Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1386104
64 I ICT TODAY The 2022 edition of NFPA 72 addresses the remote access issue as follows: 23.8.2.11 Remote Access 23.8.2.11.1* Remote access to fire alarm or signaling systems shall be permitted in accordance with Section 23.8.2.11. 23.8.2.11.2 Remote access shall not affect the operation or response of the fire alarm or signaling systems unless permitted by 23.8.2.11.3 or 23.8.2.11.5. 23.8.2.11.3 Remote access shall be permitted for testing and maintenance activities including resetting, silencing, or operation of emergency control functions provided all the following are met: (1) * The system shall provide a means to manually terminate the remote access connection at the remote device and at the fire alarm or signaling system control unit at any time. (2) * Remote access shall be automatically terminated within a maximum of 1 hour of inactivity in the remote access mode. (3) Resetting, silencing or operation of emergency control functions shall be limited to portion of the system taken out of service. (4) Qualified personnel shall be on-site to enable resetting, silencing, and operation of emergency control functions at the affected system(s) password or limited access. 23.8.2.11.4* Remote access shall be permitted to be enabled remotely for the purposes of performing remote diagnostics when both of the following are met: (1) * The system shall provide a means to manually terminate the remote access connection at the remote device and at the fire alarm or signaling system control unit at any time. (2) * Remote access shall be automatically terminated within a maximum of 1 hour of inactivity in the remote access mode. 23.8.2.11.5 Remote access for the purposes of software updating shall be permitted when all of the following are met: (1) * The system shall provide a means to manually terminate the remote access connection at the remote device and at the fire alarm or signaling system control unit at any time. (2) * Remote access shall be automatically terminated within a maximum of 1 hour of inactivity in the remote access mode. (3) Qualified personnel shall be on-site to enable soft- ware updating at the affected fire alarm or signaling system control unit by password or limited access. (4) All software changes shall be tested in accordance with Section 14.4." For the first time, the NFPA 72 code is allowing remote access for testing and maintenance of systems with some caveats, but it is a good start to address the needs of the industry. One of the main challenges facing the NFPA code development is the need for technicians and AHJs to have remote access to fire alarm and signaling systems for testing and maintenance.