TOP 10 Card Access Sales Questions
When you visit a job site to gather information for a card access quote, consider these questions:
1) How many doors need Card Access Control?
2) How many users will the Access Control system require?
3) How many locations/zones/partitions need Card Access?
4) Are there any existing Card Access readers?
5) If so what is the current card access system being used?
6) Do they have a card access reader and/or credential preference?
7) Do they want to integrate any other security with the Access Control?
I.E. Intrusion panel or Video?
8) Do they have an existing video platform?
9) Is there existing platform IP or Analog?
10) How old is the video system?
Once you have completed these questions, you will find that designing your card access system will be much easier. Also ask the client if they have a scale drawing of the floor plans that you can acquire before your job walk. This gives you a good starting point and area to make detailed notes.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Pre Alarm Fault on Gamewell 600 Series FACP
Have you ever replaced an Apollo XP95-P or XP95-I addressable smoke detector on a Gamewell 600 series fire alarm control panel? If you have been in the industry for a while, then chances are that you have.
Let me paint a scenario for you. You receive a call from a customer or your central station claiming that their Gamewell 600 series fire alarm control panel is displaying a missing fault for an addressable smoke detector. Your technician responds and replaces the device one for one. (of course this is after he or she troubleshoots the other probable causes for a missing device) Now if you have determined that the device was bad and needed to be replaced then there should be no issues with a one for one swap, "right?'. Well the anser is yes and no. Most of the time the panel will poll the SLC (signaling line circuit) loop and find the newly installed XP95-P or XP95-I. On some occasions the fire alarm control panel may display a Pre-Alarm condition for that brand new device.
According to Gamewell's technical support department, this is caused from the panel's internal memory for each device's status. So theoretically the fire control panel is still finding the status of the old device for that particular address. Maybe before the device went missing it was dirty to the point of no return. Now the panel is showing a Pre-Alarm due to the mistaken identity of the old vs. new device.
With that said, have no fear there is a quick fix. Simply enter programming mode through the front display and select #1 for "Circuit Programming" then select #3 for "Initialize Circuit". Once the panel finishes scrolling through a few items enter the circuit number that the particular device is on and hit enter. This should re-poll the entire loop and reset the panel's memory for that device. To exit programming mode continue to hit the "enter" key until the panel displays "Commencing System Reset".
This should take care of your fault. If not read my article on Gamewell's 600 Series Soft Reset.
NICET Level 4 Major Project Writeup
If you need NICET certification in fire alarm testing help then you have found the right place. Our site contains a ton of great information to help you achieve any NICET certification. If you are pursuing your NICET Level 4 certification you will need to perform what NICET refers to as a Major Project Write up.
The NICET certification level 4 Major Project Write up consist of a two to three page concise and detailed description of one major fire alarm system project. Simply put you will need to write about a sophisticated fire alarm system you were involved with from design to final inspection. Here are a few things to keep in mind when drafting up your essay:
1 - Give a good description of the project and how your were involved.
2 - The NICET Certification level 4 Major Project Write up must be a separate document from your work history.
3 - The fire alarm project you choose to discuss must be within the past 3-4 years.
4 - Be sure to include all of your responsibilities, job duties and practices used to accomplish the completion of the project.
We have complied a CD to assist fire alarm technicians with practicing for the NICET certification exam. Our CD also contains Major Project Write up guidelines and another document on how to properly write an essay. All of this drastically helps as this process can be very tedious.
With NICET continuing to strive in their efforts to properly certify technicians in the field of fire alarm, it is important to stay up to date with their regulations and requirements. Visit NICET for more information or check out our NICET CD for practice tests and study material.
The NICET certification level 4 Major Project Write up consist of a two to three page concise and detailed description of one major fire alarm system project. Simply put you will need to write about a sophisticated fire alarm system you were involved with from design to final inspection. Here are a few things to keep in mind when drafting up your essay:
1 - Give a good description of the project and how your were involved.
2 - The NICET Certification level 4 Major Project Write up must be a separate document from your work history.
3 - The fire alarm project you choose to discuss must be within the past 3-4 years.
4 - Be sure to include all of your responsibilities, job duties and practices used to accomplish the completion of the project.
We have complied a CD to assist fire alarm technicians with practicing for the NICET certification exam. Our CD also contains Major Project Write up guidelines and another document on how to properly write an essay. All of this drastically helps as this process can be very tedious.
With NICET continuing to strive in their efforts to properly certify technicians in the field of fire alarm, it is important to stay up to date with their regulations and requirements. Visit NICET for more information or check out our NICET CD for practice tests and study material.
Wow System Sensor D4120 Duct Detector is Now Fixed
A while back I posted on the new System Sensor D4120 duct smoke detector. I stated that although a great improvement on the previous DH100 series it did have one major flaw. The System Sensor D4120 duct smoke detector would open the supervisory contact when powered up causing a trouble condition at the main fire control panel every time the end user or tech performed a reset. This was a major deal especially when you have a new high rise with over 60 of these new System Sensor D4120 duct detectors. The AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) typically does not understand why the fire control panel starts receiving 60 troubles when you reset the system.Our tech department has been contacting System Sensor for months (ever since this device came out) trying to get an answer as to why they did this.
Well I am happy to report that System Sensor finally listened and has corrected the issue. Now when power is restored to the D4120 the supervisory contact will close immediately. Great job System Sensor with what we can now call another awesome product.
Read more from System Sensor here.
