Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6643 – Fire alarm activation
(a) The owner shall be responsible for the activation of a fire alarm signaling system.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6643
- Alarm Activation Report: means a designated form issued by the State Fire Marshal for use by the Fire Chief indicating the alarm signal was found to be the result of a false alarm. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6638
- Dispatch center: means a location specifically configured for the primary purpose of providing emergency communications services, public safety answering point services, and dispatch of fire apparatus to emergency situations. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6638
- False alarm: includes :
- Fire alarm signaling monitoring company: means a station or building located remote from the protected premises where fire alarm signals from one or more protected premises are received and from where, upon receipt of such signal, a dispatch center is notified. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6638
- Fire alarm signaling system: means an automatic or manual fire alarm or fire suppression system in accordance with the State Fire Prevention Regulations. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6638
- Fire chief: means the fire chief or officer in charge of the responding fire department. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6638
- Monitored system: means the process by which a fire alarm signaling monitoring company receives signals from a fire alarm system and notifies the dispatch center. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6638
- Owner: means any person who owns the premises where the fire alarm signaling system or fire suppression system is installed or the person or persons who lease, operate, occupy, manage the premises, or are bound by the contract for services provided by the fire alarm signaling monitoring company. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6638
- Premises: means any building or structure where a fire alarm signaling system is installed. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 6638
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
(b) A response to the activation of a fire alarm signaling system shall result when the fire department is dispatched to the premises where the fire alarm signaling system has been activated.
(c) In the event that the dwelling fire alarm system, as defined in NFPA 72, is a Monitored System, the fire alarm signaling monitoring company shall be permitted to verify residential alarm signals prior to reporting them to the dispatch center, provided that the verification process does not delay the reporting by more than 90 seconds.
(d) Upon determining that a false alarm has occurred at the premises, the fire chief will submit an Alarm Activation Report to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
(e) Resetting an alarm panel by any person prior to the fire chief’s authorization shall be prohibited, and shall be considered a false alarm if the fire chief cannot determine the cause and nature of the alarm activation.