Home  News and Events Press Releases 2003
New SimplexGrinnell Technology Provides Affordable Fire Alarm System Upgrade Opportunities for Thousands of AUTOCALL® Customers
Interface Allows a Simple Swap of Control Panels to Migrate Older AUTOCALL Systems
to Industry-Leading Simplex® 4100U Fire Alarm Platform
HOUSTON, Texas and WESTMINSTER, Massachusetts (May 15, 2003) - SimplexGrinnell, North America's leading integrated fire and life-safety systems provider, today announced the release of a new product migration technology that enables customers whose buildings are protected with AUTOCALL fire alarm systems to easily and cost-effectively upgrade to the advanced SIMPLEX 4100U platform.
The AUTOCALL family of products has a history in the fire industry that dates back to the early 1900s. Most recently, the AUTOCALL system was a flagship system for Grinnell Fire Protection, up until the 2001 merger that created SimplexGrinnell. AUTOCALL fire alarm systems that were installed over the years protect scores of manufacturing plants, hospitals, schools and universities, shopping malls, office buildings, hotels and motels, entertainment centers, airports, prisons and other facilities.
The newly introduced 4100U XA Loop Interface module from SimplexGrinnell provides the technology for customers with AUTOCALL systems installed from the mid 1970s to the early 1990s to take a measured, phased approach to upgrading or replacing their system. The module allows a SIMPLEX 4100U to serve as either the master panel or a data-gathering panel (DGP) in an AUTOCALL XA loop system.
The Equity Office Properties building located at 125 Summer Street in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the first sites where the 4100U XA Loop Interface has been used. The loop interface enabled SimplexGrinnell's contracting partner, J. & M. Brown Company, to replace an existing AUTOCALL AL-1500 system with a SIMPLEX 4100U panel. Tom Rose, Vice President, Fire Alarm Division, of J. & M. Brown, calls the XA Loop Interface, "an outstanding migration solution," and says that customers will derive tremendous benefits from it.
The AUTOCALL XA loop was used in many generations of AUTOCALL systems. Before the introduction of this new interface, a complete system replacement was required to update an AUTOCALL system. With the XA Loop Interface, obsolete AUTOCALL panels can be replaced with a new SIMPLEX 4100U panel, without the need for a complete system replacement.
An Overall Next-step Migration Strategy
The 4100U XA Loop Interface, the first of several products being developed to support the migration of legacy AUTOCALL products to SIMPLEX-branded panels, is part of SimplexGrinnell's overall commitment to provide "next-step" migration solutions that enable customers to upgrade their systems affordably and in stages, in order to keep pace with changing codes, requirements and technologies.
"This new integrated solution relieves building owners of the financial burden of replacing obsolete systems all at once, while simultaneously bringing them the benefits of the leading technology of the SIMPLEX 4100U platform," says John Haynes, Director of Marketing at SimplexGrinnell. "The XA Loop Interface allows customers to gradually migrate their fire alarm system to a modern Simplex system, as budget and operations allow. It minimizes disruption to their facilities, reduces costs and improves life-safety protection. SimplexGrinnell works with all our customers to plan the migration strategy that best fits their needs, resources and application."
The SIMPLEX 4100U Platform
The SIMPLEX 4100U Fire Detection and Alarm Platform, the industry's premier high-end network system, combines superior fire protection, information management and integration capabilities with lower costs of installation, maintenance and ownership. With its exceptional distributed network capabilities, the 4100U fire alarm system is ideal for the special protection requirements found in high-rise office towers and multi-building facilities such as hospitals, college campuses, industrial plants, sports complexes and airports. Fast alarm response is another strength of the 4100U system. In benchmark tests of a 99-node network, the typical alarm response time was 1.6 seconds, far exceeding the NFPA's (National Fire Protection Association) within 20-second requirement.
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About SimplexGrinnell
SimplexGrinnell LP, a business unit of Tyco Fire and Security, is a leading provider of fire detection and alarm, fire sprinkler, fire suppression, and integrated security systems and services. SimplexGrinnell delivers single-source solutions using its comprehensive portfolio of high-quality products and services. The Simplex® and Grinnell® product lines being sold, delivered and serviced by SimplexGrinnell include: fire detection and alarm systems; fire sprinkler systems; fire extinguishers and pumps; restaurant fire suppression systems; special hazards fire protection systems; integrated security systems; healthcare communications systems; integrated sound, intercom and telephone systems; and emergency lighting. SimplexGrinnell serves its customers through a network of company-owned district offices that covers all of North America. The SimplexGrinnell district offices also provide 24/7 emergency services. For additional information or to locate the nearest SimplexGrinnell district office, visit www.simplexgrinnell.com
About Tyco Fire & Security
Tyco Fire & Security designs, manufactures, installs and services electronic security systems, fire protection, detection and suppression systems, sprinklers and fire extinguishers. Tyco Fire & Security consists of more than 60 brands including ADT, Scott, Sensormatic, SimplexGrinnell, Ansul, Total Walther, and Wormald, which are represented in over 100 countries. Its products are used to safeguard firefighters, prevent and fight fires, deter thieves and protect people and property.
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Copyright © 2003 SimplexGrinnell LP. All rights reserved.
Tyco, Simplex and Grinnell are trademarks of Tyco International Services AG or its affiliates.
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CONTACT: Chris Woodcock
Director, Marketing Communications
SimplexGrinnell
978-731-7052
chwoodcock@tycoint.com
Peter Ferris
Tyco International
603-334-3933
pferris@tyco.com
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