DIY Danger: How Konnected Has Concocted False Claims About Its Alarm Panel Solution
Konnected says its alarm panel can turn any wired alarm system into a smart alarm. However, an independent forensic analysis shows it disregards security and life-safety standards and represents extreme danger to consumers.
Konnected’s Technical Advice for a Siren Cut-Off Switch
“Imagine for a moment you’re out and you get a frantic call from your wife or child: “The siren is going off!”
“There is no intruder. You turn to your app, but your cell coverage is spotty or you find out there is a problem, and the smart home monitor doesn’t seem to be responding for some reason. Let’s be honest; when someone is panicking and the alarm is going off, nothing seems to be responding fast enough. This is why you might want to consider installing a siren cut-off.”
Konnected should have been more concerned about the proper design and listing of their products before they put them in the stream of commerce, instead of recklessly directing unsuspecting consumers and the public to install a siren cut-off toggle switch on the Konnected Alarm Panel.
Professionals in the alarm industry know that no audible-indicating appliances can have a toggle switch incorporated onto any fire alarm system and/or security system.
In my opinion, the technical advice here amplifies Konnected’s gross incompetence and flawed conduct. On the other hand, Konnected’s ignorance is not an excuse for providing technical advice that is extremely dangerous and fails to comply with any code, standard and regulations of authorities having jurisdiction across the country.
Simply put, if the siren cut-off switch is left in the off position, thereby disconnecting the operation of all of the audible indicating appliance(s) in the home, there is no warning; and if there is a real emergency (with the switch left in the off-position), the audible alarm(s) will not sound.
Continuing on, if the toggle switch over time is impaired by high resistance, it will create an intermittent effect on the functionality and reliability of the alarm siren(s) being able to go into an alarm condition even with the toggle switch in the “on” position.
Again, the “technical advice” provided to the public by Konnected is not safe nor is it reliable.
Konnected’s rationale for the siren cut-off toggle switch is in the event that the siren(s) cannot be turned off so that a person does not yank out wires, pulling power or cause other harm.
Then a question on the company’s website asks, “Doesn’t this make it less secure?” Konnected’s answer: “Possibly. If your alarm box is in a highly trafficked area or you are concerned about someone gaining access to your alarm panel/wiring, this might not be the solution for you. Or you may want to use a keyed switch and not a simple toggle switch.”
As you can see, the consumer is then advised and directed by Konnected that if the alarm box is in a “highly trafficked area,” you may want to use a keypad instead of a toggle switch. How about using the existing keypad on the system at all times and never installing any type of mechanical switch on the bell output of the system, and never installing an unlisted control unit?
There’s more. No battery backup is required on the Konnected Alarm Panel, which is yet another dangerous design flaw on Konnected “Alarm Panels” products which are being sold to consumers.
Konnected Founder Nate Clark demonstrates installation of the Konnected Alarm Panel Interface Kit.
Advice to Pro Installers
Should a “professional” alarm company install Konnected products? My emphatic answer to this question is no.
In my opinion, any professional alarm company that installs the Konnected alarm panel risks unmitigated liability. These claims can include but are not limited to violation of codes, standards, requirements of authorities having jurisdiction, failure to comply with adopted building and fire codes, and alarm contractor licensing laws.
Stated differently, if the Konnected product fails — and as a result there is a loss — the focus will be on the unlisted Konnected product, which the dealer company installed. Most states prohibit an alarm contractor from installing equipment that is not listed by a NRTL. And these violations against the alarm contractor continue if the contractor does anything to endanger the health, welfare and safety of the public.
Pro Equipment Manufacturers Should Take Action
All professional equipment manufacturers should notify their counsel and advise Konnected to immediately cease and desist from advocating that Konnected products can be connected to professional alarm control panels such as theirs, and to stop advertising their company’s names almost like Konnected is being endorsed by these companies.
In my opinion, equipment manufacturers need to post warnings on their websites that the use of Konnected products on their equipment is strictly prohibited and voids the listing of their products, its limited warranty, and that Konnected products pose a danger to the reliability of intrusion and fire/life-safety alarm system detection which could result in devastation of properly, serious personal injury and death.
In addition, equipment manufacturers need to warn Konnected that if an alarm system control panel fails as a result of Konnected products being connected to it, they will hold Konnected legally responsible for all damages sustained if they become a party to a loss.
