Programming Updates Required No Later than August 25, 2025, for the Louisiana 318 Area Code

Attention: Alarm, Security, and Elevator Service/Equipment Providers

To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the Louisiana Public Service Commission approved the addition of the new 457 area code to the geographic region served by the 318 area code. This process is known as an area code overlay.

What is an area code overlay?

An overlay is the addition of another area code (457) to the same geographic region as an existing area code (457). An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code but does require using a new dialing procedure to complete calls.

 What will be the new dialing procedure?

The new dialing procedure will require that all calls in the 318 area code that are currently dialed with seven digits will need to be dialed using area code + telephone number. The same dialing procedure will apply to telephone numbers that are assigned in the new 327 area code.

How does this affect providers of alarm and security services and equipment?

As a result of the overlay, a new local dialing procedure requires callers to dial area code + telephone number.

 Alarm, security, and elevator services and equipment currently located in the 318 area code and programmed to dial only seven digits must be updated or reprogrammed to dial area code + telephone number for all calls in the 318 and 457 area codes.

 Reprogramming of alarm equipment must be completed by August 25, 2025

To verify that equipment can complete calls to the new 457 area code, a special test number,457-457-1457, will be in service beginning June 25, 2025, and will remain active through October 25, 2025.

 When will the change begin?

Beginning February 24, 2025, dial 10 digits (area code + 7-digit telephone number) whenever you place a call, including calls within your same area code. If you forget and dial just 7 digits, your call will still be completed.

Beginning August 25, 2025, the new dialing procedure must be used, as described above. On and after this date, if callers do not use the new dialing procedure, calls will not complete.  A recording will instruct the caller to hang up and dial again including the area code.

Beginning September 25, 2025, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers with the new 457 area code. Anyone with a telephone number in the 318 area code must dial the area code + telephone number or the call will not complete.

What will remain the same?

• Telephone numbers, including current area code, will not change.
• The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
• What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
• You can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 988.
• If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 or 811 are currently available in your community, these calls may still be dialed using just three digits.

Who may you contact with questions? Customers with questions regarding the dialing procedure change should be directed to their local service provider, or they can contact the Louisiana Public Service Commission at https://www.lpsc.louisiana.gov/,

New Louisiana Law Expands Tax Breaks for Home Fortification—What It Means for Small Life Safety Businesses

A new Louisiana law, Act No. 473 (formerly HB 145), goes into effect January 1, 2026, doubling the state income tax deduction for homeowners who retrofit their homes to meet building code or “fortified home” standards. The deduction increases from $5,000 to $10,000 per residence, specifically for owner-occupied homes.

This expanded incentive is likely to boost demand for structural upgrades that also enhance life safety—such as stronger doors, impact-rated windows, advanced fire alarms, and emergency systems. For small businesses in the life safety and property protection industry, this presents a clear opportunity to bundle code-compliant retrofits with security and fire safety services.

As homeowners look to qualify for the full deduction, businesses offering certified installation and help with required documentation may gain a competitive edge. Positioning services around both safety and storm protection can drive new business, especially for those prepared to navigate the state’s upcoming compliance rules.

In short, Act 473 is more than a tax break—it’s a strategic opening for life safety contractors to expand offerings and attract more retrofit clients.

Traditional gates with simple latches remain commonplace around pools—but they’re often inadequate. These latches can degrade quickly, especially in outdoor environments, and are frequently easy for children to bypass. As a result, relying solely on latches can leave pools dangerously accessible when adult supervision isn’t present.

Why Coded Locks Are a Better Choice

1. Childproof and Weather‑resistant
Coded locks offer weather-resistant durability and require deliberate input to open—unlike latches that children can unintentionally open. This reduces unsupervised pool access and strengthens perimeter integrity.

2. No Lost‑Key Headaches
Traditional locks rely on physical keys that can be lost, misplaced, or left in the mechanism—creating serious security risks. A lost universal key could even compromise multiple access points. Coded locks eliminate this issue entirely.

3. Easy Code Management & Emergency Access
Codes can be updated easily when staff change, or if a code is compromised. They also enable first responders or authorized personnel to gain quick access without needing physical keys—critical during emergencies .

4. Legal and Liability Safeguards
Many jurisdictions and insurers expect significant safeguards around pool perimeters. Durable coded locks—not flimsy latches—demonstrate a proactive approach to safety, reducing legal liability risks for property and facility managers.

Whether at a campus, community center, or residential setting, here are practical strategies for deploying coded locks:

• Upgrade Existing Gates: Replace worn latches with weatherproof coded locks rated for outdoor use, suitable for high-traffic environments Campus Safety Magazine.

• Use Hybrid Systems: Consider locks that support mobile credentials—such as those offered by Nexkey or Digital Monitoring Products—for added convenience and auditing capabilities.

