What will the office of the future look like and how will it affect fire alarm system design? I recently read a prediction by Steelcase, a manufacturer of office equipment, stating what the company foresees: more flexible...
Depending on where you live, there are maybe large groups of historical or cultural properties, or possibly only a few that will need your services. As a professional electrical contractor, you have the training and ability...
When I was growing up, I remember a TV commercial slogan made famous by Sy Syms, the founder of Syms clothing stores: “An educated consumer is our best customer.” I believe we can adapt this slogan to the fire alarm system...
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...
Early on a Sunday morning in July 2017, a massive fire destroyed a luxury apartment complex under construction in Waltham, Mass. The fire was the second Boston-area blaze in a month to ravage a new project built with an...
We all remember our first fire alarm system installation. Good or bad, we learned from it. On my first installation, I remember going back to my office to speak with the “engineer” we relied on for information. He actually...
I know from experience with contractors in the field that, when it comes to mass notification systems (MNS), being required to perform a risk analysis for the MNS ranks just above getting a root canal at the dentist’s office...
Electrical contractors work hard to learn their business and understand how to complete a project professionally and make a profit. The profit part ensures ECs can stay in business. The professional part is mandatory if ECs...
The model building code treats campus dormitories as residential occupancies. However, a dorm does not function the same as a commercial apartment building. In some cases, the architect has created a physical design to...
At a recent gathering of fire alarm industry friends, we found ourselves lamenting that, even though we felt confident that NFPA 72 2013, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, provided very good guidance for designers...
As a contractor, you bid on numerous fire alarm system projects based on plans and specifications developed by an engineer. You assume the engineer has discussed such things as quality and reliability with the owner because...
Recently, I read an article in American School and University magazine by Tom Tapper that discusses competence and communication. Although his article focuses on education, it caused me to consider what the words “competence”...
Every other year, the release of the Profile of the Electrical Contractor enables us to examine the changes that have taken place in the electrical contracting industry. Change brings growth, but most people resist change...
The primary focus of the National Electrical Code (NEC) is safety, and it offers specific requirements for how to install wiring and help ensure the safety of both the contractor and the building occupants. In addition to the...
Electrical professionals understand that the purpose of a smoke detection and alarm system is generally to provide life safety for building occupants. They also understand that the goal of the fire alarm system is to provide...
There is no shortage of organizations predicting what the construction market will look like in 2014. We have all experienced how poorly predictions may work out in some areas (e.g., the weather). So, if we want to rely on...
As a fire protection engineer who oversees the proposals to repair fire alarm systems, I often experience communication disconnects between the contractor, owner and authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). These disconnects...
Each year, we receive construction forecasts that we presumably use to determine what to expect for the promise of work during the coming year. Regardless of what these reports say, the question remains: How do you approach...
Despite the threat of disasters, many people fail to develop emergency plans. It often takes experiencing a disaster to recognize the need for a contingency plan, but electrical contractors can suggest such plans to their...
Many Might answer the title question: “I am a professional contractor.” That means you at least install fire alarm systems, maybe even design your own projects. If that alone constitutes your answer, you routinely miss a huge...
