Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Kills 5

Authorities and police officials from Hialeah, Florida believe that high levels of carbon monoxide from a running car killed five friends whose bodies were found in a South Florida motel room.


The maid of the South Florida hotel called 911 Monday after seeing the bodies unconscious through a window. Police spokesman Carl Zogby says the teenagers' deaths appear to be accidental as not drugs, alcohol or suspicious items were found in their room.

A car used by the group was found running in a closed garage underneath the room. Friends say the car had needed a jump-start earlier and could have been left running to preserve the battery's charge. A door leading to a staircase up to the room had been left open, and high levels of carbon monoxide were found inside.




The group rented the room Sunday to celebrate one of the teens' 19th birthday.

Now this is a perfect example of how important carbon monoxide detectors can be.  Carbon Monoxide is colorless and odorless making it impossible to sense, especially when you are sleeping.  It does not make sense why families are going without carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.  Is all you have to do it buy one for each sleeping room and change the detector battery twice a year.  A small investment know can save so many lives later.

California Prevailing Wage

As a contractor in the fire alarm and or low voltage industry we may come across what we call prevailing wage.  Prevailing wage is a pre-determined hourly wage set forth for individual trades on public works projects.  I will be referencing California prevailing wage rates as it is my home state.

In later posts I will be discussing the California prevailing wage in greater detail.  However, this post is mainly to assist you in correctly finding the most current California prevailing wage rates and identifying if there are any projected increases.  To do this, we must start out on the DIR website (Department of Industrial Relations).  Be sure to visit your State's specific DIR website for this info.  For the California prevailing wage rates we will go to http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlsr/PWD/index.htm.  Once you get to the site it should look something like this:

Under "Step 4" open up the drop down menu and select your county.

Once you have selected your California prevailing wage county, the computer will display a pop-up near the top of the screen for you to download the file.  Simply click on the bar and then click "download file..."

When you click "download file" you will see a window like the following:  If you click open you will notice that the selected California prevailing wage determination Excel sheet will be displayed on your screen.

Look for your trade and make note of the pay scale. 

I will be writing another post soon with a detailed description of how to understand the Excel sheet and to make sure you are paying the correct amounts and knowing if any increases are in the near future.

2009 Gamewell FCI Distributor's Conference

This is my partners and I receiving our award at the Gamewell-FCI distributor's conference in Tuscon Arizona 2009.  From left to right: Steve Birdsall (Vice President of Sales for Gamewell-FCI), Kelly Palmer, Kyle Schuler (myself), Tim Olson and Mike Madden.

This picture is a little out dated but since I just found it on our server, I thought I would share it.

Card Access System Layout

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 aquire before your job walk.  This gives you a good starting point and area to make detailed notes.

Hardwired Smoke Detector Battery

Your home will most likely have 120 volt UBC Uniform Building Code Compliance Manual hardwired smoke detectors.  Since these hardwired smoke detectors are powered by 120 volts AC they need to be backed up with a secondary power source.  A typical hardwired smoke detector battery consists of a 9 volt type like the DURACELL 9V/12 PROCELL Professional Alkaline Battery. 

A good rule of thumb for keeping these hardwired smoke detector back-up batteries up to date is to replace them when you change the clocks for day light savings.  Just remember, when you change the clocks - change the batteries.

In case you forget don't worry.  The hardwired smoke detector will alert you via its internal sounder with a short beep every couple of minutes.

If you home does not currently have hardwired smoke detectors, I highly recommend buying some battery operated detectors and installing them today.  While you are at that make sure to pick up some carbon monoxide detectors too.  These devices cost next to nothing and can prove to be the single most important safety devices within your household.

Gamewell FCI FocalPoint Mobile

Gamewell FCI has just announced the new and improved FocalPoint Mobile. This advanced FocalPoint tablet PC provides more power and more value to keep up with the end user's demands. With the need for accurate, real time information becoming more important within the emergency communications industry, facilities managers and first responders alike are sure to be delighted with the outstanding level of information and control the new FocalPoint Mobile offers during emergency situations. 

This advanced FocalPoint tablet PC now has a 2x brighter display, dual-core processor, additional memory, and a higher level of security. Tablet screens are now touchscreen enabled, adding another interface means over the current pen stylus. Gamewell FCI has also noted that the wireless capabilities have been extended to meet IEEE 802.11n which makes the new FocalPoint 5x faster and allows communications 2x the distance compared with the previous model.  At the request of the distributor and end users, Gamewell FCI also added a second model with a solid state hard drive containing no moving parts.  This feature will give the new FocalPoint Mobile greater shock-resistance in extreme environments.  On another note, security has been improved with the addition of fingerprint readers and a new Trusted Platform Module (TPM) that fights external software attacks.  Intel® dual-core processors provide full power capability for Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition. 

