System overview

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!