September 22 Is Next Iowa Alarm Assn Meeting September 20, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Iowa Alarm Association, Security Systems.Tags: alarm, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, life safety, low-voltage, security
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The Iowa Alarm Association’s next meeting will take place on September 22, 2011 at Smokey D’s BBQ Restaurant in just north of I-80/35 off of 2nd Ave. in Des Moines beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Captain Dave Murrilow of the Des Moines Police Department will provide a special presentation.
Other topics to be discussed at the meeting include:
1. Details on the Cedar Rapids tradeshow scheduled for early 2012
2. ISFM Alarm Contractor’s Advisory Board Update
3. Much more…
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.
PROTEX CENTRAL RECOGNIZED IN 2011’s TOP 100 SYSTEMS INTEGRATORS LIST July 15, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Change Leadership, Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Good Stuff to Share, Iowa Alarm Association, Security Systems.Tags: alarm, Change Leadership, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, life safety, Protex Central, security
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SDM Magazine has announced Protex Central, Inc. as one of the top 100 systems integrators in the county. The recognition is revealed in SDM Magazine’s July 2011 edition of the 16th Annual Systems Integrators Report. Protex Central ranks #76th in the current listing.
According to SDM “this exclusive report ranks, by revenue exclusive of reoccurring monthly revenue, the largest firms that contract electronic security projects for commercial, industrial, institutional, government, and other non-residential markets.”
Shawn Mullen, President and Chief Energy Officer of Protex Central, Inc. stated “we’re delighted to be considered as one of the country’s top 100 systems integrators. As this is our third consecutive year in the Top 100, our continued presence in the rankings is recognition of our commitment to our core values of ethics, professionalism, and excellence. Our customers are the real winners as they’re the ones who have entrusted their safety and security needs to us. In so doing they’ve allowed us to grow and expand.”
Mullen continued, “This recognition continues to bolster our envisioned future of becoming the premiere systems integrator in our market area. This is something that we’re committed to at Protex Central because we know our core value is to strengthen our business by protecting yours.”
Protex Central, Inc. is a family-owned systems integrator specializing in fire and security related systems and services. With offices in Urbandale, Iowa and Nebraska locations in Omaha, Hastings and Scottsbluff, Protex Central provides layout, installation, testing and maintenance services throughout upper Midwest.
Cooper Demonstrates Mobile Speaker Array with Protex Central June 27, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Mass Notification Systems.Tags: alarm, fire alarm, Fire Systems, life safety, Mass Notification Systems, Protex Central
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Protex Central recently completed certification as an authorized Cooper Mass Notification Systems (MNS) Layered Solutions provider.
Full-scale live demonstrations on the campus of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and Protex’s offices in Urbandale, Iowa featured Cooper’s Mobile Speaker Array (MSA) unit.
While at Creighton the Mobile Speaker Array was connected to Cooper’s WAVES Base Station via digital, Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology @2.4GHz. The distance between the Base Station and the MSA was approximately one-half mile. The Urbandale demo included a set-up and live announcement demonstration test from the MSA’s on-board control station.
Both demonstrations featured crisp and clear voice instructions with little if any distortion or reverberation from surrounding buildings.
Cooper’s Mass Notification Systems Layered Solutions are flexible and modular for any number of applications including temporary events. Outdoor speaker arrays are just one part of an overall mass notification system. One good term that is used is “A system of systems.” There are consideration for interior MNS as well as alerting via text messages, cell phones, e-mail and even satellite radio.
This entire area is just in its infancy. It will be interesting to see the changing dynamics of people’s expectations as to how they want and expect to be notified of emergency and critical situations.
Telecommunications Companies Seek Exemption from Iowa’s RME Law June 17, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Iowa Alarm Association, Security Systems.Tags: alarm, clean agent, clean agents, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, life safety, security
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The Iowa House recently passed and sent to the Iowa Senate H.F. 697 in an effort to break the stalemate over Iowa’s budget for the coming fiscal year that starts July 1st. It is not clear how the Senate will resolve the many issues contained within the 588-page omnibus bill. What is clear is an attempt by telecommunications companies to skirt Iowa’s fire extinguishing & alarm systems contractors and installers licensing law (Chapter 100C). To see the bill click here.
Buried within the legislation are provisions (sections 670 – 671) that allow telecommunications companies to contract with a qualified individual to fulfill the duties of a responsible managing employee (RME). Iowa law requires companies who offer fire extinguishing and/or alarm system services to be certified by the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office and employ (not contract with) a qualified individual to be responsible for the management of the services provided. Interestingly enough is Iowa’s ban on any qualified individual serving as a responsible managing employee for more than one employer.
It appears that this provision if allowed to pass with the rest of the legislation would give telecommunications companies an unfair advantage over certified contractors who must employ RMEs – not contract out their services. Moreover, the safety and security of Iowa’s citizens may be undermined. No assurance is provided that the contracted RME even resides within the state or is readily available to directly supervise the layout, installation or maintenance of fire and security related systems.
As one who is active in the industry and serves on the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Advisory Board, I can’t support this provision to weaken laws designed to protect and secure Iowans.
Iowa Alarm Association Meets May 19 May 18, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Security Systems.Tags: alarm, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, life safety, low-voltage, security
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The Iowa Alarm Association’s next meeting will take place on May 19, 2011 at Smokey D’s BBQ Restaurant in just north of I-80/35 off of 2nd Ave. in Des Moines beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Topics to be discussed at the meeting include:
1. Continued discussion on the Cedar Rapids tradeshow scheduled for early 2012
2. Preview of the association website
3. Discussion of future guest speakers
4. Much more…
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.
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.
Technical Chair Hubert Highlights Activities February 28, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: clean agent, clean agents, Data Centers, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, FSSA, NFPA
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FSSA’s technical committee chair, Dan Hubert, presented highlights of the technical committee’s work over the past year during a session yesterday at FSSA’s Framing for Success Annual Meeting.
Hubert provided details on a variety of efforts underway with the committee including major contributions to the NFPA comment cycles for 2001 and 72. He noted that FSSA is represented on over 37 NFPA standards committees.
Additionally, he announced the third in a series of Carbon Dioxide design guides covering total flooding applications. It forms a trilogy of documents with the previously published guides for local application rate-by-volume and local application rate-by-area.
Other topics being worked on are design considerations for data centers with hot aisle/cold aisle arrangements, and a possible white paper discussing Class C design concentration applications.
Hubert unveiled a unique software program developed by the committee that quickly and easily correlates all of the NFPA occupancy standards with all of the NFPA design standards. Free copies of the software will be distributed to all meeting attendees on a jump drive.
FSSA’s annual meeting continues in San Juan through March 1.
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.
Onward and Upward 