Are there only three systems that can be integrated? Of course, the answer is no. In fact, there is no technological limit to the number of building systems that could be integrated. But is total building systems integration...
As a member of the NFPA 72 Protected Premises Technical Committee during the past few code cycles, I have found it very interesting to discuss proposed changes to fire alarms of the future. Technology is improving the...
Depending on where you live, you may either have only one or two historical or cultural properties, or you may have a much larger group that will need your services. Regardless of the number of historical or cultural...
One of your goals as a professional contractor should be to become a trusted advisor to your customers. This goal doesn’t require you to be the low bidder on every project, but it does require you to show your customer why...
You sit in your office estimating a fire alarm system installation project. The design calls for a large number of smoke detectors. You received bids from your fire alarm equipment suppliers, and their numbers appear high—way...
Some of the greatest changes in NFPA 72 over the last couple of code cycles have been the changes in ways to transmit signals from the fire alarm control unit to the monitoring facility. I’d like to take this opportunity to...
Every January, many of us make New Year’s resolutions. However, sometimes we can’t get through February before we have forgotten about them or we have little internal motivation to follow through. One resolution we should all...
Happy New Year! Now that there is a lot of new construction going on, it is easy to put testing and servicing of fire alarms on the back burner. Since a number of companies will do just that, now is the best time for...
One of your business’ primary goals is to ensure the work is done right the first time, everything is code-compliant and that the installation will reliably operate well into the future. To meet your profit and reliability...
What will fire alarm systems of the future be like? Technology is changing rapidly, and historically, fire alarm systems have not kept up with these modifications. That is starting to change. In the 2016 NFPA 72, National...
The Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles stands at 1,100 feet and has 73 floors above grade with 900 hotel rooms, 16 floors of office space, meeting rooms, ballrooms with supporting kitchens, restaurants and lounges. It also...
Jim Dollard has an extensive background in codes and standards. If you have a query about the National Electrical Code (NEC), Jim will help you solve it. Send questions to codefaqs@gmail.com . Answers are based on the 2017...
There have been so many technological and code changes in the last 10–15 years that it makes sense to step back and discuss why we install fire alarm systems and how the components of a fire alarm system work? Unfortunately,...
For many years, the installation of fire-protection systems has been strictly a capital expenditure with recurring operating costs. Typically, the standard procedure has been to read the fire alarm system specification, look...
In layman's terms, a retrovirus is a virus that inserts a DNA copy of its genome into the host cell to replicate and is very hard to kill. The life cycle continues on ... and on ... and on. Here in the electrical world, we...
Nineteen years ago, author Spencer Johnson wrote “Who Moved My Cheese?” This book features a fable about how to cope with change. The story involves four characters who live in a maze: the mice Scurry and Sniff, and two...
It never ceases to amaze me just how much people in our industry have been either misled or misinformed concerning technical and code information. I often encounter installers, authorities having jurisdiction, engineers,...
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...
Did you ever wonder why some companies succeed and expand even in a down economy while others struggle to keep their doors open? It is a question worth considering because, once you analyze their reasons for success, you may...
I often get calls from professional contractors who have become involved in design/build electrical projects that include the design and installation of fire alarm systems. The reasons for the calls vary, but most are born of...
