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Friday, Nov. 3, 2006 |
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In This Issue |
NBFAA NewsDeadline to Apply for the First Line of Defense Award is Days AwayIf you have a really great story of how your company’s electronic security system helped save a life, avert property damage, or prevent a crime, then you could be the next winner of the NBFAA/SDM Magazine First Line of Defense Award. The First Line of Defense Award is a tremendous way for your company to receive recognition for a job well done. Send in your story before Nov. 10 and you could be on your way to fabulous Las Vegas for FREE! Each year the winning company and their customer are invited to attend an awards ceremony during the ISC West Expo in Las Vegas. Between now and Nov. 10, 2006, you can tell your success story and be considered for the 2007 First Line of Defense Award. Last year’s winner, American Alarm and Communications Inc. of Arlington, Mass., was congratulated on the award by the former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge during the ceremony. Created in 1999, First Line of Defense honors the teamwork among security-installing companies, central stations and emergency authorities that have demonstrated outstanding performance in deterring, detecting or preventing crime and/or loss through the effective use of, and response to, security and fire alarm systems. For more information on the First Line of Defense award and complete contest rules or to nominate your company visit NBFAA’s Web site today at www.alarm.org or call (888) 447-1689. MISSION SUCCESS in New York City
The 2006 NBFAA Fall Conference and Chartered State Association (CSA) Symposium marks another successful show for the association. Attendees were treated to several meetings and special events to make the conference a memorable and educational experience. They were given insights into the successes of other states during CSA Symposium and enjoyed a member reception on the first day. The presenters at the CSA Symposium were:
On the second day attendees heard from Congressman Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) during the Breakfast With event where they listened to the congressman tell them what he thought was important in this coming election and even fielded questions from those in attendance. After the breakfast NBFAA President George Gunning presented Fossella with the first Legislator of the Year Award for his efforts in passing significant fire safety legislation. (See Recent Press Releases) Attendees were also treated to a lunch at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse where they enjoyed the annual Awards Luncheon. This year Louisiana walked away with the top honor as the 2006 Chapter of the Year. The following winners were honored:
NBFAA also presented the first NTS Special Recognition Team Award. In 2006 NTS was “recruited” by the US Army to conduct Level One Certified Alarm Technician classes at Fort Meade, Md., and U.S. bases in Germany and South Korea. In accepting this assignment NTS selected its version of the “A-Team” to conduct these classes. NTS Instructors Joseph Hayes, All County Security Inc.; John Luzzo, DMP; Paul Baran, Bosch Security Systems; LJ Lynes, Stanley Security Solutions, and Steve Spodnik, Northstar Security Corp. were recognized for their dedication and professionalism in conducting the NTS courses for the U.S. Army. Three members were also recognized for their initiative in the Member Get a Member Campaign. Chris Mack, ADI branch manager in Teterboro, N.J., was the grand prize winner and Christine Marzano, ADI, from New York. Scott Fischbein, Scott’s Security Systems, Edison, N.J, was the winner of the random drawing but was not present at the conference. Also receiving special recognition was Mike Latty, president of the Georgia Electronic Life Safety and Systems Association, for his leadership in the formation of a newly evolved chapter in the state of Georgia.
Members were invited to stop by the NBFAA booth at the ISC East Event held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. NBFAA also held several committee meetings during the event and a press conference. President Gunning spoke with members of the press and told them about the recently approved NBFAA apprenticeship program (See Recent Press Releases). While we feel this was a very successful conference, we want to hear from those who attended, and other members, so we can ensure continued success. Please take five minutes and fill out a short survey. Please take the survey today. NBFAA wants to thank all of those who attended and presented. We would also like to thank all of our sponsors. The efforts of everyone involved are what made this event such a great success.
NBFAA Requests Further Review of Remote Supervising Stations StandardA number of comments were received following the initial public review period for the proposed SRSS-01 Remote Supervising Standards. As a result, a number of significant changes were added to the proposed standard. Since the changes are significant, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requires another public review period. Comments on the revised standard will be accepted through Dec. 18, 2006. A copy of the proposed code is available on NBFAA’s Web site at www.alarm.org. Comments should be sent to Dale Eller, NBFAA director of Education and Standards. You must use the comment form provided when submitting your comments.
