This issue of Electrical Contractor features the 2020 Construction Outlook (page 18), and I am certain you will review the information with an eye to your own 2020 business predictions. First and more important, you need to...
Are you certified in the fire alarm or life safety field? If you are, why did you do it? If not, why not? I have heard many claims about the benefits and drawbacks of getting certified. I’d like to share some of my...
With change brought about by new technology, faster computing speeds, artificial intelligence (AI), open integration and more devices entering the IP foray—2019 was momentous. As the digital transformation deepens and the...
What is happening in low-voltage work? And what do contractors expect for the future? “We are currently experiencing a couple of significant trends,” said Joe Carey, registered communications distribution designer (RCDD) and...
Way back In 2019, everybody was raving about the prospects for new technologies such as smart cities, 5G wireless, autonomous vehicles, internet of things (IoT) and numerous other applications that would disrupt the status...
It was the West Virginia scenery that pulled at John Denver’s heartstrings as he wrote the song, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Those vistas also inspired the artful, two-and-a-half year, $107 million renovation of the...
Whether in ASSISTED-LIVING facilities or at home, seniors are at greater risk of health incidents and falls than any other population segment. To help protect elders living in their care, assisted-living facilities have been...
If you provide fire alarm system inspection, testing and maintenance (ITM), you already know that everyone of your potential customers will be an easy sale. Why, you ask, is that premise true? The answer is simple, you don’t...
The physical security industry is running hard and fast in the in security bull market—and all signs point to continued, steady growth. According to Imperial Capital, Los Angeles, a full-service investment banking firm...
Electrical contractors can benefit from the arsenal of software tools and other technologies that help their workers perform better and their businesses’ bottom line. Apps, cloud-based applications and embedded algorithms...
Since optical fiber transmits light, it’s obvious that it could be used for illumination. Put a bright light at one end and most of that light will come out the other end. Many people are familiar with this application...
The lead architect for the newly renovated University of Chicago Keller Center aptly describes the project as a “thoughtful transformation.” Located on the university’s Hyde Park campus, the center is the permanent home for...
Companies that grow and process the vegetables we consume have to be more agile and efficient than ever, as markets change and the availability of workers decreases. California produce company Bonipak has met grower needs and...
Many years ago, at my college graduation, I heard another student say, “Finally, I will never have to open another book in my life!” Education does not stop when you leave high school or college. I am sure that person has...
In my September article, I wrote about ways to improve chances of passing the fire alarm acceptance test the first time. It takes some effort on the part of the fire alarm contractor, but it can be done. This will improve job...
It’s been a bumpy ride in the implementation of biometrics, specifically facial recognition. Technology has matured in reliability from advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning algorithms and faster...
Last month, I wrote about types of fiber optic sensors that are used in specialized applications. Most of these affect the transmission of light in the fiber to allow the physical parameter to be sensed either along the...
COSCO Fire Protection operates out of 10 locations in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The Brea, Calif., company offers services in two general areas. The first is fire suppression systems that includes wet and dry...
You’ve probably come across this bidding an access control specification: an existing infrastructure that includes numerous manufacturers’ panels, readers and other components—disparate systems that made their way into the...
The heart of any fire alarm system, the component that brings it all together, is the fire alarm control unit (FACU). The first step is to choose whether a conventional or addressable unit is needed based on the size and...