Konnected knows, should have known, and/or most certainly should have recognized each of the inherent and unacceptable dangers and risks associated with their product line before they decided to design, manufacture and sell them to the public.
The foregoing opinions are held to a reasonable degree of professional, technical, alarm science, NICET IV, CFPS, UL Standards and NFPA 72 Standards certainty.
Jeffrey Zwirn, CPP, CFPS, CFE, SET, FASI&T, CHPA-IV, MBAT, NFPA 3000(PS), is president of IDS Research and Development Inc., an alarm and security consultation, forensic expert witness and training authority providing nationwide services on all issues related to alarm and security matters. He can be reached at (800) 353-0733 and alarmexpert.com.
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About the Author
Jeff Zwirn, SSI Contributor
Jeffrey D. Zwirn, CPP, CFPS, CFE, FACFEI, CHS-IV, SET, CCI, FASI&T, MBAT, writes Security Sales & Integration’s “Security Science” column. He is also president of IDS Research and Development, an alarm and security consultation, expert witness and training authority providing nationwide services on all issues related to alarm and security matters. He can be reached at 800-353-0733.
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On the other hand, consumers seem to be quite happy with:
1. Systems that run without monthly monitoring fees.
2. Systems that can be maintained when installers have not shared codes to modify the system
3. Systems that easily integrate with other digital products.
Ultimately consumers are in the best position to decide what is best for them. Personally, I can attest to being quite happy without support for line-supervision.
Likewise, a Connected Fire & Smoke alarm is superior and more safe than an unconnected one, especially if neither of them have a power backup, as is common in residential systems.
At the end-of the day, Konnected allows me to take control of my home & home-security in a manner a traditional alarm does not. As a homeowner I am in the best position to determine if that is appropriate.
Doing you out of business hey? It’s free open source software, good point on the smoke alarms but you obviously got an ulterior motive and a conflict of interest here.
I agree with the above commenters. This article is written by someone who feels their business is threatened.
The alarm industry has not been innocent, it has been plagued with bad actors throughout the years, locking home owner systems even after paying off contracts. The consumers are tired of the predatory business practices.
Konnected provides functionality the consumers want or they wouldn’t be selling any. You should focus on improving what traditional alarm system are lacking and why consumers don’t want your products.
We don’t care about UL and NFPA, organizations funded by the alarm companies themselves.
My fire/co/water detectors still function to code when hooked up to my konnected panel, they still go off, but now with the enhanced functionality that I can see on my smartphone and get notified when they go off if I am not home to hear the noise they make. That makes me feel safer about my home.
Additionality monitoring is useless to me, too many false alarms. I can self monitor now with all the functionality the alarm companies kept from consumers long enough because of their own self interest. I can call the police or fire when I get a notification, I can check my cameras to confirm it isn’t a false arm. Everyone who has paid false alarm fee understands this.
Love my Konneted system. Stated not to be a life safety device, Linking a local fire alarm system via a UL listed adapter is just extra information IN ADDITION to the existing siren warning. How many legacy professional alarm systems are sitting disconnected In homes? Love my konnected. Even have a sensor on my beer fridge!
As the owner of a security company I am sickened by the industry and corruption. Lying to customers to get locked into contracts, using scare tactics to get people away from self install and monitoring. The alarm industry is desperately trying to hold on to old technology that locks consumers in. I personally have dsc installed at my properties and use konnected to auto arm and disarm with SmartThings using geofencing. It works great for 5 years straight now.
The only thing I see that’s misleading is this article. The title suggests there’s a danger here, when no such threat exists. There are a lot of emotional claims with nearly no substance as to the “why.” Why does this cause a danger to my family? Forget about standards for a moment. Explain the net effect. Any expert worth their salt can communicate their expertise in plain language English to a lay person, and this article just fails that test. It just sounds like a deeply entrenched industry preying on monthly fees desperately trying to keep their claws in place while fighting modernity. Explain the issue with brevity or stop complaining.
1. I asked Nate Clark, the President of Konnected, to debate me as to my article, and he said there was no need. In other words, the science to my accuracy besides my specialized education, skill, knowledge training, and experience is what Nate Clark admitted to me, in writing, that I think that by framing the conversation as a debate, you have prematurely concluded that I would be disagreeing with you and we would be engaging in an adversarial discussion. In fact, most of your technical points are correct so there wouldn’t be much of a debate.
