Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/37034
SECURITY SYSTEMS NEWS AUGUST 2011 www.securitysystemsnews.com FIRE SYSTEMS INSTALLATION 21 FIRE SYSTEMS INTALLATION BRIEFS SimplexGrinnell launches enhanced web store WESTMINSTER, Mass.—Simplex- Grinnell, a Tyco International company specializing in the fire and life-safety industry, announced in June the launch a new web store at www.simplexgrin- nellstore.com. The enhanced site expands SimplexGrinnell’s existing time solu- tions web store to support online transactions of a select set of products across the company’s master time, fire alarm, fire suppression, integrated security and healthcare communica- tions product offerings. NFPA announces new certificate program QUINCY, Mass.—The National Fire Protection Association in June launched a new Certificate of Educational Achievement program allowing NFPA seminar attendees to further validate their code knowledge and earn addi- tional continuing education units. NFPA has expanded six of its fire and life safety seminars by an additional day, to include a review session and self- assessment exercises, followed by an exam for attendees to demonstrate their ability to understand and apply what they have learned. Upon successful completion, attend- ees receive their certificate. Available topics, at locations across the country, include Life Safety Code essentials with a focus on occupancies; National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code; inspection, testing and maintenance of fire alarms; inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems; installation of sprinkler systems; and fire pumps. For more information, see www. nfpatraining.org/certificates. Notifier alarms seismic-certified NORTHFORD, Conn.—Notifier by Honeywell has earned International Building Code seismic certification on its entire portfolio of fire alarm and emergency communications systems, the company said in June. All conven- tional and addressable fire alarm control panels, digital voice command systems and networking components, includ- ing Notifier’s ONYX FirstVision touch screen display for first responder scene assessment, passed a series of lengthy shake tests performed by a certified seismic qualification agency. Many areas throughout the U.S. require seismic-certified fire alarm sys- tems to protect “essential facilities,” such as hospitals, police and fire sta- tions, airports and public utilities. NFSA plays role in club sprinkler requirement vote By Tess Nacelewicz PATTERSON, N.Y.—Testimony from a burn survivor of a deadly nightclub fire in Rhode Island helped persuade the city of Chat- tanooga, Tenn. this spring to require nightclubs to install fire sprinklers as of 2013, according to the National Fire Sprinkler Association, which is based here. The NFSA got Robert Feeney, who was severely burned and lost his fiancée and three friends in the 2003 The Station night- club fire in West Warwick, R.I., to testify to the Chattanooga City Council on the need for sprinklers. A total of 100 people died in that fire and dozens more were injured. “Basically, I wouldn’t be here today had The Station had a sprinkler system,” Fee- ney said, according to written testimony. Wayne Waggoner, NFSA southeast regional manager, told Security Systems News that the April council meeting was Feeney’s first time testifying in public. “If it hadn’t been for him, I don’t know if we would have gotten what we got,” Wag- goner said. Waggoner, with help from NFSA associ- ate director of public fire protection Vickie Pritchett, orchestrated the push to get the council to pass the sprinkler requirements for all nightclubs by the year 2013 by adopting the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. Waggoner told SSN the latest version of the code requires sprinklers at all new nightclubs and also at existing nightclubs that can seat 100 patrons or more. The issue was controversial because Chattanooga’s approximately 24 existing clubs objected to the cost of sprinklers. The vote got delayed several times and NIGHTCLUB see page 22 Tyco Fire networks By Tess Nacelewicz LANSDALE, Pa.—Tyco Fire Protec- tion Products, a worldwide sprin- kler manufacturer based here, says a network of residential fire sprinkler installation contractors it has devel- oped in the last few years helps Tyco and installers take advantage of the growing fire sprinkler market. “We’ve been active in trying to ... encourage the use of fire sprinklers in single family homes,” Darren Palmieri, East Coast business devel- opment manager for Tyco Fire, a division of Tyco International, told Security Systems News. He said the Rapid Response Con- tractor Network helps builders grap- pling with new sprinkler require- ments develop relationships with local sprinkler installers. Tony Fleming, owner of Metro- politan Fire Protection in Clinton, Md., which is part of the network, said, “The doors that it opens up are tremendous.” SSN Gamewell-FCI: Retrofit Kit saves time, money New solution integrates map-based software and loudspeakers. Companies team up for mass notification By Tess Nacelewicz PITTSBURGH and MARIETTA, Ga.—IMLCORP and Metis Secure Solutions, providers of emergen- cy notification systems, in June announced a new partnership to “integrate their technologies to create a comprehensive indoor and outdoor emergency notifi- cation solution.” The solution, the companies say, will enable colleges, busi- nesses and other venues “to send and receive emergency warnings with clear voice instructions of the highest clar- ity and intelligibility.” Mark Kurtzrock, president and CEO of Pittsburgh-based Metis, said an indoor and out- door mass notification system with one common interface is “really a very value-added capa- bility.” Stefan Pollack, president and CEO of Marietta, Ga.-based IML, said the integrated solu- tion allows the installation of outside equipment and indoor equipment [with a centralized control for both] “in one turn- key contract.” SSN By Tess Nacelewicz NORTH WINDHAM, Conn.— Fire Alarm Specialty Design says that using Gamewell- FCI’s new IF600 Retrofit Kit to upgrade a fire alarm panel at a nearby school saved the customer money and the company hours of labor. Gamewell-FCI by Honey- well highlighted the new kit in June at the 2011 NFPA Conference & Expo in Bos- ton. The company says it’s an easy way to upgrade sys- tems and also “allows for a cost-effective phase-in of advanced capabilities,” such as mass notification. Scott Duplisea, owner and general manager of Fire Alarm Specialty Design, based here, said that by using the kit at the Interdistrict School for Arts and Com- munication in New London, Scott Duplisea Conn., “we were able to upgrade the con- trol panel and main- tain all of the devic- es in the field, so it really saved the customer a lot of money.” He estimated the school saved $20,000 hav- ing the retrofit of the alarm system instead of getting a new one. The company also didn’t have to do demolition and patching work, saving labor, Duplisea said. Being the only Gamewell- FCI distributor in northeast- ern Connecticut has helped 3-year-old Fire Alarm Spe- cialty Design grow, he said. “It’s a huge bonus for this company,” he said. SSN