My experience with Simplex Fire Alarm
My name is Larry Love and I have been selling fire alarm systems for over 28 years now.
I started at FSS Fire and Security Specialists and we did the American Towers downtown and we also did the Salt Palace. My voice was on the message for years until they changed the system out. I was with Jeff House at this company for 2 years.
I then went to American Security & Fire and I was with them for 16 years. I got my NICET II Fire Alarm Certification while working at American Security & Fire. Ron Harry was the General Manager and we became good friends.
After American Security & Fire I started working at Peak Alarm and I was with Peak Alarm for over 9 years. While at all three of these companies I ran into Simplex or Simplex Grinnell Fire Alarm systems once in a while although many of the Simplex systems are large commercial systems and many of the systems I was doing were small or mid range systems.
Peak Alarm does a great job of what they do best. Peak has one UL listed Monitoring Station and now they were bought by Pye Barker so now they have more UL listed Monitoring Stations. Peak bids out Small to Midsize Fire Alarm Projects, Camera Systems, Access Control Keyless Entry doors, Intercoms and they do a great job with home security and business security systems. Note: Mountain Alarm was also purchased by Pye Barker so Peak and Mountain are now owned by the same company.
Most companies have very few NICET certified people and when I was a Peak I was studying for my NICET III and still trying to get all my work done. Here Johnson Controls I don’t have to become NICET III because there are so many techs to design, inspect, install and consult although JCI just bought me all the new code books and paid for the NICET III course for me so I intend of continuing my Fire Alarm education.
What I noted about Simplex systems was the fact that they are expensive and you have to get service from Simplex if you install a Simplex System. We called them the 800 lb gorilla. What I did not understand until I started working at Simplex was how incredible the systems are when installing them in a large Data Center, Airport or Hospital. I recently toured the Salt Lake Airport and I took pictures of the Fire Alarm systems and I put it on my Facebook. When I bid out a project it goes through 7 people to check the design, parts, compatibility and code requirements. At other companies I had to put the submittals together and here there are people that do that so I can do my job.
The systems I sold at my previous jobs were UL listed and met the code requirements although often I would show up at a job site to look at systems and I would open the panel to take pictures and the wiring would fall out and was a mess. What you will never run into with Simplex are issues like this.
The installations are more professional. The CAD drawings and Designs are complete and well done. The engineering is second to none and Johnson Controls has so many NICET Certified techs its hard to get a count because JCI has thousands of employees and Simplex offices are throughout the entire country and in fact throughout the entire world. The experts I deal with on an everyday basis here at Johnson Controls are incredible with their knowledge, certifications and how helpful they can be when helping me bid out systems. I have done this for 28 year although now I have much more support and we work as a team.
Someone looking for the least expensive system will not find it with Simplex. Not all customers can afford a Simplex system through JCI. Simplex has a higher standard for their Techs and their equipment. The equipment is built to last and the networking is better than other manufacturers. When you buy from the low bidder there is always a reason they are the low bidder, often it is because they left things out or they use refurbished equipment our outdated equipment. Most Alarm companies do not even do Smoke Control because of the complexity.
When you are looking to connect your fire alarm panel and integrate it with VESDA or SMOKE CONTROL systems the very best integration is using the Simplex Systems.
Call Larry Love 801 898 6003 Larry.Love@JCI.com for estimates for Simplex Fire Alarm, VESDA, Voice Evacuation Systems or Smoke Control.
Matt Bingham is in the same office as I am and he can also get you pricing if I don’t get back to you right away. 801 419 1379 Matthew.Bingham@JCI.com
Call Shandie A Gorney for Monitoring pricing or Test and Inspection pricing at 801 214 5668
Monitoring rates are very competitive here at Simplex
Simplex JCI also has inhouse financing.