Award

22 | DECEMBER 2019 iSTOCK Fire Protection Systems Fire protection systems are smarter than ever by ROBIN BRUNET F ire protection, safety systems, and related products have become big busi- ness in a relatively short space of time, which is remarkable considering not too long ago many organizations spent more energy mitigating risks after an accident had occurred rather than detecting or preventing them. But with fire and safety preparedness increas- ingly linked to a company's brand image, plus ever-stringent building codes and government regu- lations, technological advances in the fire protection business have come about dramatically. To take just one example, most products have multiple abilities, such as smoke detectors that also detect heat, carbon monoxide, and infrared light from flames. Wireless technology and connectivity continue to be the hallmarks of systems development, and voice annunciation is increasing in demand partly because people have demonstrated an increased reaction to voice instructions compared to sirens. Of course, fire, safety, and related systems are only as good as the company that provides them, and on that score Johnson Controls is one of the most trusted brands involved in facilities protection. It lays claim to having made buildings smarter since 1885, and today it does so via a massive portfolio of systems, software, and digital solutions. An example of Johnson Controls' approach to building safety in 2019 is its partnership earlier this year with Broccolini Construction and Broccolini Investments, through its subsidiary La Société en Commandite La Nouvelle Maison. Together, the partners are creating a new, high-tech Maison de Radio-Canada building in Montreal that will house the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)/ Radio-Canada. When the partnership was announced in January, Roger Plamondon, president of real estate develop- ment and acquisitions at Broccolini, noted that the new building "will not only be esthetically pleasing, but will improve the future of broadcasting in Montreal with the largest broadcasting data centre in Canada." Given the importance of this 418,000-square-foot facility, which is currently under construction with a completion date of early next year, it was vital to pro- vide the utmost in safety systems through new critical equipment, systems, and infrastructure. On that score, Johnson Controls with Broccolini determined that the building should be equipped with card access; Metasys BAS (a building automation system that supports end- to-end wireless building infrastructure); Simplex fire alarms; and a video management system (Johnson Controls also provided an array of products to meet the project's strict sustainable standards, including York chillers and air handling units). Strictly from a business viewpoint, Johnson Controls is also providing lifecycle services to the facility for a guaranteed fixed cost for the next 30 years. R. Paul Tawfik, director, business development, Johnson Controls, explains that while broadcast- ing is the true mission of CBC/Radio Canada, "they were constantly sidetracked by daily building opera- tion and management tasks in their former, outdated building. Johnson Controls and Broccolini are creat- ing a more productive, enhanced environment for everyone who steps foot in this new building." It's worth noting that the brands Johnson Controls has deployed for use in the new facility are known for pushing the boundaries of what fire/secu- rity systems are capable of, and Simplex is a case in point. For example, Simplex ES Net IP-based Life Safety Network is a high bandwidth TCP/IP based fire alarm network that supports up to 687 nodes and uses industry standard network technology and infrastructure for greater design and installa- tion flexibility. Its faster data rates (up to 100MB per second) and a wide range of wiring media choices provide superior efficiency in installation, operation, and maintenance. Also under the Simplex brand is the Area of Refuge communications system, designed for any location in a building intended to keep occupants safe during a fire or emergency until they can be evacuated. The Area of Refuge system has a stream- lined user interface and is addressable, which means all remote call stations can be connected to the com- mand panel on a single circuit rather than wiring each one individually. Meanwhile in the services realm, Johnson Controls Digital Solutions group recently introduced its Assurance Services and False Alarm Reduction Service (FARS). These services analyze data to increase safety, streamline operations, and decrease costs, and FARS in particular analyzes and identifies alarm patterns to help reduce false alarms and their associated risks and costs. The software leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning capabili- ties to identify false alarm triggers and help to stop the activities that trigger them. Act, Don't React

• Cover