Is Your Fire Alarm Service Provider A “Real” Fire Alarm Company Or A Jack of All Trades?

In this article we discuss what you might call a “hybrid alarm systems” business model. These are companies that present themselves as being in the business of installing and servicing fire or security alarms as their primary business, but apparently many are suffering from some sort of identity crisis.

A major trend we’ve been noticing over the past couple of years is how many of the big-name security companies (as well as fire alarm companies) are confused in what business they’re in.

You see, many of the big-name corporate fire and security companies have made the decision to take on an all-services type of business model.

Here’s why they take on this business model
When bidding on projects, they believe they can stack profits by not only offering their main specialty, but also offer other services as well.

It can be a fire alarm company that sells security services or a security company that sells fire-related services. For simplification, let’s just call it what it is… a “hybrid” service business.

So how does stacking profits for these businesses benefit the end user?

That’s hard to say.

You’ve heard the old adage, “Jack of all trades, master of none”? Well, many times this is what you’ll get when you hire one of these “hybrid” service-related companies.

Sometimes they will start up their business as a residential security company. Since their technicians are required to have a fire alarm license in the State of Texas and the company must also obtain a fire alarm company license, (just to install one smoke detector in a residence), They begin taking on projects that are outside their normal scope of business.

They understand that businesses have a lot more money to spend than a small residence does, so their sales reps start playing around in areas where they don’t belong.

Never mind how qualified or experienced their companies are in servicing commercial fire alarm systems, hey, after all they now have a state license.

They’ll hire a salesman or a project manager that comes from a fire alarm-related business, they’ll set up a new fire alarm division within their company, then they’ll instantly start pushing associates to bid on major building projects.

Voila’… they are now in the commercial fire alarm business!

Sounds a little scary, but this scenario plays out everyday.

There are actually security companies in the Houston area that might have one or two state certified technicians on board, but there’s no guarantee that they will be the actual technicians servicing or installing your building’s fire alarm system.

It goes both ways.

Likewise, there are fire alarm companies using this same business model…

You will find them selling everything from intercoms to security, to access control, to security cameras, to telephone systems. Some even sell high-profiled air conditioning systems and sell the entire “million-dollar” package as one consolidated system. Anything to bring in more revenue on each project. If one of their system’s markets are on a down-trend, they simply go back to selling one of the other type’s of systems.

Makes a lot of sense for the hybrid business, but is it really fulfilling the customer’s true needs?

Would you order a burger from a Chinese restaurant?
Of course you wouldn’t, so why would you have a commercial fire alarm system installed by a residential security company (or a commercial fire alarm company installing your fifteen ton air-handling unit)?

So how do you feel as a business owner or building manager knowing that your life safety fire equipment might be someone who is professionally trained as a security camera specialist?

So how do you prevent a non-licensed technician from servicing your your fire alarm system?
The next time you have your fire alarm company service or inspect your alarm system, ask to see the technicians Texas State license as soon as they arrive at your place of business.

You may get the excuse that they forgot to bring it to the job site or that they don’t have it with them at the moment.

Don’t believe it!

Do your yourself and your company a big favor, don’t let them work on your fire alarm system until they can produce their credentials.

It’s not rude to ask, remember it’s a requirement
That’s right, It is required by the State of Texas that fire alarm technicians carry their state license with them while working at a job-site. If they have it out in their service vehicle, OK, no problem. Just have them go to their vehicle and get it for you.

No license, no work… very simple.

Having worked for half a dozen fire alarm companies myself over the past twenty-seven years, I’ve seen some companies that only have around 30-40% of their technicians carrying a Texas State fire alarm license.

What happens is they hire on people as interns or apprentices. When work starts getting back up, they split up some of these crews based on knowledge and experience, but some still don’t carry licenses… these companies are breaking the law! Houston Fire Safety doesn’t participate in this illegal practice and never will.

We’re focused on one specialty… fire safety!
Just so you know, Houston Fire Safety only installs, inspects, and services commercial fire alarm systems.

While other companies are running phone lines, installing digital security cameras, and anything else they can do to make a quick buck, we’re proud to say that we only do fire systems… plain and simple.

Every trade has it’s own tools and it’s own installation practices. Security companies are not required to follow any of the NEC (National Electric Code) guidelines when it comes to low-voltage security system splicing methods, while fire alarms companies do.

So, asking a security technician (with little fire alarm experience or the right qualifications) to install a commercial fire alarm system in itself is bad judgment on the part of the security contractor. Splices outside of proper receptacle boxes, directly out in the open or above ceiling tiles (where they don’t belong) is commonly found by our technicians while doing remodel projects and we can only guess what type of company may have installed the original system.

Something that many of you don’t know is that the CEO of Houston Fire safety is more than qualified in understanding the security business. In fact, he came from a military Intelligence background and even was involved in providing security for some big-name (national and local) political officials you would recognize instantly if we were to drop names, but we won’t go there  (it was once classified and as far as we’re concerned, it will remain that way).

As you can imagine, it would be extremely easy for our company to venture into the security business, but we believe in focusing on one thing… The commercial fire alarm business.

Next time you need a “real” fire alarm company to provide a bid or service your alarm system, give Houston Fire Safety a call. We’ll be happy to meet with you and discuss your fire alarm-related needs.

We’re just one phone call away!