Blog Archives

CTU Installation options

26/9/2025

Last Week

We introduced the AFAM AlarmTech App, walking through its features and how to get started. If you missed it, you can catch up here.

This Week: The CTU

This week we’re focusing on the CTU—our purpose-built monitoring hardware that connects to fire alarm panels, sprinklers, and related systems.

Each CTU is essentially a compact computer-on-a-board, designed by AFAM specifically for fire alarm monitoring. It includes a microprocessor, memory, battery management, and interfaces such as 4G/Cat-M1 cellular modems and other ports for panel connectivity.

CTU Installation Options

There are two main installation approaches:

In Panel – CTU is installed inside the fire alarm panel. AFAM is the only monitoring provider in New Zealand to offer this option.
In Box – CTU is installed in its own metal enclosure, typically mounted near the panel.

The best choice depends on system requirements. Our compatibility guide explains what’s possible.

In Panel Installations

If your panel supports in-panel integration and you’re monitoring no more than one additional system, we recommend this option.

Advantages include:

Lowest-cost way to access enhanced/IoT detector-level data (for supported panels)
Faster and more cost-effective installation than In Box setups
No need for a dedicated power point

In Box Installations

If you need to monitor two or more secondary systems—or your fire panel already contains an SSGD—then an In Box installation is required. This still allows access to IoT detector-level data, but typically requires an additional interface card (e.g., an SSGD).

Aerial Placement

For both installation types, aerials can be mounted directly on the fire alarm panel or CTU box. Where signal strength is low (e.g., basements or service rooms), we offer external aerial options.

Using the installation diagnostics in the AlarmTech App is strongly recommended when working in low-signal areas.

See our blog guide here: Selecting and positioning aerials for best performance.

General Placement for In Box Installations

Choose a location that:

Has a nearby power point
Allows easy SGD cabling
Avoids extreme heat, cold, or water exposure (e.g., pressure-washed areas)
Provides safe, easy service access (think height and safe space to work)

Adding Systems to Older Networks

Before 2005, fire alarm monitoring relied on Telecom’s PSTN network. Multiple systems were connected back to a single demarcation point using SGD cabling and connected to Telecoms equipment.

The Telecom equipment is long gone but a few sites in New Zealand still use this architecture, but it has key drawbacks:

Long, aging SGD cables are costly to maintain and repair
A single device failure can disable monitoring across multiple buildings
It doesn’t support IoT Detector level information

Modern practice is to connect no more than 3–4 systems per monitoring device. While this can increase monitoring charges, it lowers the total cost of ownership by eliminating fragile cabling, improving resilience, and enabling IoT Detector level insights.

When adding devices to older networks, it’s worth considering whether modernising the architecture will improve reliability and reduce long-term costs.

Need Help?

Unsure whether to choose In Panel or In Box, struggling with aerial placement, or dealing with legacy networks? Our team is here to help—get in touch anytime.

Coming Next Week

Next week we’ll continue looking at the CTU and look at some installation tips and tricks, including:

How to quickly diagnose the common installation issues we see
How to identify where the issue lies
What resources are available to help during installation
…and more!

AFAM AlarmTech App - Features and overview

18/9/2025

Last Week

We zoomed right out and gave you an overview of AFAM’s full monitoring and services ecosystem—how everything connects and works together. If you missed it, you can catch up here.

AFAM AlarmTech App

This week we’re diving into the AFAM AlarmTech App, designed to give both fire alarm service agents and property owners/managers clear oversight of the buildings you look after.

[Click to download brochure]

Getting Started

The AlarmTech App is free to download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Install the app.
Log in with your AFAM credentials.
See your messages instantly.

If you’ve misplaced your login details, just reach out—we’ll help you recover them.

Alarm NZ and JCA Messaging

The app supports not only AFAM messaging, but also Alarm NZ and JCA messaging. We’ve done this to benefit the wider industry. This way, service agents don’t need multiple apps—all your notifications appear in one place.

To enable this:

Contact us to get an AFAM email address.
Ask Alarm NZ or JCA to add that address to their notifications.
Their messages will then flow directly into the app.

Alarms, Notifications, and Off Normals

The app keeps you updated on PFAs (fire alarms and sprinklers) and CTUs that are currently “off normal.”

When a PFA changes state, it may:

Alarm – triggers a sound and must be acknowledged in the app.
Notify – plays a notification sound.
Log silently – added to the off-normal list.

Right now, the response depends on the event type. In the next release, you’ll be able to set your own preferences by event type.

PFA and CTU Details and History

From within the app, you can view:

PFA details
CTU details
Keyholder contacts
Recent event history

For AFAM monitored PFAs, you’ll also find a one-click link into Solomon, our online portal, where you can add notes, hold messages, and access deeper system information.

Diagnostics

The app also includes powerful tools to support CTU installations:

Android & iOS – Map showing nearby One NZ, Spark, and 2Degrees towers to help decide CTU placement.
Android only – Live cellular signal strength and quality metrics for fine-tuning aerial placement (Apple doesn’t allow access to this data).