• Set Up Clear Processes: Define administrative protocols for code assignment, rotation, and recovery in emergencies.

• Combine Multiple Safeguards: Physical access control should complement pool deck alarms, aquatic safety training, and clear supervision policies.

Switching to coded or keyless locks is a small investment with big returns: enhanced safety, improved regulatory compliance, cost-effective maintenance, and peace of mind. As drowning remains a leading risk—especially for children—strong perimeter controls should be a top priority for anyone managing pool facilities Campus Safety Magazine.

By adopting keyless, coded gate systems—potentially enhanced with mobile credentials—pools are protected more reliably, supervision is simplified, and life‑saving safeguards are firmly in place.

This notice has been received from the State Fire Marshal’s office.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal transitioned to a fully paperless IMS system on July 1, 2025.

Please ask your insurance agent to email certificates of insurance to:

rhonda.levy@la.gov

Be sure to include the name of your firm and your firm number in the subject line.

Thank you!

Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal
Special Services

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In an emergency, every second counts—and every word matters. Whether it’s a fire, chemical spill, or other life-threatening event, people rely on voice communication systems to guide them to safety. But if emergency messages are muffled, distorted, or unintelligible, the result can be confusion, delayed evacuation, or worse. That’s why speech intelligibility—the measure of how clearly speech is understood in a space—is a crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect of modern life safety systems.

Speech intelligibility is about more than just being able to hear a message; it’s about being able to understand it. Factors like background noise, echo, speaker placement, and system design all affect how well a message comes across in real-world environments. In places like hospitals, schools, airports, and arenas, poor intelligibility can quickly turn a manageable emergency into a dangerous situation.

The 2025 edition of NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, emphasizes the importance of speech intelligibility. According to Annex D of the code, 90% of measurement locations must meet a minimum Speech Transmission Index (STI) of 0.45, with an average of 0.50 or higher. These standards ensure that voice evacuation systems communicate effectively in high-stakes moments.

Testing for intelligibility isn’t just a matter of compliance—it’s about safeguarding lives. Regular testing ensures systems perform as intended, even as buildings change or components age. It also provides documentation that can reduce liability and support audits, inspections, and occupancy approvals.

Speech intelligibility testing isn’t just another box to check during commissioning or maintenance—it’s an essential component of life safety. By routinely verifying that voice systems deliver clear, understandable messages, building managers, installers, and inspectors can help prevent panic, reduce confusion, and ensure faster, safer evacuations.

With NFPA codes reinforcing its necessity and Bedrock tools simplifying the process, speech intelligibility testing should be a standard part of every emergency communication strategy—because when lives are on the line, clarity is everything.

July 15 is National Pet Fire Safety Day. In this episode of Learn Something New™ by NFPA Journal®, we review some of the safety tips NFPA offers for keeping pets safe from fire, smoke, hot objects, and electrical hazards in and around the home. We also cover the questions pet owners can ask the people who work at or manage pet boarding and health care facilities to ensure those locations are as safe as possible.

Download the NFPA Pet Fire Safety tip sheet: https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Pu…

Fuel gas leaks in homes are a growing safety concern. Across the United States, emergency responders handle thousands of gas-related incidents each year, many of which could be prevented with early detection. Recognizing this need, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) introduced NFPA 715, the first standard dedicated to the installation of fuel gas detection and warning equipment in residential properties. This new standard aims to bring the same level of protection to gas detection that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have provided for decades.

NFPA 715 establishes clear guidelines for where and how fuel gas detectors should be installed. The standard specifies placement based on the properties of the gas—natural gas, which is lighter than air, should have detectors installed high on walls or ceilings, while propane, which is heavier than air, requires detectors lower to the ground. Detectors can be stand-alone devices that alert only the home’s occupants or interconnected systems that notify both residents and central monitoring stations. Power sources for these alarms may be hardwired, plug-in, or battery-operated, with battery models required to have a ten-year lifespan and a low-battery warning system.

The urgency behind NFPA 715 is driven by real-world incidents. Major gas explosions, such as the one in Baltimore in 2023, have highlighted how odor fade and delayed leak detection can lead to tragedy. Utility companies like Con Edison have already deployed hundreds of thousands of gas detectors in homes, detecting leaks and preventing potential disasters before they escalate. In some areas, such as New York City, new laws now require fuel gas alarms in residential properties, aligning with NFPA 715’s recommendations.

Debates continue over how extensively the standard should apply to individual appliances versus entire rooms, and manufacturers are working to develop more advanced detection technologies. Even as discussions evolve, the adoption of NFPA 715 marks a significant step forward in residential safety. By filling a long-standing gap in gas leak detection, the standard sets a new baseline for protecting families from a silent but deadly threat.