Iowa Alarm Assn Meets April 21 at Amana’s Ox Yoke Inn April 20, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Iowa Alarm Association, Security Systems.Tags: alarm, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, Fire Systems, life safety, low-voltage, Protex Central, security
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The regular monthly meeting of the Iowa Alarm Association is set for Thursday, April 21st beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Ox Yoke Inn off of I-80 at Exit 151 for the Amana colonies. 
In addition to regular association business, president Ron Heldt will preside over presentations including:
Ken Samek with an update on the IA Alarm Assn. Trade Show
David Gutfreund with a report on the sub-committee meeting and FESCAB
Shawn Mullen of Protex Central, Inc. presenting on his experiences with Social Networking
Please contact Ron Heldt if you plan to attend.
Iowa Fire Contractors Advisory Board to Meet April 13 April 12, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Security Systems.Tags: alarm, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, life safety, NFPA, security
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The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Fire Extinguishing Contractors’ Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, 2011 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Public Safety Building, 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, 1st Floor Conference Room #125.
Slated for discussion are the following items:
- Update from sub-committee on electrical inspections of fire alarm systems
- What constitutes an alarm system that is being installed to be licensed?
- How will the endorsement of the three year provisional be handled on the alarm program?
- Discussion on continuing education for the fire protection installer and maintenance worker
- Qualifying documentation for renewal in two years for the fire protection installer and maintenance worker
The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
Please visit: Advisory Board Home Page for additional information and updates.
Iowa Alarm Association to Tour State-Of-Art Facility March 16, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Security Systems.Tags: alarm, life safety, low-voltage, security
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The March 17 meeting of the Iowa Alarm Association will include a tour of the state-of-the-art police headquarters in Ankeny, Iowa.
This isn’t just a tour, it’s an experience of a modern high tech police facility that incorporates functionality as well as vision. The building is a Frank Lloyd Wright design which incorporates natural materials and sunlight to enhance the working environment. In fact, several psychological studies were used and incorporated into the design of the building including interrogation rooms, stairwells and employee break rooms.
The jail is a “hands-free” environment that minimizes prisoner contact while enhancing safety for prisoner and employee alike. The station hosts its own mini-lab, evidence storage, gun range, training room, fitness room and padded defense strategies room. The building has 69 cameras and a variety of areas with motion activated audio recording. The building incorporated a 20 year growth in both personnel and technology which was most challenging.
The building is 76,000 and cost $15.2 million to construct. The residents of Ankeny voted on the bonding in May 2006 and with the highest approval on a bond in the State of Iowa. Construction began with an 82% approval at the polls.
Members will also hear a presentation by Gary Kuty of Kuty & Associates on “Hire Slow – Fire Fast” Growing your Sales Team.
Members should contact IAA President, Ron Heldt, for meeting details.
Non-fire Related System Releases Discussed February 28, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: alarm, clean agent, clean agents, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, FSSA
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Non-fire related system releases were discussed during a presentation at FSSA’s Framing for Success Annual Meeting in San Juan. Installers Division chair, Eric Burkland, presented a review of six top reasons for non-fire related system releases.
The top six discussed were: (1) dirty smoke detectors, (2) products of combustion caused by HVAC heating elements, (3) freon leaks, (4) unintentional manual release activation, (5) end-user hazard modifications with no regard on system impact and (6) power surges such as lightning strikes.
HFC-227-ea System Discharge
The top six were a result of a non-scientific survey conducted among FSSA installer members prior to the annual meeting. Burkland also discussed several preventative measures that would help to prevent unwanted system releases.
Those preventative measures included: routine system maintenance by qualified personnel; HVAC maintenance; signage installation; personnel training; installation of surge suppressors and notification of qualified personnel when modifying a hazard area.
FSSA’s Framing for Success annual meeting continues through March 1.
Erik Wahl Keynotes FSSA’s 2011 Framing for Success February 19, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Change Leadership, Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA, Good Stuff to Share.Tags: alarm, Change Leadership, clean agent, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, FSSA
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Erik Wahl, groundbreaking artist and communicator, challenges organizations to transcend mediocrity through creativity and originality. Drawing upon his experiences and understanding as an artist, Wahl passionately leads individuals to innovation and ingenuity.
