I wasn’t the best student when I entered school, but once my first-grade teacher spoke to my mother, I really started to pay attention. Today, I thank that teacher—and my mom—for setting me straight.
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Wayne D. Moore
Fire/Life Safety Columnist and Freelance Writer
Wayne D. Moore, a licensed fire protection engineer, frequent speaker and an expert in the life safety field, is a co-editor of the current National Fire Alarm Code Handbook. Moore is a principal with Hughes Associates Inc. at the Warwick, R.I., office.
Articles by Wayne D. Moore
April 2013
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I recently realized that our failure to properly train fire alarm system technicians has created a group of workers who simply do not understand the reasons they do what they do. When a technician asks for the rationale behind a procedure, we often respond, “Because the code requires it.”
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April 2013
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The fire alarm systems industry has changed considerably over the years. Many old-timers can remember a fire alarm system that only detected a fire and sounded an alarm. Nonfire alarm systems did not interface with these fire alarm systems. They consisted of a simple relay-based control system with detection devices and horns or bells for notification. READ MORE
March 2013
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A contractor installed a new fire alarm system in a college dormitory and asked the owner, “How thoroughly do you want me to test the fire alarm system?” I was there to witness the system’s pre-acceptance test before we called the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to arrange for the final acceptance test. Frankly, the question momentarily stunned me.
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February 2013
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In these difficult economic times, we see much more renovation than new construction. Generally, when an owner renovates a building, the work will more than likely affect the fire alarm system coverage or operation.
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December 2012
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While the economy takes its time turning around, each day I see more fire alarm system upgrades to replace obsolete equipment. On almost every project, I find the owner promoting a common thread. Simply put, he or she wants to know what can be done to fix the existing system with the least capital investment. READ MORE
December 2012
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We all know the guy in the Verizon Wireless ads moving around with his cell phone, asking: “Can you hear me now?” READ MORE
November 2012
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The tools and equipment necessary to install and test a fire alarm system have changed over the years, and until a fire official asks to perform a particular test, many contractors may be unaware that they need a new meter or specialized piece of equipment. READ MORE
October 2012
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McGraw-Hill has predicted that multifamily housing will rise 19 percent in dollars and 18 percent in units, continuing its moderate, upward trend. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that fewer individuals can afford to buy a home and that the future outlook for home ownership does not seem any brighter. So, the steady increase in multifamily housing should hold over the next few years. READ MORE