The purpose of SRSS-01 is to define the proper means of signal transmission from the protected premises; the receipt, recording and re-transmission of signals; and the notifications of emergency responders. SRSS-01 provides the requirements for remote supervising stations and subsidiary stations, including transmission methods used to send fire alarm, supervisory and trouble signals and signals indicating restoration to normal, facility construction and protection, installation and maintenance requirements for all equipment and software necessary for its operation, standard operations and emergency operational procedures, including signal processing, and retransmission of signals to the local fire department (or similar agency) and record keeping. NBFAA Seeks Industry Input on Regional Business Educational Conference
Please take five minutes to fill out this eight question survey and help us develop and plan a successful Regional Business Educational Conference. To take part in the survey go here. Tell Us What You Think About NBFAA’s Member DiscountsNBFAA is soliciting comments on Member Benefit companies. These companies provide valuable services to NBFAA members at exclusive discounts. If you have a comment on how one of these companies has helped your business and saved you money NBFAA wants to hear it. If you haven’t used any of these benefits then visit NBFAA’s Web site today at www.alarm.org and see how these companies can help you. Information on the Member Benefit companies, including the special discount codes for members, can be found in the Members Only section. To submit your comments please forward them to communications@alarm.org. NBFAA Welcomes Two New Associate MembersThis week NBFAA welcomes two new associate members broadening its base of service providers for its regular members. The new members are Gene L. Kalika & Associates (GLK&A) and Cenuco, Inc.
Alarm History 101: McCulloh Loop Improves Line SecurityEditor’s Note: The Alarm Industry has an illustrious and interesting history going back more than 100 years. Many do not know the history of the industry that they have chosen as a profession. Because of this we have decided to include a brief look in Member Update at some of the events that have shaped the alarm industry into what it has become today. Alarm History 101 provides information on the path the industry has taken and of the ideas that have impacted it. If you have questions about our industry’s history you would like answered send an e-mail to communications@alarm.org. The loop circuits of the 1800s all suffered from a serious weakness: A break or ground anywhere in the loop put the entire circuit – and the dozens of subscribers on it – out of service. Troubles arose from the use of uninsulated wire, rusted break-wheels in the signal boxes and from meddlesome messengers and youths who tampered with the circuits, which were well within their reach. Alarm companies took drastic measures to restore loops. Rhode Island Electric Protective, for example, had its runners cross fire lines, jumper cables in hand, to reroute a circuit around a burned building. The company issued bogus fireman’s badges to its runners so they could cross the lines without interference. A technological remedy to the problem was the McCulloh loop, introduced by some of the early district messenger services in the 1880s. The loop enabled operators to restore service around a fault. The technology has endured for more than 100 years – with McCulloh loop circuits still in operation in the 1990s. Some confusion exits over who invented the loop, for at least four inventors named McCulloh (with minor spelling variations) introduced circuits and signaling systems in the late 1800s. After researching the patents, ADT’s Fred Gibson determined it was Chauncey F. McCulloh of Baltimore who patented the famous loop in 1882. The loop alleviated the loss of service caused by circuit breaks and faulty grounds, which left operators guessing at the source. The invention not only bypassed faults, it provided a means to locate the problem. “In essence,” Gibson wrote, “the McCulloh apparatus provides an indication of the occurrence of a break, a ground or a combination of the two on the associated line. By proper switching, the operator in effect may divide the faulty line into two circuits, each extending from the central station to the fault, and is so able to receive ground signals over a circuit ending in an open fault or break signals over a circuit terminating in a ground fault.” ADT originally used a single relay for each loop circuit, requiring operators to have considerable skill to manipulate the signal around a fault. In 1901 a two-relay version was introduced in Milwaukee and proved to be much easier to operate. The McCulloh loop contributed much to the economy and effectiveness of central station service, allowing large savings by sharing the line costs among all the subscribers on a loop. Source: A History of Alarm Security Copyrighted by NBFAA 1979, 1980, and 1991. Sign Up for Training Classes Today
Central Station Training Certified Alarm Technician (Level 1) Fire Alarm Installation Methods Practical Electronics Understanding Alarm Systems NBFAA & Chapter Calendar HighlightsPublicize Your Special EventsNBFAA Calendar Highlights includes special events and annual conventions hosted by NBFAA and Chartered State Associations around the country. Check out the events near you in each issue of Member Update and on the NBFAA Web site at www.alarm.org. To get your event added send an e-mail to communications@alarm.org. Be sure to include a description of the event along with the dates. In addition to Member Update’s NBFAA & Chapter Calendar Highlights, you can stay informed through the online calendar located in the Information Center at www.alarm.org.