Wahl will be the featured keynote presenter at the Fire Suppression Systems Association 2011 Framing for Success annual meeting on Sunday, February 27 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
His program, The Art of Vision, is uniquely designed to channel innovative strategies to create extraordinary results. By breaking apart the traditional rules, Erik Wahl challenges and inspires organizations to re-define their commonly held assumptions and misconceptions about vision, goals, success and creativity. And, ultimately, each program ends with a live, dynamically choreographed painting that leaves the audience in awe.
For more information or to register, click here.
<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/12166946″>Art of Vision</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user3935308″>Tasha Moffitt</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>March Is Next Fire System Contractors Board Meeting February 9, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems.Tags: alarm, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, NFPA, security
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The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office has postponed the February 16, 2011 meeting of the Fire System Contractors’ Board. The next meeting is now scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, 2011 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Public Safety Building, 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, 3rd Floor State Fire Marshal Conference Room #343.
The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
Please visit: Advisory Board Home Page for additional information and updates.
Happy Birthday, Protex Central! January 31, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems.Tags: alarm, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, life safety, low-voltage, Protex Central, security
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Protex Central, Inc. marks the start of its 45th year in business on February 1, 2011.
Through its first 44 years, Protex Central has become a recognized systems integrator in the midwest’s fire and security marketplace.
Starting with only himself and a helper, Dennis Mullen has provided the vision and leadership of this dynamic and reliable enterprise. Operating from three fully-staffed office locations, Protex Central provides a variety of installation, testing and maintenance services across numerous vertical markets.
With second generation firmly in place, Protex Central’s envisioned future is to become the premier systems integrator in its marketplace by continuing to provide premium-level customer experiences. To learn more about Protex Central’s envisioned future click here.
A Pro’s Reaction To A False Alarm January 17, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Good Stuff to Share.Tags: alarm, fire alarm, Fire Systems, life safety
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During a recent overnight stay in the wonderful city of Milwaukee, my son and I were rousted out of bed by the sounding of the fire alarm.
Being the 25-year fire protection systems professional that I am, I immediately began to think of reasons that the alarm was false. No way was I going to get dressed and leave the warmth and comfort of my resting place. With the incessant temporal cadence blaring at or above the requisite dB level, I soon reasoned that I should, as a professional, lead by example and exit the building. And so I did.
On my way out of the stairwell, I encountered the problem – a pulled manual station. Coming towards me was the night manager with reset key in tow. Once reset, he radioed the front desk and the alarm was silenced.
I introduced myself and encouraged him to find the perpetrator and prosecute. He said he already had a very good idea of who it was and that the police had already been summoned. Fire department personnel were pulling up as the alarm was silenced.
Lesson learned for me was that I was glad there wasn’t a fire and that the system worked as it was supposed to. I hope the neaderthals who pulled the station are prosecuted to the fullest extent.
Bottom line: this fire protection professional would rather have an alarm and not need it than to need an alarm and not have it.
Iowa Alarm Association Meets January 20 January 8, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Security Systems.Tags: alarm, fire protection, life safety, low-voltage, security
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The Iowa Alarm Association’s first meeting of the year will take place on January 20, 2011 at Smokey D’s BBQ Restaurant in Des Moines beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Featured speaker for the meeting will be Jonathan Lund, Fire Protection Engineer with the City of Des Moines Fire Prevention Bureau. He will be discussing fire alarm plan review and submittal procedures. Lund has been in the position since joining the department in 2008. He is a graduate in fire protection from Oklahoma State University. He is also president of Lund Fire Protection.
New officers for the coming year were elected at the December meeting and are:
Ron Heldt, President
Bill Howard, Vice President
Matt Sarcone, Secretary
Ken Samek, Treasurer
Persons and companies involved with security, life safety and low-voltage systems are encouraged and welcome to attend. If possible, please RSVP to Ron Heldt at ADT Security Systems.
Onward and Upward 