With copper prices down from an all-time high, thefts have declined somewhat, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. However, copper and other metal thefts are still a serious and costly problem throughout the...
Are you still using spreadsheets and file folders filled with project documents to manage projects and track the incredible volume of details that make up a single job? Perhaps you’ve been using an older construction...
I’m sure you’ve heard that you need the right tool for the job, but have you ever considered that you might need the right tool for you? Nothing affects how easily a job can be done as much as having the correct tools and...
While most users in an enterprise network want mobile devices connected over Wi-Fi or cellular wireless networks, a large number of users still have cable connections. Generally, these users require high bandwidth and...
From talking to electrical contractors lately, I know it’s still tough to get profitable work in the current economy. However, I also find most of the contractors who have prepared well for such a poor economic situation are...
Intelligent visual surveillance systems monitor persistent and transient objects within specific environments in real time. The primary intentions for systems are to provide an automatic interpretation of scenes and to...
One of the barriers to the energy services market is the ability of the electrical contractor’s customer to fund the energy services project that Step No. 5 defined. Unless the customer can fund it, the EC will not have the...
Last month, I discussed the issues of industry standards for fiber optic and copper cabling. Manufacturers write standards so they can build products that are compatible with products from other manufacturers, since multiple...
Parsons Technologies, which provides low-voltage services, is a division of Parsons Electric LLC, Minneapolis. A little more than a decade ago, Parsons Electric did very little low-voltage work, and it delegated what low...
Known by names such as prefab wiring, prebuilt wiring and modular wiring, manufactured wiring systems (MWSs) have been in existence for about 25 years. Although MWSs are recognized as a serious alternative to conventional...
The light up ahead is an oncoming train. New demands are adding to the existing growth in security and safety. The burglar/fire alarm industry continues to grow, fueled by advancements in computing technology and Internet...
Cannon & Wendt Electric Co., Phoenix, has been in business since 1945. It launched the Cannon & Wendt Technologies division about a decade ago, according to Kerry Engmark, operations manager for the division. The vast...
Experienced low-voltage contractors know that there is more to taking an integration and wiring plan through to installation than just following a schematic—it is about marrying the theory of what the customer wants with the...
Some time ago, psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger made an astonishing discovery. “Incompetent people don’t know they are incompetent,” they concluded. It may not be astounding news today, as we often hear, “people...
While most of the talk about expanding broadband access for the American public has focused on rural customers, much of the activity is in metropolitan areas. Metro networks are expanding rapidly because they encompass many...
Data center owners and managers are driven by one primary goal as they expand, construct or renovate the storage areas for their computer systems and associated components. Their goal is energy reduction. Growing ever larger,...
For contractors who want to get into or expand their presence in low-voltage work, who better to learn from than contractors who have decades of experience in these kinds of projects? Two such contractors are Robert Ford, Ph...
Let’s refresh our memory on the methods for choosing the correct codes and standards for an installation. With so many, it can be sometimes difficult to determine which requirements we must meet. In many states, there are...
These days, electrical contractors are moving downstream, getting more involved in low-voltage systems work. The trend makes sense, especially as such systems become more integrated with higher voltage systems. Businesses...
BICSI’s healthcare subcommittee’s new document will offer increased detail on systems used in healthcare environments. Notably, it will showcase additional industry issues low-voltage contractors need to consider. Electrical...
