Honeywell Power announces its IPGSM-4G fire alarm communicator has received approval from the city of New York Fire Department for use in commercial facilities throughout the city.
The IPGSM-4G can report fire alarm signals to a central station over IP (Internet) or GSM (cellular). For optimum reliability, it can be easily configured to report primarily over the Internet and use cellular for backup. Both IP and GSM communication paths are tested daily to ensure connectivity. Plus, all data sent over IP is secured using the industry’s advanced encryption standard (AES 256 bit).
The IPGSM-4G is compatible with virtually any brand of fire alarm control panel, making it an ideal solution for new and retrofit systems. The IPGSM-4G also reports over 2G, 3G or 4G networks, automatically choosing the best available cellular signal in the area.
“New York City’s Fire Department is pretty strict when it comes to the technology they allow for life safety systems in the city,” says David Pakech, vice president of sales, Honeywell Power. “Given the city’s immense population and number of commercial facilities, they have to be strict. Earning their approval is a huge testament to this product’s reliability.”
The imminent sunset of plain old telephone service (POTS) lines has increased demand for alternative fire alarm communication technologies, such as the IPGSM-4G. Facility owners and management companies are attracted to the savings it offers by eliminating the monthly costs of the phone lines traditionally used for fire alarm reporting. The dual path operation is of great interest to security professionals who want the added assurance that signals quickly reach their destination(s) when communication matters most.