NICET Certification with New CBT Format
Has anyone taking the NICET certification exam with the new CBT (Computer Based Testing) format? I am under the impression that it is the same exam (questions and NICET elements). I completed my NICET level IV before the CBT went into effect.
I know that the Sate exams such as the California State fire technician certification exam is based on a multiple choice format through computer. It deffintly makes things nice not having to bubble in all of your answers on a scan-tron with a #2 pencil.
I would appreciate any help and or feedback on the new NICET testing procedures as I need to update my NICET fire alarm training CD. I am pretty sure it wont matter as the NICET questions are most likely the same.
Also can you still challenge questions on the new NICET test format?
If you are interested in taking the NICET certification CBT exam for fire alarms, then we have you covered! We are now selling our CBT Levels 1 - 3 practice exam DVDs. These DVDs are packed with tons of NICET certification CBT practice exams along with all code references as to where to find the answers. We have also supplied the DVDs with all of the necessary NICET applications, CBT calculator demonstrations, links and more. If you need more information, feel free to send an email. You can find the link to purchase our DVDs on the top left section of each page on this site.
Make sure to join our Fire Alarms Online Facebook Group HERE.
Another thing I heard is it takes a lot less time to receive your results. Maybe instant.
I know that the Sate exams such as the California State fire technician certification exam is based on a multiple choice format through computer. It deffintly makes things nice not having to bubble in all of your answers on a scan-tron with a #2 pencil.
I would appreciate any help and or feedback on the new NICET testing procedures as I need to update my NICET fire alarm training CD. I am pretty sure it wont matter as the NICET questions are most likely the same.
Also can you still challenge questions on the new NICET test format?
If you are interested in taking the NICET certification CBT exam for fire alarms, then we have you covered! We are now selling our CBT Levels 1 - 3 practice exam DVDs. These DVDs are packed with tons of NICET certification CBT practice exams along with all code references as to where to find the answers. We have also supplied the DVDs with all of the necessary NICET applications, CBT calculator demonstrations, links and more. If you need more information, feel free to send an email. You can find the link to purchase our DVDs on the top left section of each page on this site.
Make sure to join our Fire Alarms Online Facebook Group HERE.
Another thing I heard is it takes a lot less time to receive your results. Maybe instant.
Fire Alarm Speaker Amplifiers New vs. Old
Wow times have changed. Check out these two pictures. The first one is a cabinet full of old fire alarm speaker amplifiers found at a high rise we are currently working at. CHeck out the size that each one of these take up.Its amazing to think that back in the day this was state of the art!
Like I mentioned earlier, we are changing this existing system out one floor at a time so we currently have our FCI E3 voice system side by side with the old fire alarm panel in the electric room. This is where you truly notice the difference in modern technology. Check out this next picture of the FCI E3 AM-50 cards.
There are four installed in this one picture, each with the capability of two supervised fire alarm speaker circuits with 50 watts.It can't wait to see what the next 40 years will bring us.
I have also included some random pictures of this install to show how we have temporarily mounted the new FCI E3 fire alarm control panel using uni-strut. Once the entire high rise building has been switched over to the new FCI E3 we will demo out the old panel and move our new system to the wall.
Make sure to join our Fire Alarms Online Facebook Group HERE.
Fire Alarm Batteries - When to Replace
It is common knowledge in the fire alarm installation industry that fire alarm batteries are to be replaced typically within 4-5 years from date of manufacturing. What you will commonly notice with companies is a lack of experience resulting in dead fire alarm batteries. Most fire alarm technicians will simply take a label maker or Sharpie and write down the installation date on the backup fire alarm batteries.
You may ask yourself, "What's wrong with this?".
The answer is simple. As stated above the the fire alarm batteries must be replaced with 4 - 5 years from date of manufacture. If you write the installation date on the batteries then you are not noting accurate information. The reason for this is that there is no telling how long those fire alarm batteries sat in your warehouse or even the manufacturer's warehouse. However, most battery companies are stamping the fire alarm batteries with the month and year of manufacture. This is the date that you want to mark down.
For your reference I have included the NFPA 72 code sections below:
Table 14.4.2.2 #5 (b) Fire alarm batteries shall be replaced in accordance with the recommendations of the alarm equipment manufacturer or when the recharged battery voltage or current falls below the manufacturer's recommendations.
10.5.9.1.2 When the fire alarm batteries are not marked with the month/year by the manufactuer, the installer sahall obtain the date code and mark the batteries with month/year of battery manufacture.
Make sure to join our Fire Alarms Online Facebook Group HERE.
You may ask yourself, "What's wrong with this?".
The answer is simple. As stated above the the fire alarm batteries must be replaced with 4 - 5 years from date of manufacture. If you write the installation date on the batteries then you are not noting accurate information. The reason for this is that there is no telling how long those fire alarm batteries sat in your warehouse or even the manufacturer's warehouse. However, most battery companies are stamping the fire alarm batteries with the month and year of manufacture. This is the date that you want to mark down.For your reference I have included the NFPA 72 code sections below:
Table 14.4.2.2 #5 (b) Fire alarm batteries shall be replaced in accordance with the recommendations of the alarm equipment manufacturer or when the recharged battery voltage or current falls below the manufacturer's recommendations.
10.5.9.1.2 When the fire alarm batteries are not marked with the month/year by the manufactuer, the installer sahall obtain the date code and mark the batteries with month/year of battery manufacture.
Make sure to join our Fire Alarms Online Facebook Group HERE.
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