Clouds 5/10/21
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud's illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all…
(“Both Sides Now” Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. First recorded by Judy Collins, it appeared on the US singles chart during the fall of 1968.)
For those of us old enough to remember, these lyrics bring back fond memories as well as giving introspection.
As a young Aircrewman in the United States Navy, one of my primary responsibilities was to operate an airborne RADAR system. Typically only operated to detect objects on the surface, it could also be aimed heaven-ward to get an idea of just what was in certain cloud formations. High winds inside of clouds are often present with high amounts of precipitation. This mass of water reflects the radar’s electronic beam and paints a very definitive picture of an area you probably wanted to steer around if you were inside of an airplane.
There were, basically, two kinds of cloud formations that you could be reasonably certain that you wanted to avoid; Cumulonimbus and Nimbostratus. In the aforementioned cloud type the column edges are usually very well defined on a pillowy puff of, often, a brilliant white as it stretches upward from the rest of the clouds. These sometimes contain invisible shear winds that can wreak havoc on an aircraft. The other type is the “wall” of grey that we’ve all seen as a precursor to heavy showers and is just pure “yuck”. The cumulo’ was almost always easily recognized and avoided by the pilots; but sometimes they would be big or numerous enough to warrant firing up the radar and determining their “weakest” point for us to navigate through. This was always true of the “wall” cloud formation.
Except to say that at that point I naively believed that I actually did “Know Clouds”, I’ll continue with - Enough of the Junior Weather-person lecture.
In 2021, it’s the world of computing that has continued the rush to “The Cloud” for their needs. When computers initially began their dominance in business and industry they were connected within the office with the LAN or Local Area Network. This meant that ALL of the equipment that connected ALL of your computers physically resided at your location. It quickly became apparent that the amount of available storage was a primary factor for the speed at which a company’s local network operated. As your network grew, you needed more and more storage as the amount of data that any of your computers might need to access grew as well. Network engineers were constantly faced with the conundrum of supplying this need with more, or larger, storage devices. Often, with fluctuating times of high or low tempo operations, it became frustrating to the engineers and their superiors who had purchased large amounts of very expensive storage only to have it sit unused during any natural lull in business activity.
The LAN is still in use today but a then-little-used component of it – the WAN (Wide Area Network) - has come forward to play the role of significant importance. Initially, the WAN was merely a supplier of the internet. It was used to look up information, send emails, and the uploading or downloading of program updates and, really, not much more. Today, that is no longer the case. Today it brings – The Cloud.
Simply put, The Cloud is supplied for your use by any of a number of Cloud Service Providers. These entities have leased space on servers at innumerable Data Centers located around the globe. It is to these data centers, among countless others, that your provider can supply you with redundant storage where you may access not only your own data, but even software and programs. In fact, when your cloud data is stored, it is automatically stored on more than one server at more than one data center so that in the event of a catastrophe at one center, your data remains intact at another. Perhaps one of the best aspects of Cloud Storage is that you only pay for what you need. You don't pay for anything that you aren't using! Efficient and economical.
While some may see the cloud as a device where any hacker can get a crack at your data, take solace, as your information is protected as well. All of your data is encrypted through more than one way. I won’t bore you with the details, but your computer automatically has two cryptographic keys. While other computers can indeed send you data with the Cloud Service Supplier giving your public key, your computer – and only your computer – is able to decipher that data as only your machine has the private key.
So that is “Cloud Storage”. As terrific as it is, there is another feature to utilizing this amazing “device” and it is known as Cloud Computing.
Cloud computing also involves clients connecting to remote computing infrastructure via a network, but this time that infrastructure includes shared processing power, software, and other resources. This frees users from having to constantly update and maintain their software and systems, while at the same time allowing them to harness the processing power of a vast network. Familiar everyday services powered by cloud computing include social networks like Facebook, webmail clients like Gmail, and online banking apps. (Howitworksteam, “Cloud Storage, What is it and How does it work?”, 25/04/2019, https://www.howitworksdaily.com/cloud-storage-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work)
So with this short explanation, I hope that I have put a dent in your ability to “Know Clouds”.
CCTV - Four letters that end in TV
Over 20 years ago, in 2000, America was caught up in watching a new show; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. This show brought to the forefront, you guessed it, crime scene investigation. Tech was huge in the story development and video surveillance was routinely used. Stored video was obtained from gas stations or diners near the crime and criminals were being identified through facial recognition software.
National exposure to this tech and the endless databases of apparently readily-accessible information may have gotten its start on this show, but the video envelope was really pushed forward with the advent of NCIS. On this show, Jethro’s sneaky little innocent, Timothy, would instantly access remote databases around the globe from his laptop – oftentimes without permission! He would then enhance the usually-grainy images and cull the info that was needed. The next spin offs were NCIS LA and NCIS: New Orleans. In these, the viewer was introduced to “smart boards” where the actor could “swipe” video info from their laptop on to a large flat-screen with a wave of their hand. Entire files were deleted or merged with the simulated motion of the actor’s hands as they “grabbed” the screen and “balled” it up or “smashed” them together. It’s still done today. On the remake of Hawaii Five-O, the group gathers around their smart board every week to be briefed; amazing stuff!
This tech really does exist and is in use today – with refinements beyond even what Hollywood is showing.