2. There is nothing emotional about knowingly selling a product that is not UL listed and violates the Fire Code and the National Electrical Code (NEC). The NFPA- National Fire Protection Association at 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, that was established in 1896 publishes the most authoritative treatise on fire alarm systems being, NFPA-72. See https://www.nfpa.org/overview/. Konnected’s products violate NFPA 72 and NFPA 70.
3. As elaborated to in my article, the danger to you and your family is that you will never be warned of a system impairment as is required under minimum industry standards, so while you think you are protected, you’re not, and if an intruder or fire emergency happens, you would not be warned. That’s dangerous. Despite Konnected not complying with Standards, this is not an option for a host of products, including security systems and life safety purposes. Would you ever buy a Smoke Alarm that’s not UL Listed and/or does not comply with NFPA 72? What about a fire extinguisher?
4. Any Alarm System product that is not listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), such as UL Intertek/ETL, is dangerous since it has not been tested for reliability to nationally recognized industry standards and best practices that include but is not limited to UL-1023 and UL-985 standards.
5. When it comes to security and life safety and the choices equipment manufacturers, make its serious business. This is not about complaining; it’s about identifying inherent dangers that, but for companies like Konnected, should never exist. Millions and millions of people rely on alarm systems, so for a company like Konnected to disregard the criticality of codes and standards puts subscribers at needless risk.
6. If you knew that there was going to be a fire in your home tonight, you would do everything in your power to protect them, and in doing so, you buy Konnected equipment and follow what they tell you to do. However, despite installing Konnected equipment, it is in a non0functional state as to its audible sounder and/or the smoke detectors that you connect to it. With this in mind, instead of being able to proactively warn you, it does not provide for supervision of these alarm components. Resultantly, no one in your home is provided with early warning during a fire emergency. When this happens, it is statistically known that occupants in the home will be seriously injured or be killed. Can you think of anyone that would knowingly purchase equipment to protect their family, whereby the equipment manufacturer intentionally disregards the Fire Code? What could be more important than having a reliable fire alarm system to protect you and your family? That cannot be achieved with Konnected equipment based on its dangerous and defective design.
Do you feel the same about Ring’s Retrofit solution? https://ring.com/products/retrofit-alarm-kit
My Dad asked a question about Ring.com but you removed it for some reason. We want to know if you feel the same about Rings retrofit solution.
I stumbled across this article two years after it’s written and it’s cracking me up so much I have to comment even if I’m the only one who sees it. You come off as incredibly hostile towards the guy (Clark) and try to twist snippets of his response email in such a way to make it look like he’s arguing with you when it’s clear he’s not, even though we can’t see the full context of the email correspondence. Your title claims “False Statements” from konnected, but when I bought their system a few years ago it was made blatantly obvious on their site and in the materials it was not to be relied on as a primary system, and only an additional convenience for tying sensors to a smart home. If anyone really felt deceived by what they were getting then it’s possible they have poor reading comprehension. They include options to go further and instructions how to do so, but every step of the way they indicate “It’s at your own risk.” Have you considered the possibility that some people like me are just installing them on old, otherwise unused panels so they can tie door and window sensors into their smart home? Maybe we’re tired of the racket being run by security solutions providers. Why don’t you write about the deceitful practices of alarm companies and security system providers? Talk some as well about all the proprietary devices that might lead one to look for an alternative or workaround.
I dispute your conclusions. Life Safety is not something that should be dismissed. In gross contrast, it is axiomatic to me that your comments do not recognize the criticality of NFPA 72.® Whatever you bought and whatever you think that works does not supersede the criticality of NFPA 72, and not meeting minimum NFPA 72 Standards is both foreseeably dangerous and unacceptable. No equipment manufacturer can just disregard these adopted standards instead of complying with them. Similarly, no equipment manufacturer can add language into their offerings that tries to circumvent what is minimally required by authorities having jurisdiction across the country! Everyone is entitled to reliable life safety, and there are do-it-yourself products that accomplish this task. Dangerously, Konnected is not one of them, and despite what you do not know about NFPA 72, does not change the facts and the danger. Please feel free to reach out to the NFPA directly or purchase a copy of NFPA-72- National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. http://www.nfpa.org. The National Fire Protection Association was founded on November 6, 1896.
