Re: NFPA's Creation of Security Standards/Codes

[Crash Gordon® <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Excluding fire...

This is all fine and dandy in theory however;

Many many homes we do security for, we never even see a blue print, and =
if we do it's 10 minutes before we are running wire. Security guys are =
the low man on the totem pole, we are the last to be granted the bid, =
the last to have contracts signed, the last be called when something =
needs to be done, the last to get paid.

Something like this will kill anyone working for residential tract-home =
builders. Submit plans, pull a permit for every home, submit for =
inspections (and have to be there?)...this will absolutely kill =
reasonalbly priced alarm installations. And, what about pre-wired-only =
homes?...the prewire alarmco is gonna pay for plans, permits on a job =
that he probably will never finish the trim-out on? I don't do tracts or =
prewires anymore (thank god), but I know the drill. This would easily =
double the price of systems.



<securitymission@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message =
news:1116603227.066002.79530@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Crash,
>=20
> It will be the building departments--the same procedure we use now =
when
> installing fire alarm systems.  You will take your blueprints with =
your
> security systems on it, fill out a form, pluck $90 down on the table
> (more or less) and then their plans examiner will look over your
> blueprint.  It will be the plans examiner who will make sure that
> you've complied with NFPA 730 and 731.  This is where compliance
> begins.
>=20
> If it passes, you are given a call to come and get your permit.  When
> you get there, you will fill out a form and plunk on the table your =
$50
> base fee with so much per 100 sq. foot or so much a device.  When you
> are done with the job, you call and a man might come out to look over
> the wiring job you just did.  Now, that man may very well be the
> electrical inspector.  The electrical man will come out to make sure
> the wiring is installed right and he may also be the one to make sure
> you put them where the blueprints say they need to be.  That is all he
> will do.  He will rarely make a judgement call on placement.
>=20
> On the fire side, once the job is done, the fire inspector, be he from
> the FD or the building department itself, comes out and you have to do
> your thing, testing each device to make sure they work, as well as the
> NAC devices. I guarantee you, it will be the building department in
> most cases and I doubt the PD will have any part of the process as =
they
> are likely to use the same procedures and governmental departments =
they
> already have in place.
>=20
> On the UL side, if UL and NFPA do what they have done so far on the
> fire installation third-party certification issue (which is to sell
> third-party certification of all fire alarm installers to those AHJs
> who will listen and go along with them) they will sell municipalities
> and county building departments, licensing departments, etc. on the
> same third-party certifification.  As you know, they don't come out =
and
> inspect 100% of the systems they certificate.  Best estimate would be
> 10% over 12 months, and that's being positive.
>=20
> I am not passing judgement on all of this, mind you, only telling you
> how this will play out in my estimation.  There are many other factors
> to consider, but if you have a state license or state fire certificate
> and you expect to work in a jurisdiction where a UL third-party
> certificated installer is required, you won't be doing any work there.
>=20
> My question to you is this, "will NFPA 730, 731, and all of what I've
> just described actually improve the professionality of the security
> industry?"
>=20
> I'd like to hear from those who agree with it as well as those who do
> not.  When and if I write this story  I must provide both sides in the
> best way possible and allow the reader to make up his/her own mind.
>=20
> Thank you for all your help!!
> Al Colombo
>=20
>=20
> www.securitymission.com
> www.e-commkiosk.com
> www.tpromo.com
>=20
>