The Fire Technicians Network

The Fire Protection Technician's
Online Career Resource

Your IP Address is:
38.107.179.227

www.firetechs.net

Please remember to REFRESH your Browser when you view the various pages on our site as they are frequently updated!

This is the Fire Protection Technicians Network; the place to find a wealth of information to make YOUR job simpler, more effective and ultimately, more rewarding. If you're a fire alarm technician or fire protection technician, this is the place to hang out! Share your experiences and expertise with others in our life safety and fire alarm forums, download fire alarm verification report, fire alarm inspection report, and building life safety inspection report forms, and explore our library of links, informative tips and suggested testing procedures. Members can download manuals from our extensive library, and will very soon be able to purchase the testing/installation standards you need.

We are not affiliated with ASTTBC, CFAA, CANASA, NFPA or NICET (although we will continue to promote their efforts). We are committed to public safety, awareness and professional practice through Government, industry and peer liaison.

This website is dedicated to the memory of
Jovel and Philip Galaroza, aged 15 and 14
when they perished in an early morning fire on
December 22, 2001 at the Clipper Cove Apartments
in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
"Our children are our only hope for the future,
but we are their only hope for their present
and their future." -- Zig Ziglar
"Every child comes with the message
that God is not yet discouraged of humanity."
-- Rabindranath Tagore
"Never give up!"
-- Mary Pack

Acknowledgments
This website would not exist but for the inspiration and
encouragement of a few dedicated individuals, some
of whom I shall name here for the record (in no special order):
Ark Tsisserev, Larry Barker, Andy Sangha,
Brian Stegavig, Dave Merrill, Nick LeForte,
Dave Clou, Perry Talkkari, Jacquie Cliffe,
Allan Colombo, Bob Furlong, Nick Markowitz,
Deborah Cahill, Ted Simmons

THE RED CROSS NEEDS YOUR HELP!

OUR FAQS PAGE ALWAYS MAKES FOR INFORMATIVE READING!
(Updated January 25th, 2012)

WARNING!
(For homeowners with ten year old multi-station type smoke alarms, or who may be considering replacing/upgrading their present units!)
IF YOUR HOME HAS A SPRINKLER SYSTEM, PLEASE READ THIS!

You may have a sprinkler flow switch (or switches) tied into your smoke alarms. Older model alarms switched normal household voltage in order to sound an audible alert when the flow switch was activated. Modern smoke alarms will only switch 9 volts DC (the output from a standard transistor type battery). Applying 110 VAC to such a system will result in the destruction of any interconnected alarms and may even cause a FIRE.

Please contact your local fire equipment provider or a qualified electrician for more information!

INDUSTRY NEWS

January, 2012

IF YOU'RE USING SYMANTEC'S PCANYWHERE, READ THIS!

Symantec (Norton) has fallen victim to a group of computer hackers that call themselves "Anonymous". Apparently source code from the 2006 versions of several Symatec software security products was stolen exposing vulnerabilites in Norton SystemWorks, Norton Internet Security, Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition and Symantec's pcAnywhere. While later editions of these programs are no longer at risk, Symantec has expressed concerns regarding possible vulnerablilities in pcAnywhere 12.5 and suggests that you apply all currently available patches and, if possible, DISABLE this product until they have addressed all the issues. You can read more about this in a recent white paper they released.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

January 1, 2012 - Vancouver, B.C. - Happy New Year to all! May you all enjoy a successful, safe, and healthy 2012!

CFAA's NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHES!

We've been watching for it since we heard major changes were coming. CFAA's new website has finally launched. It's visually appealing and appears to be really easy to navigate (even on a mobile device). Our congratulations on a job well done! We'll be sure to explore it some more in the coming days!

EXTREME PARKING PATROL MEASURES AT COPPERSMITH PLACE!

Richmond, B.C. - It seems the nice people managing the complex where Ace Fire Prevention Ltd. have their offices decided their usual security company wasn't measuring up... Read more...

LAUNCHING A NEW (OR IMPROVED) DOO-DAD? GOT A STORY? SOMETHING OF INTEREST AND/OR NOTE-WORTHY?

Email us! We'll make sure it gets out there!

CATCH UP ON MORE INDUSTRY NEWS AND STIR UP THE GRAY MATTER WITH
AL COLOMBO AND NICK MARKOWITZ!

Nick's Fire - Electrical - Safety & Security Blog

Al Colombo's Safety & Security Blog

TECHNICIAN'S TOOL BOX

VISIT OUR NEW Jobs! PAGE!

Our expanded service just may help you land you a "dream career"! If you're a fire equipment service provider, your search for that qualified technician just got easier!

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND TECHNICAL MANUALS!