Wow, I have never seen a more hostile and one sided rant posing as an article. When I personally took products to UL for Evaluation it cost thousands of dollars to get the UL certification, and then I was required to pay for each UL label put on the product. Was my product any better because of the UL rating? Categorically NO. It was the exact same product I made for non-non UL approved sales I just had to charge more because of the UL rating!
Since it was written, Konnected has not told me that they dispute any part of my article. Clearly, if there was anything one-sided, which there isn’t, I would have expected Konnected to respond, but they have curiously remained silent. In my opinion, this was not fortuitous. In any event, there is nothing one-sided about my article. Against the foregoing backdrop, the entirety of the professional alarm equipment manufacturing industry has relied upon UL for more than 60 years. Your statement proves that you are unaware of the criticality of Listing Burglar and Fire Alarm Equipment and that when companies fail to do so, like Konnected equipment demonstrated when I wrote my article, they are needlessly increasing the risks to consumers who rely on burglar alarm and life safety fire alarm systems for their protection. I recommend that you get educated about alarm systems before deciding that dangerous products like Konnected are reliable. By the way, UL does not rate; they list products. See UL-1023, UL-985, and you should also look at NFPA-72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. The foregoing opinions are held to a reasonable degree of Professional, Technical, Scientific, and Alarm Science certainty. See www. alarmexpert.com Jeffrey D. Zwirn, CPP, CFPS, CFE, SET, FASI&T, CHPA-IV, MBAT, NFPA 3000(PS), President, IDS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INC.
I hadn’t heard about konnected. where can i get one?
Wait, there’s zero-subscription DIY open-source device that will allow me to use the sensors someone installed in my house? Sign me up!
If one wants a monitored system then most of the points the author makes are reasonable. What isn’t made clear is that Konnected has 2 modes – replacement and interface. Most/all of the points the author makes relate to the replace mode. But one has to know that the replace mode is used when people don’t want central monitoring. The old wired system has lots of good sensors that can be used for convenience monitoring of one’s home. E.g., if a window is left open while the AC is on make an announcement on the speakers. Konnected allows those signals to be passed to home automation systems. These are not life safety issues. The one potential overlap are smoke detectors. But smoke detectors have to work no matter the presence of a central alarm system or not. Konnected doesn’t add anything more than the Nest app does to Nest Protects. And doesn’t take away anything from a non-monitored home.
What would be interesting to me is the author’s views of the interface mode products. These leave the existing panel in place, monitored or not, and add connectors to the system to allow use in the home automation systems. In this way Konnected is a DIY version of the proprietary interface modules that the alarm panel manufacturers already sell. Or similar to the Envisalink products.
The alarm system industry is trying to find its way with modern technology. Everyone wants to be the focal point and be able to charge subscription fees. Unfortunately the system manufacturer companies are not nimble. They are used to working in the alarm system business that has a lot of regulation and engineering that goes along with the requirements. All the new stuff is just hard for them to do as it doesn’t easily fit their mindset.
As an advance consumer I want my alarm system to do alarm stuff. I want my home automation system to do its stuff. I want a way to interface the systems so they can complement one another. Usually that means using signals from the alarm system and its sensors in the home automation system. The only signals going the other way are to arm and disarm the alarm system (like Alexa can do for Alarm.com).
I would like the author to provide a list of recommended alternatives to the Konnected.io solution that use existing NO/NC sensors, do not require monitoring and integrate with home automation software. List solutions that meet your standards. If you don’t know of any, then I think you have a wonderful business opportunity to make a solution to compete with Kennected.io.
Dude, you have numerous security system sponsors funding your efforts. Clearly this is a biased review and frankly with no objective (almost combative) perspective. Disregard this rant.
NO ONE IS SPONSORING MY FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF THE DANGEROUS KONNECTED PRODUCTS.
YOUR SUGGESTION IS BOTH SPURIOUS AND UNFOUNDED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE PRODUCTS DO NOT MEET THE MANDATORY MINIUMUM REQUIREMENTS THAT ALL ALARM SYSTEMS ARE REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO.
