We Specialize In:
• Designing custom fire alarm & security systems for commercial, industrial and institutional clients.
• Providing 24-hour radio-dispatched service for all major brands of equipment.
• Detailed full-service inspections that meet code requirements.
We Are Fire Alarm and Security System Professionals
Serving New York &
Long Island Since 1978
NYS Lic. # 12000032751
March 2014
A Letter From Bob Williams: Saving Lives in the Workplace Can Prove to be Invaluable
The recent death of Steven Nelson, the manager of Legal Sea Foods in Huntington Station, as the result of carbon monoxide poisoning is an absolute tragedy. It
should also be a call for all businesses to protect their employees and customers from this "silent killer" by installing CO detectors in their premises.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that cannot be seen, which makes it fatal when it is inhaled. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 170 people die each year as a result from CO poisoning. While that number is small compared to the number of highway fatalities or fire-related deaths, it is still too high, especially when you consider that CO poisoning deaths can be 100% preventable.
Currently, New York State has "Amanda's Law" on the books, requiring certain existing residential structures to have CO detectors installed. However, the law does not apply to commercial properties. Right now in Albany, New York State Senator Carl Marcellino and Assemblymen Chad Lupinacci and Michael Montesano have drafted legislation that would expand Amanda's Law to have businesses install CO detectors in the workplace.
The Town of Hempstead and Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs have likewise introduced bills at the local level as have the towns of Huntington and Brookhaven. While I applaud them for bringing this to their constituents' attention, they do not need to reinvent the wheel. The National Fire Protection Association already has a code in place that requires both businesses and residences to have CO detectors installed inside their buildings. This code can be easily adopted at the municipal level.
At a minimum, all existing commercial buildings that have fossil fuel-burning appliances should install hardwired AC-powered CO detectors, preferably wired in tandem so that when one sounds, they all sound. All new or substantially renovated buildings should have the detectors interconnected to the Fire Alarm System and send a separate signal to a 24-hour Central Monitoring Station. I understand the cost involved in retrofitting fire alarm systems to integrate the detectors, but the extra $20 to $30 for each detector (plus installation) will save people's lives.
I am urging business owners to be proactive in protecting the lives of their customers and employees by purchasing CO detector kits and installing them immediately, rather than waiting for another tragedy to happen. These detectors are inexpensive and the minimal cost could save many lives.
Bob Williams is president and founder of Briscoe Protective Systems Inc., a provider of fire and security alarm products and services with locations in Centereach and New York City.
High Rise Tragedy Leads to Recommendations For New FDNY Mandates
A New York City Councilman recently proposed a measure to mandate mass emergency communications systems in all buildings higher than six stories, including
residential and commercial properties. Emergency Communications Systems can quickly alert building occupants to any dangers and provide instructions to
help ensure an individual's safety during an emergency.
High Rise Tragedy Leads to Recommendations For New FDNY Mandates
A New York City Councilman recently proposed a measure to mandate mass emergency communications systems in all buildings higher than six stories, including residential and commercial properties. Emergency Communications Systems can quickly alert building occupants to any dangers and provide instructions to help ensure an individual's safety during an emergency.
Thomas Von Essen, former commissioner of the City of New York Fire Department (FDNY), had made the recommendation that these systems be placed in buildings taller than six stories in 1999, but that recommendation has not yet been mandated and many buildings still do not have these systems in place. Briscoe President Bob Williams has supported the new measure to mandate these systems, but added, "The challenge is to get the passage of this legislation for the hundreds of existing buildings like the Strand–especially with the many special interests and cost of retrofitting these buildings."
"Everybody has a right to some level of communication whether it's a public address system that the owner has and he maintains himself or it's a good solid fire/emergency notification system that's inspected and tied to your alarm system that someone in the lobby knows how to work," Von Essen said in a recent interview with Security Systems News.
Briscoe Protective Systems, a Strategic Partner of Edwards Systems Technology, offers the EST3 and EST3X Fire Alarm Control Panels which have the capability to provide a system operator the ability to broadcast audio instructions to the building's occupants.
For more information on mass notification systems, please contact J.R. McCotter, Chief of Technical Services at 1 (888) BRISCOE (274-7263).
Briscoe Featured in New York Nonprofit Press
As part of its ongoing community service, Briscoe Protective Systems Inc. provided free fire safety training classes for staff members of The Bowery Mission
to prepare them for the Fire Department of New York's S-95 Exam. New York City law requires at least one staff member to obtain FDNY Certificate of Fitness
for the fire alarm system at their facility. This was reported by New York Nonprofit Press.
Read the Article »
Briscoe Protective Systems Inc. Promotes Jennifer Sabatino to Executive Assistant
Briscoe Protective Systems Inc. has announced that Jennifer Sabatino has been promoted to the position of Executive Assistant. In her
duties, she will support the company's executive management team.
Read the Article »
Briscoe Protective Systems Inc. Promotes Kaitlyn Denninger to Financial Analyst
Briscoe Protective Systems Inc. has announced that Kaitlyn Denninger has been promoted to the position of Financial Analyst in the company's Accounting and
Compliance department.
Read the Article »
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