From: GWB 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house alt.home.repair
Subject: Re: commerical building fire sprinklers
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:43:33 -0600

On 31 Oct 2006 17:18:15 -0800, trader4@optonline.net wrote:

>
>GWB wrote:
>> On 31 Oct 2006 11:13:33 -0800, trader4@optonline.net wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >Kurt Ullman wrote:
>> >> In article ,
>> >>  "Bob F"  wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >  wrote in message
>> >> > news:1162319100.745737.193630@e64g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
>> >> > > Last year we purchased a brand new industrial/office building in Orange
>> >> > > County, CA. The building came with fire sprinklers installed and there
>> >> > > is also a phone line dedicated to call 911 should a fire occur. We are
>> >> > > paying for this phone line apart from the regular phone lines that we
>> >> > > are paying for our normal office use.
>> >> > > I am wondering if there is any mandatory code requirement to have this
>> >> > > fire service phone line standby at all times? Or is it OK to disconnect
>> >> > > this phone line service, but of course, keeping the sprinklers.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Any tips are welcome.
>> >> >
>> >> > Have you considered talking to the fire department, or appropriate
>> >> > enforcement agancy?
>> >> >
>> >> > Bob
>> >>
>> >>   And your insurance company. At least with residential alarms, you get
>> >> a cut in premiums if the alarms are monitored. I would assume that the
>> >> same might apply in commercial areas, too. If the only marginal expense
>> >> is the phone line, you might end up being penny wise and pound foolish.
>> >
>> >
>> >Alarm monitoring usually does not require a dedicated phone line.  I
>> >think what he means is that he would switch from a dedicated line to
>> >using one of the business lines.  But I agree, he should be checking
>> >with the local fire code officials and his insurance company, because
>> >only they can answer his question.
>>
>> We had to have a second line, but it didn't have to be dedicated (in
>> LA).
>
>
>Now I'm really confused.  Why would you have to have a second line if
>it's not dedicated to the alarm?  If it's not dedicated, then what
>makes the second one different from the first phone line, or any other
>phone line?

It's been awhile and I'm not exactly sure why.  Although, as somebody
else mentioned (and reminded me) it did have to be hooked up at the
entry point so that it would take priority.