Electical Contractor

School systems, colleges and universities are investing heavily to ensure their facilities adequately protect students from an increasingly unstable outside world.

It’s obvious that fiber optics is not copper wiring. Advantages of fiber include the capability of going longer distances at higher speeds, plus immunity to electromagnetic radiation. These advantages overcame its cost disadvantage and made it the cabling choice for telecommunication and CATV.

In the day-to-day challenges of electrical contracting, when a specific wiring question arises, the wiring methods you use depend on what you have learned in the trade along with an occasional dose of the National Electrical Code.

Last month, in part one of this article, we said the National Electrical Code (NEC) and the “National Fire Alarm Code” from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) were two of the most important resources needed to properly install a fire-alarm system.

You’re familiar with the concept of the “smart house,” which is in the third generation of development. Their computerized electrical systems open garage doors, program lighting schemes and operate home-security systems. Some even turn on the coffee pot.

CODE CITATIONS Article 110 Requirements for Electrical Installations Article 215 Feeders Article 220 Branch Circuit, Feeder and Service Calculations Article 250 Grounding Article 400 Flexible Cords and Cables Article 404 Switches Article 430 Motors, Motor Circuits and Controllers Aluminum wire termi

System maintenance can be about anything you want it to be. It could be in reference to communications (data or voice networks), electrical, mechanical, security or anything your heart or bottom line desires. You may think that such a statement is too sweeping and general, right? Wrong.

To start with, let us clarify one thing: CXO is the latest industry acronym. OK, even if it is not the newest, most popular buzzword on the street, we are officially claiming it to be so starting now. It definitely makes sense, what with all of the CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CTOs—the list can go on and on.

Many electrical contractors have attempted to install commercial fire alarm systems and because they were not properly prepared, they did not enjoy the experience. What steps do you take to properly install such a system?