Silicon Valley Alarm Association General Meeting Orange County Alarm Association Annual Meeting
Chapter NewsNYBFAA Enjoys Success at ISC East
Almost 1000 people visited the New York Burglar & Fire Alarm’s (NYBFAA) booth at the ISC East Expo held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. Staff of the NYBFAA were on hand to give visitors information on membership, training and benefits. The response to the booth was so great that they quickly ran out of literature on the first day. The success of the event was due in large part to the giveaway the NYBFAA was offering. With employees standing at the entrance to the show handing out flyers, attendees were directed to the booth for an opportunity to win a 42’ big screen TV. Participants were required to take one putt on a mini-putting green. If the person hit a hole-in-one their name was placed in a drawing for the TV. Those who failed to get a hole-in-one still had an opportunity to win the association’s other giveaway…a free iPod! To putt each person had to submit their information to the association, and from that list NYBFAA obtained almost 1000 leads, including more than 500 from New York alone. Several calls have already been placed to the association concerning membership and training and many have already begun signing up for membership. The success of the giveaway is why the association plans to do the same thing at next year’s event. Member NewsSentryNet Demos Live Redundancy for DealersSentryNet dealers converged on Pensacola, Fla. Sept. 8 for a training seminar on video Monitoring. More than 100 dealers met with vendors and SentryNet trainers to learn how to increase video monitoring sales. During a special lunch break, attendees enjoyed a leisurely ride in vintage trolleys to SentryNet’s central station in Pensacola for a live demonstration of SentryNet’s Hot Redundancy program. Dealers watched as SentryNet personnel started a routine that sent all Pensacola signals to their sister central station in Greenville, Miss. Attendees and employees watched the Greenville signal scroll monitor as Pensacola signals appeared within moments of the switch without dropping a single call. Central station manager Mark McCall answered dealer questions for more than 15 minutes before reversing the process and returning the signals to Pensacola. Ten minutes later Mark brought all the Greenville, Miss. Signals to Pensacola as an encore and had Pensacola operators processing both station alarms for a period of time before returning Greenville signals to Mississippi. The sneak peek kicked off SentryNet’s new marketing campaign asking the question, “Is your security monitoring center disaster ready? We are and we will prove it.” NAPCO Security Named as One of America’s 200 Best Small Companies
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![]() David Merrick, vice president of Marketing |
Vector Security Senior Vice President, Michael T. Grady, recently announced the promotion of David L. Merrick to vice president of Marketing. The announcement was recently made at the company’s annual Sales Rally.
Merrick joined Vector Security in 1999, where he has served as its Marketing director since 2000. Under his new position, Merrick will work with Vector’s various business models including the National Accounts Division, Authorized Dealer Program, Builder Services Division, corporate acquisitions and Vector’s branch office network.
Merrick’s responsibilities include the development of print, electronic and on-line based advertising and marketing programs, as well as support collateral and the development of public relations materials.
Micro Key Software, a provider of software solutions to the security alarm industry, is preparing for its 14th annual users conference to be held Jan. 30 through Feb. 2 at the Sheraton Studio City Hotel in Orlando, Fla. Although sessions are geared toward users of Micro Key’s software, any alarm dealer, central station manager or owner is welcome to attend.
The entire conference is focused on how to increase efficiency and profitability. Sessions will include training on the enhancements requested at previous conferences, revealing 2007 product plans, user forums, and much, much more.
Once again, users will be invited to be an integral part of the development of their software during special round-table discussions. This part of the conference has become one of the most attended and most popular as users are asked to bring all their enhancement requests and be prepared to discuss them with their colleagues. All suggested upgrades that are agreed upon will be added to Micro Key’s programming schedule and receive top priority.
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Digital monitoring Products (DMP) announced the release two new wireless smoke detectors and version 115 (9/26/2006) of the XR500E Card Plus PIN Software.
The 1161 Smoke Detector with Sounder and the 1162 Smoke/Heat Detector with Sounder are both wireless units. The two-way wireless communications enables one person to confirm transmitter communication with the receiver. The 1161/1162 Red Survey indicator light turns on whenever the detector’s transmitter sends data to the receiver and immediately turns off when the receiver sends acknowledgement.
