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    1. Alarms & Monitoring
    2. Alarm Systems & Intrusion Detection

    GE's Security Business Announces 2004 Innovation Award Winners

    Nov. 17, 2004
    Terry's Alarms of Alexandria, La., takes Grand Prize for Central Louisiana Imaging Center design and installation
    Related To: GE Infrastructure, Security
    1100709677403 10594350

    The security business of GE Infrastructure has announced the winners in its 9th annual Innovation Awards contest. These dealers are recognized for outstanding system design, integration, and installation for the security and home automation markets.

    Innovation Award categories include Best Wireless Residential Installation, Best Wireless Fire Installation, Most Innovative Use of Wireless Technology, and Best Integration System.

    Terry's Alarms of Alexandria, La., won the Grand Prize in the 2004 Innovation Awards contest. Terry's Alarms' installation at the 67,700 square foot Central Louisiana Imaging Center (described below) took the top prize among all entries. In addition to the benefits received by all winners, Terry's Alarms will be featured in a GE Security print advertisement.

    Best Wireless Residential Installation
    Winner - Trestar Security, Houston, Texas
    This installation took place at a 19,000+ square foot home in Belize, Central America. Located on the waterfront, the home is fortified for hurricanes, with 12-inch concrete exterior walls and 6-inch concrete interior walls that run all the way to the roofline (which is also concrete). The house has 130 windows and 12 doors. The homeowners wanted perimeter sensors, glassbreak sensors, motion sensors, smoke detectors, remotes, panic pendants, and for the system to be able to page on-site security guards. They were also concerned about aesthetics and did not want any exposed wires. The installation required two Advent Home Navigator panels, and the 130 windows had to be secured with two wireless sensors on each. A NetworX NX-4 panel allows the system to numerically page security guards.

    Merit Award
    Guardian Security of NC, Lincolnton, N.C.
    A Concord system and Smart ConnectionCenter were installed in a Mooresville, N.C., home, tailored around the home's unique timber peg construction. The wireless equipment provided a level of comfort due to the ease of installation. Concord's flexibility allowed the installers to be more productive and gave the homeowner a more affordable product.

    Best Wireless Fire Installation
    Winner - SimplexGrinnell, San Diego, Calif.
    This installation took place in the historic town of Julian, CA, located on the side of a mountain with challenging terrain and varied weather conditions. Many of the town's buildings (which are very close together) consist of 12-inch thick rock walls. If any building near Town Hall was involved in a major fire, it's likely that all of the buildings on that side of the street would be lost. Since the town depends solely on tourism for survival, the loss of any business would be devastating. The Advent Fire installation (with 64 wireless smoke detectors) covers buildings up to ? mile from Town Hall. Advent Fire was cost-effective to install and program, and relocation of sensors is simple if expansion is necessary in the future.

    Merit Award
    Custom Alarm, Rochester, Minn.
    This installation was at St. Mary's Church in Lake City, Minn. The church, which was built in the 1900s with cathedral ceilings and intricate wood trim, had suffered a fire once before. In addition to fire protection, church officials were concerned about the integrity and beauty of the church. Advent Fire was the best solution for their problem. The system was installed with all wireless smoke detectors, heat sensors, and pull stations. Wireless saved time and money ($20,000), and the church's beauty was not compromised.

    Most Innovative Use of Wireless Technology
    Winner - Custom Alarm, Rochester, Minn.
    The Willows apartment complex consists of five buildings, each with five separate digital communicators, which meant they had 10 phone lines (2 required per communicator). Custom Alarm installed an Advent Fire panel as the digital communicator for all the existing fire alarm panels, thus eliminating eight phone lines. To get the best reception, the panel is centrally located between all the buildings. This cuts down on unnecessary phone lines and monthly monitoring costs.

    Merit Award
    Risk Management Consultants, Cockeysville, Md. Management of the four-story BB&T Bank was instructed (by an inspector) to install a panic system or phone in its elevator, for emergency use. The building has concrete floors between levels with steel decking and beams. Plus, the elevator car is metal. Using Concord, Risk Management Consultants installed an elevator panic alarm with a receiver on the lowest and highest levels to guarantee signal transmission. The alternative would have been to upgrade the elevator car and equipment at a cost of over $25,000. Installing GE wireless resulted in significant cost savings for BB&T Bank.

    Best Integration System
    Winner - Terry's Alarms, Alexandria, La.
    This installation at the 67,700 square foot Central Louisiana Imaging Center was a joint venture with GE Medical, which provided all the CAT scan and magnetic imaging equipment. The burglar alarm portion utilizes NetworX NX-8, while GE Video equipment and a Topaz access control system are also used. GE has enabled Terry's Alarms to deliver technology that covers various security and life safety needs, all in a concise, networked system.