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Tuesday, November 23, 2010 | 
In an attempt to 'take a bite out of crime', some business owners in California have recently turned to an illegal and highly dangerous method of stymieing burglaries and robberies.
Referred to as "Security Fog Intruder Protection Systems", these seemingly benign installations are seeing an upswing in The Golden State, where they have long been prohibited by law.
Such systems may be allowed or unregulated outside California.
Designed to fill an entire room - or even warehouse within seconds, with a thick floor-to-ceiling zero-visibility cloud that lingers (some vendors say for 25 minutes or more), the concerns of firefighters remain on safe egress and false alarms, the latter of which occurred this week in Los Angeles.
Responding with lights and sirens through crowded city streets, Los Angeles Fire Department crews discovered "heavy smoke" emanating from a commercial building. After forcibly entering the business and cutting holes in the roof to allow the massive smoke and anticipated heat to escape, the veteran team of firefighters discovered the source of their false alarm to be a security fog intruder protection system clearly prohibited by local municipal regulations and California Fire Code Section 316.4:
316.4 Security Devices. Any security device or system that emits any medium that could obscure a means of egress in any building, structure or premise shall be prohibited.
We encourage business and homeowners to employ only reputable and licensed alarm firms that know and obey the many lifesaving regulations of Fire and Life Safety Codes. Before any contract is signed, be certain to obtain an affirmation that any and all features of your business or home alarm system are compliant with local, regional, State and Provincial law.
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
5 comments:
I wasn't aware the California Fire Code was applied in the City of Los Angeles. I thought Chapter 5, Article 7 of the Los Angeles Municipal code prevailed?
Anonymous 6:39,
Thanks for the note.
Like many metropolitan areas, the City of Los Angeles does indeed have its own unique Fire Code. Hence the mention at the closing of the article for the customer to assure local compliance.
Please know the LAFD News & Information blog syndicates globally. Upon conferring with LAFD Administration, it was suggested we cite the more geographically familiar and widely applicable 'California Fire Code'.
We also entitled the post "California Firefighters Decry Use of Illegal and Dangerous Alarm Feature" so as to prevent the casual reader from thinking this danger was merely some sort of "L.A. thing".
Certainly, the Los Angeles Fire Code prohibits these devices; but our concern reaches beyond the borders of Los Angeles or even The Golden State.
If we had a comprehensive and binding list of every State and Province in which these devices were prohibited, we *might* have offered it. However in the interest of journalistic brevity, we chose to leave the reader rightfully questioning whether they would even consider such a device in areas where they have yet to be declared illegal.
In closing, please know the LAFD Blog Team respects and admires the work done by our Department's Fire Prevention Bureau. Our choice not to cite chapter and verse of L.A.'s unique Fire Code was not meant to minimize their authority, or in any way lessen the importance of their lifesaving efforts.
Anonymous 6:39, we hope this information explains our choices. We thank you for offering an important footnote to a key life safety issue.
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
We are a local Security company who in fact installs such systems. We have on several occasions met with local LAFD departments to warn them of the Smoke products located near their house.
All of our meetings have resulted in the same response by the house Cpt. "This sounds like a great product and I do not see any concerns".
How are local business to protect themselves from crime when LAPD does not respond and local private response companies can take up to 30 miniutes to arrive? As a licensed security company, we follow all the correct steps by posting the included stickers on all entry doors and meeting with local fire houses to explain how the systems work.
Anonymous 8:44,
While we laud your concern for crime prevention, we must voice our strongest opposition possible to any system - no matter how well meaning, that is prohibited by law.
As with other professionals, we're confident you understand that stopping by a local firehouse to casually speak with a firefighter cannot constitute agency approval or affirmation of your systems.
As a "licensed security company" we're equally confident you're aware that a cup of coffee at the firehouse and a few decals on business doors do NOT allow non-compliant systems to bypass the strict requirements of our Los Angeles Fire Code.
Though we warmly welcome you to stop by any of our 106 Neighborhood Fire Stations for an informal visit at your convenience, the truth remains that with 318 crews (3 shifts per station), that rotate across our 470 square-mile jurisdiction, there are indeed better ways to share your concerns with the largest possible contingent, while assuring legal and binding answers to any technical questions.
Please know that the Fire Marshal's Office Legal Liaison and Research Unit is pleased to offer official technical answers. You can reach their office during normal business hours at (213)978-3580
Such official answers will not only help protect your client(s) within the law, but possibly prevent you from unintended civil and criminal prosecution.
We encourage you and all alarm installers even remotely considering the installation of such systems in the City of Los Angeles to contact the LAFD Legal Liaison & Research Unit for a legal and binding answer to your questions.
Breaking the law in an attempt to keep others from doing so, has led to financial ruin and incarceration for others. We instead want you to prosper on playing field that is safe and legal for all.
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
Mr. Arias,
At 647 words, your polite but passionate post was not only lengthy, but ultimately kicked into our 'comment spam' filter due to your name-brand mention of a narcotic.
We agree this blog post is not a proper forum for dialogue between a trade industry seeking to gain acceptance of an illegal security system and the authors of our City and State's Fire Code.
We do welcome those with an interest in hearing your viewpoint to visit the business link you kindly provided:
http://www.flashfogsecurity.com/123
...and encourage you to continue discussions with our State and City Fire Marshals.
Until there is (unforeseeable) change in our local and State Fire Codes, the systems you describe are illegal in our jurisdiction - and our strongest of admonitions remain.
With so much intellect and ingenuity in your trade, we remain supremely confident that those in your vocation can readily and reasonably serve residents and business owners in Los Angeles in a legal manner, without endangering the lives of firefighters and those they are sworn to serve.
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
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