Previous Focal Point Mobile Specifications:

• Intel Pentium M Processor 1.1 GHz
• 512MB DDR RAM
• 40GB PATA Hard Drive
• 802.11g Wireless
• Lock Interface
• Pen Touch Interface
• No Solid State Hard Drive Option

New FocalPoint Mobile Specifications:

• Intel U2500 Core Duo Processor 1.2GHz
• 2GB DDR2 RAM
• 120GB SATA Hard Drive or 64GBSSD
• 802.11n Wireless
• Fingerprint Reader, Hard Drive Password Lock
• Finger Touch and Pen Touch Interface
• Available 64GB Solid State Hard Drive

Fire Lite Pro 411 Programmer

The Fire Lite 411UD digital alarm communicator or dialer can be programmed using the Fire Lite Pro 411 Fire Watch 411 Series DACT programmer.  Simply plug the Fire Lite Pro 411 handheld programmer into the Fire Lite 411UD dialer as shown in the below picture. 

Once you have connected the dialer programmer the screen will remain blank.  When you are ready to start the programming process press the "MODE" button and then enter one of the five codes shown below:

• 6676 (NORM) Return to Normal Mode
• 2525 (CLCK) Real-Time Clock Mode
• 7764 (PROG) Program Mode
• 3337 (DEFP) Factory Default Mode
• 8768 (TROU) Troubleshoot Mode

Once you are finished programming the Fire Lite 411UD press "MODE" then 6676 to return to the normal mode.  Unplug the programmer and test signals with the central station.

Carbon Monoxide Detector Mounting

NFPA 720: Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and Warning Equipment (2009) currently does not have any requirements for the mounting height/location of a carbon monoxide detector.  However, NFPA 720 does specify that is a carbon monoxide detector is installed in a room with a fire fueled appliance such as a generator, hot water heater, furnace, etc., it is to be mounted on the ceiling.

The reason behind the NFPA 720 placement of carbon monoxide detectors on the ceiling in these areas is pretty cool. 

Carbon monoxide has a molar mass of 28.0, which makes it slightly lighter than air, whose average molar mass is 28.8. According to the ideal gas law, CO is therefore less dense than air.  With that said, the heat generated by these appliances will make the carbon monoxide (CO) more buoyant and present it to the carbon monoxide detector on the ceiling.

Other than that there is not a requirement in the NFPA 720 for the mounting height of a carbon monoxide detector.  It is up to the owner and or installer.

On another note, make sure that when you place your carbon monoxide detector outside of the sleeping area you still achieve a sound level of 75dB at the pillow with the door closed.

Read more hear about the new laws and state legislation for carbon monoxide detection in California.

Card Access Low Voltage Wiring

When running low voltage wiring to a card access system you will need the following:

• 18 AWG, 2 Conductor Unshielded (for lock power)
• 22 AWG, 6 Conductor Shielded (for card access reader)
• 22 AWG, 2 Conductor Unshielded (for card access door contact)
• 22 AWG, 4 Conductor Unshielded (for card access request to exit)

Now, when considering that each card access point or reader needs it own low voltage wiring home run you a re looking at a lot of cable.  However, General Cable makes a simple solution to this costly installation burden.  As you and your installation technicians know, pulling cable off of four rolls to each door is not ideal as it takes additional marking, strapping and labor.

With General Cable's all in one card access cable P/N 4ERS1S you will get all four of the above cables within one jacket.  It uses the same principle as the Siamese CCTV cable that includes both coax and power wires.

With the 4ERS1S access control cable from General Cable you will save a ton of time since your technicians only have to manage one cable to each card reader location.  As we all know low voltage wiring is one of the most important parts of system design and installation.  If you can speed up your installation time as well as make it less complex, then go for it!  

Fire Alarm Testing Reacceptance

As noted in NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (2010) fire alarm testing for reacceptance must take place when any of the following conditions apply:

• If your fire alarm service and testing company adds or deletes any fire alarm equipment to an existing fire alarm system.  This would include fire alarm devices such as a duct smoke detector, heat detector, smoke detector, pull station, smoke detector battery, or hardwired smoke detectors.  This would also include the fire alarm panels boards, transformers, SLC loop cards, NAC expander, battery chargers, low voltage wiring, fire alarm wiring, etc.
• If your fire alarm service and testing company makes any modifications, adjustments or repairs to the fire protection equipment hardware (firmware updates, circuit board replacement, circuit board replacement due to factory repair or updates, etc.).
• If your fire alarm service and testing company makes any changes or adjustments to the site-specific software or fire alarm program.

Here is the word-for-word code from NFPA 72 1999 edition which is still enforced by many AHJs (authority having jurisdiction) in the State of California.

"7-1.6.2. Reacceptance testing shall be performed after any of the following:



(1) Added or deleted system components
(2) Any modification, repair, or adjustment to system hardware or wiring
(3) Any change to site-specific software.


All components, circuits, system operations, or site-specific software functions known to be affected by the change or identified by a means that indicates the system operational changes shall be 100 percent tested. In addition, 10 percent of initiating devices that are not directly affected by the change, up to a maximum of 50 devices, also shall be tested, and correct system operation shall be verified. A revised record of completion in accordance with section 1-6.2.1 shall be prepared to reflect any changes.”

If you take over the U.L. listed (Underwriters Laboratories) fire alarm monitoring for an existing fire alarm system then pay close attention to #3 above.  If you change the central station account number and receiver phone numbers, then you are technically changing the site-specific software/program for each device which is to report.  Therefore, you need to test 100% of the devices within the system.