Settings

In the settings menu, you can:

Test alert functionality
Review release notes
Manage app permissions

In the upcoming version, you’ll also be able to fully customise your notification and alert preferences here.

Coming Next Week

Next week we’ll cover CTU installation options, including:

When to choose in-panel vs. in-box installation
Where to find guides and compatibility charts
Tips for successful installations
…and more!

System overview

12/9/2025

Last Week

In last week’s update, we showed you how to access enhanced / IoT Detector-Level Information in our systems. If you missed it, you can catch up here.

This week, we’re taking a step back to look at the bigger picture—the key parts of our monitoring systems and how everything fits together.

CTU and Monitoring System

At the heart of our service are two components:

The CTU – the hardware installed on-site that connects to the fire alarm panel.
The Monitoring System – which receives information from the CTU and communicates with FENZ.

Our CTU is unique in the industry because it can be installed inside the fire alarm panel (our competitors can’t do this). In-panel installation means:

Faster and easier setup
Lower installation costs
Greater reliability

It also enables access to enhanced / IoT Detector-Level Information for supported panels.

Every CTU is fitted with dual SIM cards (usually Spark and One NZ), ensuring communication is maintained even if one network goes down. These CTUs connect to our distributed monitoring system, which is hosted across secure datacentres in both Christchurch and Auckland for added resilience.

Messaging and Paging

When something happens, the right people are alerted instantly via SMS, email, or both. Our smart rules engine makes sure messages are:

Relevant to each role (e.g. testers only see “test” alerts).
Delivered at the right times.
Focused on the buildings they care about.

And with a single click on the Solomon link, you can see recent alarm events, keyholder details, and system information.

Solomon Web Portal

Our Solomon web portal gives you live access to your fire alarm systems anytime, anywhere. You can see system history, alarm events, and detector-level IoT data (where available).

Solomon works seamlessly on any device—whether it’s your phone, tablet, laptop, or PC. We’ll explore Solomon in detail in an upcoming article.

The AFAM AlarmTech App

Available for both Android and iOS, the AFAM AlarmTech App gives service agents, property managers, and owners a simple way to view fire alarm events on the go.

A key feature: the app doesn’t just show AFAM events—it also includes competitor system messaging, so you have a single view of all the sites you maintain.

We provide this app free of charge to the industry, including our competitors, because it makes life easier for service agents and supports better outcomes for everyone.

AFAM Property Portfolio Portal

For owners and managers with multiple properties, our Property Portfolio Portal makes it easy to:

See the overall health of your systems at a glance.
Access contact details and test histories for each site.
View systems on a map.
Display real-time IoT detector data directly on property floorplans (where available).

It’s a smarter way to manage larger portfolios with confidence.

Automated Reporting

Prefer information delivered straight to your inbox? Our automated reports do just that.

Scheduled reports arrive as PDFs or Excel files and include:

Current system status
Recent history
Key performance insights

They’re free, easy to set up, and keep you fully informed without needing to log in.

Coming Next Week

Next week we’ll take a closer look at the AFAM AlarmTech App, including:

Key features you may not know about
How to set it up quickly
Tips for using its diagnostic tools
…and more

Stay tuned!

<<Previous

Providing Fire Alarm Monitoring and FENZ Direct Connections throughout New Zealand since 2005

Phone: 03 341 0464 | Email: [email protected]

CTU Installation options

Last Week

This Week: The CTU

CTU Installation Options

In Panel Installations

In Box Installations

Aerial Placement

General Placement for In Box Installations

Adding Systems to Older Networks

Need Help?

Coming Next Week

AFAM AlarmTech App - Features and overview

Last Week

AFAM AlarmTech App

Getting Started

Alarm NZ and JCA Messaging

Alarms, Notifications, and Off Normals

PFA and CTU Details and History

Diagnostics

Settings

Coming Next Week

System overview

Last Week

CTU and Monitoring System

Messaging and Paging

Solomon Web Portal

The AFAM AlarmTech App

AFAM Property Portfolio Portal

Automated Reporting

Coming Next Week

Blog

Archives

Categories

​Providing Fire Alarm Monitoring and FENZ Direct Connections throughout New Zealand since 2005

Phone: 03 341 0464 | Email: [email protected]

CTU Installation options

Last Week

This Week: The CTU

CTU Installation Options

In Panel Installations

In Box Installations

Aerial Placement

General Placement for In Box Installations

Adding Systems to Older Networks

Need Help?

Coming Next Week

AFAM AlarmTech App - Features and overview

Last Week

AFAM AlarmTech App

Getting Started

Alarm NZ and JCA Messaging

Alarms, Notifications, and Off Normals

PFA and CTU Details and History

Diagnostics

Settings

Coming Next Week

System overview

Last Week

CTU and Monitoring System

Messaging and Paging

Solomon Web Portal

The AFAM AlarmTech App

AFAM Property Portfolio Portal

Automated Reporting

Coming Next Week

Blog

Archives

Categories

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Providing Fire Alarm Monitoring and FENZ Direct Connections throughout New Zealand since 2005