In my previous article about OTDRs, I covered the basics of how the instrument works and how it is used to make basic measurements of attenuation, splice or connector loss and reflectance. If you need to, go back and review...
In 2015, the Boston Consulting Group examined the LED lighting market and trends in its article, “How to Win in a Transforming Lighting Industry.” It stated, “The upheaval stems from two powerful shifts: the move toward light...
Every jail, prison and correctional facility depends on technology to keep personnel, visitors and prisoners safe. The contractors and integrators that install or maintain those systems operate in a highly specialized niche....
It’s always nice to hear from my readers. In December 2018, I wrote about aerial fiber optic cables, and that column prompted a very interesting inquiry. Usually these inquiries are technical in nature and come from...
When I discuss a fire alarm system with a contractor in the field, they always state their system installation complies with NFPA 72 2019, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. So, when I ask which chapter in the code they...
For years, the physical security industry was hyperfocused on the tipping point of IP cameras and when network devices would surpass their analog counterparts in numbers. Now that the tipping point has come, users have...
For over 60% of Americans, feeling their homes are safe and secure is the most important advantage of integrating smart technology¹. When addressing this need with your customers, it is probably easy for them to see the value...
Not long ago, smart lighting was outside the realm of typical commercial projects. Driven by energy-efficiency, integration and interoperability demands, smart lighting has moved past hype and become practical. Electrical...
As I have often written, NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, is not the only code you must follow when designing and installing a fire alarm or emergency communications system. In addition to the building codes...
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...
It’s an expectation today to be able to connect anytime, anywhere—and that’s where wireless comes in. Wireless technology enables electrical contractors embracing security to leverage traditional hardwired infrastructures and...
Recently, I attended a meeting for local residents on my city’s plans to allow numerous “small cell” cellular sites around the city. The city’s website showed more than 600 potential sites, all on city-owned street lights. No...
In Newcastle, England, an entire city can be replicated using a digital twin to test the resilience of its underlying infrastructure in case of natural disaster or other disruptive event. Elsewhere, Siemens AG says a team of...
Since Daytona Beach, Fla.-based Giles Electric Co. began business in 1970, it has worked hard to remain on the cutting edge of the latest electrical technologies. The company has about 150 employees, seven of whom work on the...
It’s human nature to be more vocal when complaining than complimenting. That means I hear a lot more about what goes wrong than what goes right. I retell these stories because you should learn from your (and others’) mistakes...
It’s a great time to be in the physical security industry. That doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges to the traditional way of thinking in designing, installing and maintaining solutions. Success will follow for those who...
Say you want to expand your business in fire alarm and other signaling systems, such as mass notification systems (MNS). Laying out and installing these systems requires slightly different talents than those most electrical...
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have found a new niche that is expanding rapidly: industrial training. Put on the goggles and headset and you’re in a simulated work environment. The reality is so vivid,...
The next time you head to the airport, there is a good chance you will verify your identity with the latest biometrics. Major airlines have been rolling out new programs and test beds, and they have been increasingly adopting...
During the Q&A portion of a seminar I recently gave to a regional power quality group on PQ standards, a discussion of IEEE 1547, Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources with...
