Subject of Policy Statement	Effective Date	Policy Number
	Fire and Security Monitoring Systems	5/15/98	6-014

I.    INTRODUCTION (Purpose and Intent)

To provide guidelines, and approval procedures for the installation and operation of the University fire and security alarm systems, to insure uniformity and maintenance compatibility throughout the University Tampa Campus.

II.    STATEMENT OF POLICY

A. The University Fire and Security Monitoring Systems Committee responsibility and authority for maintaining the USF Fire and Security alarm systems.

B. The Fire and Security Monitoring System Committee shall be chaired by the Director of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) with appropriate membership from the Divisions of Public Safety, Facilities Planning, Physical Plant, and Information Technologies.

C. The Committee shall be responsible for approving the installation of all new fire alarm systems and security systems, or the modification of existing systems.

D. All alarm systems shall be installed by the University and will use only standardized hardware approved by the Committee. Existing systems that are currently tied into University Police shall be brought up to standards at the expense of the department who has the substandard system. Unauthorized alarm systems are prohibited, and shall be removed or upgraded at the expense of the owner or department.

E. The Committee shall report to and request authority for its actions from the Vice President of Administrative Services.

F. Meetings shall be scheduled by the Chair.

III. PROCEDURES

A. Building Security Alarms

1. Requests for new installations, or modification of existing systems shall be sent to the Fire and Security Systems Monitoring Committee (EH&S mail address) for action and approval. Requests for approval shall be submitted in the format provided in Attachment I.

2. Financial responsibility for security alarm systems will be the responsibility of the requesting department. This will include all equipment, materials and labor to install and maintain the equipment. Each department with an installed security system must be connected and monitored by the University Police and will be assessed a monthly fee for each system controller, as determined by the Committee. The fee will cover preventive maintenance for the user's system, and central station operating costs. This monthly fee does not cover the user's equipment failure, theft, damage, or department requested modifications or expansion. The cost of those items not covered by the monthly fee will be the responsibility of the department and will be billed accordingly.

3. Multiple Controller Fee Cap

A multiple controller fee cap is imposed in cases where the alarm system subscriber is charged with the responsibility for providing a unique service which is available campus-wide, and requires that the subscriber maintain approved multiple security alarm systems throughout campus. These qualifying subscribers will be assessed the standard annual fee on the first four (4) system controllers only.

The Fire and Security Alarm Systems Committee will review requests from subscribers to determine their eligibility to receive the fee cap. Subscribers wishing to be considered for the multiple controller fee cap must submit a written request to the Fire and Security Alarm Systems Committee for approval.

The Fire and Security Alarm Systems Committee reserves the right to review the continued eligibility of subscribers who receive the multiple controller fee cap and withdraw the fee cap if it is determined that the subscriber is no longer eligible.

B. Building Fire Alarms

1. All requests for expansion and additional system capabilities shall be sent to the Fire and Security Monitoring System Committee (EH&S mail address) for action and approval.

2. All projects for new or upgraded fire alarm systems shall be designed by the Campus Service Engineer, reviewed by Facilities Planning, Physical Plant and Environmental Health and Safety, and submitted to the State Fire Marshal for approval.

C. Auxiliary Funded Facilities, non E & G Medical Facilities, Research Grant Facilities,
     Sun Dome Facilities, and other University Tenants.

1. All initial requests, requests for expansion of additional security system capabilities, and maintenance contract requests shall be sent to the Fire and Security Monitoring Committee (EH&S mail address) for action and approval.

2. Fire and Security Monitoring Systems required for the above designated facilities shall be funded in their entirety, including maintenance, by these budget entities.

D. Fire/Security Alarm Preventive Maintenance

It shall be the responsibility of the Physical Plant Division to arrange for necessary preventive maintenance contracts. The determination of actual preventive maintenance requirements shall be the responsibility of the Physical Plant Maintenance Department.

E. Fire/Security Alarm Malfunctions

1. In the event of a malfunction when the University Police Department alarm panel cannot be reset or other maintenance problems occur, University Police personnel shall contact the Physical Plant Work Management Center.

2. The University Police Department shall maintain records by assigning a case number to each false alarm caused by system malfunctions and by user error. Each security alarm station is allowed three user error false alarms within a six-month period. A charge as determined by this Committee for the fourth and each subsequent user error alarm will be levied against the user with said funds being used to maintain the alarm system. Once six months has passed without a user error alarm, the user is allowed three more false alarm responses without a charge until a fourth response is accrued within a six-month period.

NOTE: This policy as written may not be appropriate for the campuses at Lakeland, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg. It will be the responsibility of the Campus Dean or Administrator to carry out a fire and security monitoring system befitting their campus.

Attachment I : Request for New Installation or Modification of Building Security Alarm.

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