This page intentionally left blank This page intentionally left blank Low Voltage Wiring: Security/Fire Alarm Systems Terry Kennedy and John E. Traister (deceased ) McGraw-Hill New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan New Delhi San Juan Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto Copyright  2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. 0-07-138958-X The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: 0-07-137674-7. All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. 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Except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976 and the right to store and retrieve one copy of the work, you may not decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, reproduce, modify, create derivative works based upon, transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish or sublicense the work or any part of it without McGraw-Hills prior consent. You may use the work for your own noncommercial and personal use; any other use of the work is strictly prohibited. Your right to use the work may be terminated if you fail to comply with these terms. THE WORK IS PROVIDED "AS IS." McGRAW-HILL AND ITS LICENSORS MAKE NO GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE ACCURACY, ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF OR RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM USING THE WORK, INCLUDING ANY INFORMATION THAT CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE WORK VIA HYPERLINK OR OTHERWISE, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. McGraw-Hill and its licensors do not warrant or guarantee that the functions contained in the work will meet your requirements or that its operation will be uninterrupted or error free. Neither McGraw-Hill nor its licensors shall be liable to you or anyone else for any inaccuracy, error or omission, regardless of cause, in the work or for any damages resulting therefrom. McGraw-Hill has no responsibility for the content of any information accessed through the work. Under no circumstances shall McGraw-Hill and/or its licensors be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, consequential or similar damages that result from the use of or inability to use the work, even if any of them has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This limitation of liability shall apply to any claim or cause whatsoever whether such claim or cause arises in contract, tort or otherwise. DOI: 10.1036/007138958X Contents Preface vii Part 1 The Security Systems Business Chapter 1. A Business Built on Contracts 3 Chapter 2. Estimating the Installation of Security Systems 27 Chapter 3. Managing a Security Systems Business 49 Chapter 4. Profit Centers: Service, Maintenance, and Ancillary Cash Flow 71 Part 2 The Field Chapter 5. Basic Security System Considerations 93 Chapter 6. Basic Installation Techniques 121 Chapter 7. Residential Security Systems 159 Chapter 8. Commercial and Industrial Security Systems 183 Chapter 9. Troubleshooting and Maintenance of Security Systems 199 Part 3 A Deeper Understanding Chapter 10. Electrical Circuits 233 Chapter 11. The Code 281 Chapter 12. Print Reading 313 Using the CD 349 Glossary 351 Resource Directory 379 Index 395 v Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies. Click here for terms of use. This page intentionally left blank Preface In general, an alarm system is used to protect life and property. Therefore, any company or person who owns something of value has a valid interest in security and fire-alarm systems. Security and fire-alarm systems are designed for every application imagin- able—for structures as small as homes and roadside produce stands; large hotels and factories; security alarms for guarding automobiles; large national defense installations—the list is very long. And this book is designed to review the various security systems currently available to help the reader select the most appropriate system for the job. This new edition adds a first part that surveys the business of security sys- tems and computer information for the professional. It also includes a nuts- and-bolts survey of how to start or grow a business, and how to work in other areas of the low-voltage systems industry. It then covers installation methods, techniques, and requirements to comply with the 1999 National Electrical Code. Part 3, A Deeper Understanding, reviews electrical circuits, the code, and print reading in depth. The new edition also features a twenty-first-century Reference Section that guides the reader into a listing of references for information to be found on the Internet. To move fully into the new millenium, we have included a compact disk. The checklists in the reference section can be accessed simply and quickly from your own computer. The abundance of solid information makes this book invaluable to anyone involved with security and fire-alarm systems. John E. Traister and Terry Kennedy vii Copyright © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies. Click here for terms of use. This page intentionally left blank Part 1 The Security Systems Business [...]... and the automation of buildings: security and all of the other low- voltage components of our built structures will continue to be a growth market As well as the steady increase in contracting light electric systems, numerous other elements make electronic systems for buildings a good industry with plenty of potential for developing a long-term, strong business A Business Built on Contracts 5 Because... company ➣ Send out a security systems newsletter ➣ Put an information site for clients on the Net Review other low- voltage systems work 1 year What businesses can we launch easily? ➣ Check out computers ➣ Check out photovoltaics Explore markets for consulting business to raise total cash flow by 10% 1 year Bar Association and insurance companies and find out where they locate their security systems... businesses that install low- voltage systems 1 year Try selling and installing on existing jobs ➣ Computer circuits ➣ Photovoltaics ➣ Send staff to trade shows to contact vendors Go to consulting seminars and meetings to learn more syntax for closing slaes 10% 1 year Visit past customers: ➣ Send a brief newsletter about security ➣ Do some of your work for free ➣ Keep your hours low Figure 1.4 Sales expansion... professional periodicals, the Yellow Pages, 14 The Security Systems Business Checklist for Market Development Goals Time Frame Notes for Expediting Expand marketing contacts to raise profit from existing business by 20% 9 months Contact existing clients, architects, and general contractors ➣ Flyer announcing new plan to old clients ➣ New brochure to new prospects ➣ Follow-up phone work Continue to expand... gain experience as tradespeople, they might not have ever received any hands-on business training other than estimating, scheduling, and other one-dimensional office tasks Because of this tendency, when mechanics start companies, they might have spent very little time dealing with the overview elements of business, such as long-range planning Thus, when a security systems person is starting or trying... is often the sole factor involved with your firm getting the contract At the same time, every security professional knows that low bids are not always the best way for the principals to choose their subcontractor—the low bidder might not do quality work Still, selecting the low bidder is how the choice of the security contractor is typically made Thus, having a smooth, accurate estimating procedure... ready for meeting Figure 1.2 Checklist for (pre)construction conferences Notes 11 12 The Security Systems Business the best tool to iron out questions related to the integration of the trades As all low- voltage systems teams know, if one phase of construction has been delayed because of poor project management, it might cause a complete shutdown of your own installation No subcontractor wants their... security ➣ Do some of your work for free ➣ Keep your hours low Figure 1.4 Sales expansion plan Contact existing clients, architects, and general contractors ➣ Follow up on leads within 1 day ➣ Develop a tickler system for follow up ➣ Review all sales-presentation documents ➣ Redo those that are not high quality A Business Built on Contracts Sales Expansion Plan Activity Figure 1.4 (Continued) Time How to... responsibility to others occurs in-house with your own staff However, remember that assigning tasks to other firms could make your business run much more smoothly The simplest way to grasp this concept is to look at tasks that are ordinarily subcontracted with others Accounting is an excellent example A contractor can track payables, including payroll and receivables in house, but the end-of-year accounting is often... experienced them already, during slowdowns in the construction cycle Your business will undoubtedly run into cash crunches Forecasting and leveling are very efficient tools for dealing with cash crunches One of the worst parts of cash crunches is the effect on morale, which can slow down efficiency and cause even more loss than the absence of work Such questions as next year’s cash flow or even the ability to . permission of the publisher. 0-0 7-1 38958-X The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: 0-0 7-1 3767 4-7 . All trademarks are. research and develop- ment for computers and other electronics arenas and the automation of build- ings: security and all of the other low- voltage components