When using the XR500E Card Plus Pin system, two code entries are required to operate the system. The firs must be a code entered from a Wiegand interface device (card) using a reader such as the built-in reader on a DMP Keypad. An external reader may also be used. The second code (user personal identification number) is keyed in at the keypad or could be a second card.
Optex, manufacturer of infrared sensor technology, has partnered with Remote Monitoring Technologies, Inc., makers of Site-Guard Portable Security Systems, to provide a wireless outdoor security solution that requires no phone lines for data transmission.
The OPTEX VX-402R Wireless Outdoor Motion Detector is one of the OPTEX sensors compatible with Site-Guard. OPTEX/Site-Guard systems communicate via the Aeris.net Microburst network, which include 95 percent of North America’s cellular coverage area. The system’s 24/7 server network receives communications from OPTEX/Site-Guard systems and sends text messages or e-mails to assigned contacts.
The OPTEX VX-402R Wireless Outdoor Motion Detector comes with a weatherized back box for easy installation and includes 100 pound pet immunity, a 40 feet by 40 feet detection pattern and is completely weatherized for direct exposure to the elements.
Bosch Security Systems, Inc. has received the Factory Mutual (FM) Insurance Company “Mark of Excellence” approval for the C900V2 Dialer Capture Module, CX4020 Network Interface Module and D6680 Network Adapter when used with Bosch’s Conettix D6600 Communications Receiver/Gateway.
This “Mark of Excellence” tells customers that these products conform to the highest standards of loss prevention and help fulfill jurisdictional requests in factory and industrial environments. FM provides services, research and resources to help insurance policy holders prevent and control property losses, particularly in industrial facilities.
Beginning Jan. 1, a state law signed in May by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will require all residences that use fossil-burning appliances or have an attached garage to have working carbon monoxide alarms installed within 15 feet of every bedroom.
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The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) has offered certification for security technicians for many years and continues to see strong demand for its fire and Level 1 and 2 security technician certification, notes NBFAA director of education and standards Dale Eller. He adds that NBFAA Level 1 certification is a requirement for licensed technicians in some states.
Even where it’s not a legal requirement, there are other benefits, too, Eller says. “From a company’s standpoint, there’s a marketing advantage when you can go in front of a consumer and say, ‘Our technicians are certified and here’s what that means.’” To prepare for the certification test, technicians can attend NBFAA classes or, alternatively, some classes are available online. To date, the NBFAA has met the need for training on video surveillance, networking and access control primarily through continuing education courses, which technicians are required to take to retain their certification. But the NBFAA is working toward creating a Level 3 security technician certification, which will focus more heavily on those technologies, Eller says.
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Security companies and law enforcement agencies work together as partners, sharing information and communicating frequently to protect public safety and serve their communities. In honor of this partnership the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) and the False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) have created the Police Dispatch Quality (PDQ) Award program.
The program aims to promote cooperative best practices, to reduce unnecessary dispatches and give officers the most complete information when responding to alarms. SIAC and FARA are looking for companies that exemplify an all out effort to reduce false alarms from implementing enhanced call verification (ECV) to utilizing CP-01 compliant control panels, training customers and working closely with law enforcement.
The best overall collaboration will be honored with the North American PDQ Award for 2007, co-sponsored by Security Sales & Integration and Honeywell Security. For more information visit SIAC’s Web site at www.siacinc.org.
Department of Labor Approves NBFAA National Apprenticeship Program
The NBFAA today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship (OA) has approved NBFAA’s National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards for the occupation of Protective Signal Installer (Fire/Life Safety & Electronic Security Installer).
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New York Congressman Given Federal Legislator of the Year Award
The Federal Legislator of the Year Award was presented today to Rep. Vito Fossella, R-N.Y., by the NBFAA during the 2006 NBFAA Fall Conference and Chartered State Association Symposium in New Jersey.
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NBFAA Honors its Volunteers during Annual Awards Luncheon
The NBFAA 2006 Leadership Award winners were revealed today during the NBFAA Fall Conference and CSA Symposium annual Awards Luncheon. The Luncheon, held at Ruth’s Chris in Weehawken, N.J., was sponsored by Altronix.
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