Electical Contractor

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.

From talking to electrical contractors lately, I know it’s still tough to get profitable work in the current economy. However, I also find most of the contractors who have prepared well for such a poor economic situation are maintaining a substantial workload.

In the January 2012 issue of Campus Safety Magazine, Robin Hattersley-Gray reported from a 2011 survey stating that “more than half of university, hospital and K–12 school district fire protection professionals rate system maintenance (57 percent) and false alarms (53 percent) as two of their top fo

During the course of a typical workday, I suspect you design electrical systems.

Recently, while attending a lunch-and-learn presentation from one of the better local distributors of fire alarm systems, we wound up discussing the quality of fire alarm system submissions from contractors.

In May of last year, the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland conducted a study to demonstrate the relative performance of smoke detectors and sprinklers in one- and two-family dwellings and apartments, commercial residential (e.g., hotels), and institutional occup

Jim Rohn, an American author and motivational speaker, said, “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” Think how that affects all of us in our daily lives.

Anyone routinely involved with the installation, maintenance and testing of fire alarm systems is aware of the need to ensure the audibility of fire alarm system notification appliances.

There’s more than just smoke alarms to consider when installing fire protection in houses and apartments. In addition to deciding whether to use ionization or photoelectric smoke alarms, you must determine if you need to install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms or a fire sprinkler system.