We comb the Internet for all the latest stuff. Visit our Library to access manufacturer sponsored technical application guides and other educational materials of interest. No library card or membership required (watch for wild animals though)!

COMMON FIRE ALARM AND COMMUNICATOR TROUBLE DISPLAYS!

We're compiling a list of common fire alarm trouble signals and displays HERE!

UPDATED FIRE ALARM VERIFICATION AND FIRE ALARM INSPECTION FORMS!

We've updated the Fire Alarm Verification forms in our library (November 11, 2010)! Check out the latest version on our FORMS page!

HAVING PROBLEMS ACCESSING ASTTBC'S WEBSITE ON YOUR MOBILE INTERNET DEVICE?

We've got the solution HERE! Just don't do it while you're driving!

THE FORUMS ARE ALIVE!

Friendly reminder! The Forums are alive!

BULLETINS, RECALLS, SERVICE NOTES:
GAMEWELL, MIRCOM, NOTIFIER, FIRELITE, PYRENE, GE SECURITY, POTTER, SIEMENS, SIMPLEX, ...

Read more here!

You can now keep up with the latest developments
by subscribing to our RSS feed!

Bulletins, Service Notes, Recalls (by Manufacturer)

SMOKE DETECTOR CROSS-LISTING INFORMATION

ULC Smoke Detector Compatibility Index
(You'll be prompted to either "save as" or "open" a Microsoft® Excel document. Please read our Terms of Use.)

Note: The fire alarm panel manufacturer (in Canada) must list compatible smoke detectors. Using a non-compliant smoke detector with any ULC® Listed fire alarm control invalidates its certification and could place the building occupants at risk. If you have questions regarding compatibility of a particular smoke detector (not shown on the list), please contact the manufacturer.

Tech Net-Working

Watch this section for meetings to be held in your area. We encourage you to attend these as we hope to cover topics of current interest and concern as well as provide a means through which you'll be able to get to know each other. Our goal is to encourage your professional development, help you to achieve greater job satisfaction, and ultimately, better pay.

Points of Interest:

VETTING THE FIRE ALARM VERIFICATION

We've put together an informative presentation on vetting (authenticating) the Verification Report (based on the Canadian Standard CAN/ULC-S537-04) for new fire alarm installations and upgrades. More...

FIRE ALARM VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS & AGENCY LISTINGS

British Columbia
(Vancouver) | (Surrey)

Alberta

Manitoba (Winnipeg)

FIND (OR VERIFY THE QUALIFICATIONS OF) A CANADIAN REGISTERED FIRE EXTINGUISHER HYDRO-TEST FACILITY!

Enter the name of an agency or search for one in your local area by clicking HERE!

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR A BURNING BRICK AWARD!

Click HERE to find out more!

TOP TEN MOST-READ PAGES, NEWS ARTICLES & EDITORIALS (in order of popularity):

FAQ's Page
Search Terms: CFAA, Extinguisher Hydro-Test, Isolator Modules
TECH-NEWS! December2010/January 2011
Search Terms: Acme Fire and Safety, Active Fire and Safety, City of Vancouver
TECH-NEWS! November 2010
Search Terms: Rick Puri, Arkady Tsisserev, CAN/ULC-S536
Burning Brick Nominations!
Search Terms: Active Fire, Active Fire and Safety, Acme Fire and Safety, Fire Alarm Verification, Mircom Vancouver
TECH-NEWS - EXTRA! - January 2011
Search Terms: Fire Alarm Verification Fire and Safety, Mark Roozbahani , Arkady Tsisserev, Gregor Robertson
Glossary of Industry Terms
Search Terms: Active Communication, AHJ, DVACS, Battery De-rating Factor
TECH-NEWS! June 2010
Search Terms: Fire and Safety Equipment Inspectors Surrey BC, Arkady Tsisserev, Active Fire
TECH-NEWS! October 2010
Search Terms: Active Fire, Potter Electric Signal, Active Fire and Safety, Frank Kurz
TECH-NEWS! March 2010
Search Terms: Arkady Tsisserev, City of Vancouver, Frank Kurz Vancouver, Alex Tsakumis, Gregor Robertson
TECH-NEWS UPDATE! September 2009
Search Terms: Fire Alarm Verification Vancouver, Active Fire and Safety Services Ltd., Active Fire

Membership

Join us!

We are NOT affiliated with any professional union,
but together, we are a union of professionals!!

If you've found our site useful,
you may also wish to consider making
a donation towards helping us
maintain it:

www.firetechs.net Contact Information

24/7

Telephone: (604) 468-8324 (TECH)

North America Toll Free: +1 (888) 340-3473 (FIRE)

email: tech@firetechs.net

Terms of Use

Updated January 25th, 2012

Privacy