Many electrical contractors will attest to the fact that fire alarm systems offer a nice addition to their primary electrical business. Most can also tell a horror story or two about the number of costly and unpaid service calls due to false alarms from fire alarm systems. READ MORE
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
January 2004
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Owners often contact contractors to install fire alarm systems in existing buildings. And, just as often, the Code does not require these installations. Rather, the building owner simply wants a fire alarm system installed for his or her own peace of mind. The owner usually wants the system because of his or her desire to meet building or life safety protection goals. READ MORE
December 2003
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When considering the various financial institutions we personally deal with each day, such as banks and investment corporations, we immediately think of how much security is involved to protect the financial assets held in, or controlled by the institution. READ MORE
November 2003
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Tall buildings require different systems than “standard” buildings. This is true for fire alarm systems as well as electrical systems. So what defines a “tall” building? READ MORE
October 2003
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Retail stores or “mercantile” properties, as defined by the various building codes, include everything from small mom-and-pop stores in free-standing buildings to multiple stores in a strip mall, from large, enclosed malls to big-box stores selling books, hardware or whatever. Each of these facilities presents different fire alarm system challenges. READ MORE
September 2003
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Often an electrical contractor will be asked to install a fire alarm system in what some would define as a “harsh” environment. In these cases, the contractor must be ready to satisfy his or her customer’s request for an adequate, code-complying system. READ MORE
August 2003
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Because a fire alarm system installation falls in Division 16 of the project specifications for new buildings, the electrical contractor normally will purchase the equipment and install the system. He or she may have a specialty crew to do this work or just assign whoever is available to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and shop drawings. READ MORE
August 2003
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Hospitality and gaming facilities, with their large crowds often sharing one property, need quick and reliable fire detection systems with the ability to pinpoint the area in alarm to allow selective and orderly evacuation. The fire alarm system in these facilities must also account for sleeping hotel guests and guests focused on gambling. READ MORE
July 2003
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Anyone planning to retrofit anything electrical in a building faces a difficult task at best. Only a true craftsman can successfully install something as a retrofit that looks like the original installation had included it. When retrofitting a fire alarm system, additional challenges can present themselves. READ MORE