What happens to fire alarms and lift phones in the transition to NBN?
As the NBN rolls out across Australia, your telecommunications providers existing fixed line networks are being progressively disconnected.
Monitored fire alarms and lift phones that have been operating on Telstra’s, Optus’ and other providers’ networks will cease to operate unless they are migrated to an alternative network before disconnection happens.
A temporary arrangement has been in place that has allowed these services to be managed separately in areas where the NBN has rolled out, but this is coming to an end on 30 June 2017.
Migration will not happen automatically. Importantly, even if a customer’s regular phone and internet services have already migrated to the NBN, this does not mean their lift or monitored fire alarm service is also migrated.
Monitored fire alarms and lift phones are safety-critical services and there are serious public safety, personal injury and property damage risks if they do not operate in an emergency situation.
It is important that consumers register their services with NBN’s Fire and Lift Register and make early arrangements for their migration by talking to your strata manager, who will engage with your fire alarm monitoring and/or lift service provider.
Guide to migrating lift phones and fire alarms to NBN
The Department of Communications has offered the following guide to assist consumers through the transition.
- Register existing fire alarm and lift phone services on the NBN Fire and Lift Register. The register helps support the safe migration of monitored fire alarm and lift phone services, and identifies services that may be eligible for deferred disconnection up until 30 June 2017. To register you will need to provide the monitored fire alarm or lift phone telephone number, details of the building location, and contact details of the person registering.
- Anyone responsible for a monitored fire alarm or lift phone will also need to contact their fire alarm monitoring and/or lift service provider as soon as possible. Their provider will be able to give advice on the most appropriate migration solution.
- Seek any further information required through the Migration of Monitored Fire Alarm and Lift Phone Services Good Practice Guide.
For more information please contact your strata manager, visit communications.gov.au/fireandlift, or register a service via the NBN Co or 1800 687 626.