PURCHASING OF KONNECTED PRODUCTS ARE FORESEEABLY DANGEROUS.
Getting emotional and typing in all caps because the majority of the responses (i.e.: the ‘reasonable person’ standard) point out that your article sounds hostile, verbose, and biased isn’t helpful to your cause. It seems you don’t really care though, since you just keep beating your drum that Konnected is dangerous to families and that the responses are all wrong wrong WRONG. But as yet ANOTHER respondent who doesn’t even (yet) own Konnected and still read through this with a furrowed “What crawled up this guy’s ass and died?” expression, you’re not accomplishing your goal of communicating a danger here. You’re just coming across as untrustworthy and angry.
It’s a PCB bridge that adds smart monitoring for wired sensors. It could break, just like anything else… I’m not sure what UL listing would change. All of the monitoring functionality is actually done through home automation software, so most of your issues would seem to actually be focused there. I.e.: how dare Home Assistant allow you to set up notifications for door and fire sensors without being UL listed, what if the sensors stop working and you don’t know…what if the VM goes down…insert your article here.
Yeah, I’m not sure you understand the demographic boards like Konnected target, and I don’t think the length and fervor of this article is appropriate to the scope of this hypothetical problem. People who can set up this board and the associated home automation (setting up a VM in Linux/Unraid/Hypervisor, MQTT, a proxy, a VPN for home access) aren’t at risk of whatever you seem to think this product puts them at risk of. 87 year old QVC-shopping Thelma who can’t work her DVR isn’t buying this.
I agree with others. Obvious case of being threatened by the wave of the future. I had my alarm system installed years ago by ADT. They basically give you the cheap ass hardware and installation if you agree to be locked into a monitoring service that is their bread and butter. I loved the day I gutted my nasty outdated ADT system and installed a modern Konnected board to take over the system. I do my own monitoring now for free with a feature rich setup through Home Assistant. Konnected is the future……… and the days of outdated hardware and expensive monitoring contracts are over!! Maybe go back to school and learn a more respectable trade!!
Seems everyone else that read this article got the same impression as me. Someone who wants to be able to lock-in customers to perpetual and never-ending monitoring and support fees doesn’t like a product that removes that undesired stranglehold on consumers. Color me surprised.
If it came down to NOT having the open-source option, and having to choose between never-ending subscription fee hell (and questionable people with unfettered access to my data and system information) or not having the equipment at all, I’d choose to not have the equipment. Fortunately the open-source option is there.
Life Safety and Security Systems are Important.
Any alarm system equipment that is not Listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and that does not comply with the mandatory minimum requirements of NFPA 72 is dangerous, because it is not reliable.
The same danger applies to any company who provides consumers with advice that is in gross deviation to UL Standards and NFPA 72 Standards.
At the same time, there are a profusion of open source solutions and they reside in do it yourself products that are listed and comply with NFPA 72 Standards.
However, Konnected is not that open source and this is a choice that they made despite the risks to consumers.
If a fire alarm system is not designed and manufactured correctly and there is a fire, people will not likely escape from the premises before it becomes untenable.
Having said that, when someone is seriously injured and/or dies in a fire that but for a faulty non-code conforming smoke detector and/or alarm equipment, they would not have not been seriously injured and/or diem it is a tragedy.
Any suggestions to the contrary are erroneous.
If you do not pay attention to the risks of life safety, you needlessly put your family and yourself at an increased risk of serious personal injury and/or death.
Jeffrey D. Zwirn, CPP, CFPS, CFE, SET, FASI&T, CHPA-IV, MBAT, NFPA 3000(PS), President
Over 43 years of specialized education, skill, knowledge, training, experience and credentials in the alarm, central station, and security industry.
Over 25 Year Designated Expert Instructor for the New York City Police Department in Physical and Electronic Security
Author of the Authoritative and Peer Reviewed Alarm Science Manual
Appointed Distinguished Life Member By the President of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Appointed to serve on twenty (24) four UL- Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Standard Technical Panels
2018 Recipient of the True Professional Award from the New Jersey Electronic Security Association (NJESA) At Their 2019 Annual Symposium
2019 Recipient of the Outstanding Service Award from the New Jersey Electronic Security Association (NJESA) On Their Fiftieth Anniversary
Awarded Three United States Patents for Alarm Systems
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