If I have learned one thing by working directly with owners, it is that they don’t know what they don’t know. It is important, therefore, to analyze what an owner really needs and provide a fire alarm system to meet those...
Gunshot detection technology designed to prevent and minimize the growing crisis of active shooter events in the United States is becoming more reliable, sophisticated and integrated with other security technologies in a...
Wireless connectivity may be a trend with staying power, but its successful installation in existing multitenant buildings can prove challenging. A lack of planning or training or a standing building’s infrastructure can...
Networked lighting controls connect luminaires in a programmable system to offer exciting and robust capabilities. Connected lighting packages of luminaires and controls are increasingly touted as “internet of things (IoT)...
Zeller Electric, Goodfield, Ill., takes low-voltage projects seriously. The company employs almost 50 people—10 on the low-voltage side of the business, which makes up about 15 percent of its work. “We have decided that, if...
Last month, I wrote about how a newcomer could get started in fiber optics and learn the basics. What if you are already experienced in fiber optics and want to keep up with new technology? I can empathize with you. I have...
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...
Building intelligence and sensor technology have been driving energy efficiency. On the horizon is a next level of intelligence based on capturing data about how occupants use a space and then applying that information for a...
My last two web exclusive articles ( part 1 and part 2 ) have covered how optical time domain reflectometers (OTDR) work and make measurements. Now let’s get into several ways they try to confuse you. Have you heard of...
Deepfakes are the latest news in video altering. The technique generates a video of person from a single profile photo based on artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning algorithms using Python programming language. It’s...
A new suite of security product emerging from the trenches is not specific to commercial or residential only. Instead, multimarket products applicable to both are evolving as the internet of things (IoT), connectivity, and...
Students from kindergarten through college understand an audible alert means something is wrong, and they need to evacuate a building that might be under threat. Whether it’s a fire, imminent tornado strike or active shooter,...
When contractors receive calls to bid on renovation work during busy times, they can choose to do one of two things: bid the project extremely high or decline the request. Many contractors seem to believe new construction...
As additional regulations, standards and laws continue to proliferate in the critical infrastructure landscape, keeping up with the rules and regulations and specifying the right technology is imperative for electrical...
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable energy cells considered to have a “high-energy density,” meaning they can store a lot of energy. As an energy source, lithium-ion cells have been around for a while. Lithium-ion...
To get started in fiber optics, you need to follow a simple path. First, if you are looking at it as a new career, you must research the available jobs and determine what is expected of a worker in that field. If you are...
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...
Electrical contractors (ECs) know their clients have an increasing desire for buildings that are more energy efficient. For ECs looking to get into energy efficiency, there are several good places to begin. 1. Install copper...
The city known for its gambling, neon lights and shotgun weddings has embarked on a mission to gather something more than just dirty little secrets. With a new internet of things (IoT) project, Las Vegas will have a lot of...
Commercial Technology Contractors Inc., Clifton, N.J., operates from one location with 55 employees (including office, engineering and field staff). Technically, the company is a licensed electrical contractor, but it does...
