm monitoring systems, and even in voting machines!
Many security providers’ systems require a landline connection if the system is managed through the consumer’s broadband cable network. In the event of a blackout, power outage or other similar events where cell phone service would be affected, landlines often still function allowing people to stay in touch and summon help. At first look, this list of pros alone would make landline seem like the obvious choice. Please continue reading to find the cons of landline systems.

Cons: Unlike cellular service, which can reroute communications through another tower in case of a service outage, if your landline goes down due to inclement weather, accidents or natural disasters, you could be completely disconnected until the carrier can dispatch people technicians to fix it. It is important to know also that your phone service may be through one provider, while another company is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure. If the line fails, contacting your carrier directly may not be the most expeditious way toward a resolution.

In addition, POTS is more vulnerable to Denial of Service (DoS), attacks than cellular or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) would be. Last, but not least, AT&T and other major telecom providers are working to sunset the copper landline system in favor of mass migration to VoIP. This means maintaining the lines is becoming (W) more expensive as fewer people use landlines for anything, potentially putting remaining customers on the hook to pay to maintain the infrastructure.
https://bit.ly/3JnXb6I

(Credit NFPA)

Did you know that referenced documents are a critical part of the safety system? Compliance is critical. Be aware of what the reference is looking for, how it is to be applied, and who has the responsibility for ensuring compliance.
Learn more at nfpa.org/ecosystem

: Did you know that referenced documents are a critical part of the safety system? Compliance is critical. Be aware of what the reference is looking for, how it is to be applied, and who has the responsibility for ensuring compliance.
Learn more at nfpa.org/ecosystem