Why the history lesson in tv shows? Because DataCom Inc. sells CCTV cameras and recording systems. Many of our customers are desirous of some of the above features. My only warning at this point is “you might want to sit down”. The price tag can be just a bit daunting.
To access the facial recognition aspect, you first need the software on your monitoring systems. The initial outlay of cash for this, while getting less and less every day, can be quite expensive. You also need cameras capable of delivering a picture with high enough resolution so that the software may actually work. This means high pixel count. High pixel count means higher priced cameras as well as higher storage capacity on your NVR. Thus, these costs go up as well. And, of course, the infrastructure of your data network must be able to handle the additional traffic and power needs that these high-end cameras place upon it.
Bosch has a simple model which details pixel requirements for four different conditions:
1. Detection – Something is there and/or moving.
2. Classification – What is it? Animal, object, or human?
3. Recognition – Friend or foe. By what it is and what it is doing.
4. Identification – Specifically, who it is, beyond any reasonable doubt.
A chart from Axis gives the pixels generally required across a human face in order to achieve the given condition.
Condition Pixels
Detection 4
Recognition 20
ID (Good conditions) 40
ID (Poor conditions) 80
We use this with other charts to determine which cameras are needed for various widths of area covered by the camera’s field of view and range to the target.
For our “high-end” CCTV systems, DataCom Inc. sells, installs, and maintains both Axis and Bosch CCTV systems. These cameras can be analog or IP. They are typically coupled with a Milestone NVR. Analog cameras are attached to digital NVR’s using an analog encoder.
For a lower-priced system, DataCom offers the Hikvision camera and NVR pairing.
The trick here, is to meld your security needs, your personal desires, and your budget. Your budget speaks for itself so that's easy; what's more difficult is to come up with a balance between your needs and your desires. No matter what you decide, DataCom offers, and is expert at installing and servicing, CCTV solutions that fit whatever you may require.
No Fries - Chips! April 27, 2021
I just googled “What is the biggest concern today?” Once I scrolled past the ads I was able to pick a few articles to scan. For the U.S. it seemed that political problems were at the forefront on the lists. Moving to the articles that shared Global concerns, I then got to what I consider to be slightly more imperative matters like:
“Increased access to clean water and improved education around proper sanitation has resulted in an overall decrease in the prevalence of transferable diseases worldwide.” (https://www.gviusa.com/blog/6-critical-global-issues-what-are-the-worlds-biggest-problems-and-how-i-can-help/)
One topic that my hurried research did not divulge was the diminishing availability of computer chips. This is due to the Covid-19 reaction exacerbated by weather and a fire at a major manufacturer. Another aspect is that with the lock-downs and stay-at-home schooling, demand for tech actually went up as there was more time available during normal work hours for using devices.
While all areas of technology have suffered due to this shortage of chips, one of the hardest hit is the automobile industry. Virtually all auto manufacturers have had to initiate shut-downs at various plants world-wide. The arguments about fuel efficiency and carbon emissions become null and void when new vehicles are not being produced. The manufacturers cannot afford ludicrous R&D budgets to bring about our future super cars when they aren’t selling what they can’t make!
Another business that is suffering with this shortage is DataCom Inc. We are, primarily, a technology company. Not only are we good at it, but we enjoy installing new systems with 21st century technology. We are in the process of becoming a Dealer in an intrusion alarm system that is sure to enjoy huge success in the current “Smart Home” market. Some of the really innovative and useful features are:
1. This system employs a host of sensors that are all connected and controlled wirelessly through either an app on your cell or panels installed throughout your home. Forgot to close the garage door? Not a problem, bring it up on your cell and after confirming that it is indeed open, close the door from wherever you are. It can also close the door automatically when your cell goes out of range of your “Geo Fence”. As you reenter range, the door opens, the lights in the garage come on. With entry of a code on the app the house door unlocks, depending on time of day the entry light may come on and the alarm is disarmed automatically. If these are your children getting home from school, you can get notification that your child’s code was used, as well as a screen shot of them as they entered their code.
2. When the smoke detector senses smoke, a siren sounds, first responders are notified, your thermostat is disabled to prevent the blower from further circulating the smoke, your lights come on, and the doors unlock making it easier for you to exit the house. All of this is done automatically. Your current smoke detectors rely on someone being available to hear the alert and then, hopefully, calling the fire department.
3. With the water sensors you can install near potential leaks, they’re monitoring 24/7. On detecting a problem, the system not only notifies you but it can turn off the main valve supplying water to the house. This is especially helpful when no one is at home. Early notification and shutting the water off can combine to help prevent a catastrophic event with its expensive final bill!
4. In addition to all of the normal intrusion devices (door and window contacts, glass breaks, motion sensors) there can be cameras on the system as well. Not only can you monitor your home, but you can see and talk to your family members within the house without having to traipse all over the place. I can well imagine having finished cooking in the kitchen, calling the kids in the play-room to let them know that dinner is ready and that they should come to the dining room to eat. I could then watch them to ensure that they are listening and putting their games away and getting washed up.
The cameras come in all shapes and sizes, both indoor and outdoor, with their data being controlled by “rules” that you set up. They, basically, detect whether what they are "seeing" is: Human, Animal, or Vehicle. These three items cover the vast majority of what the home-owner is concerned with. To preclude the necessity of a huge storage device, the cameras are event-driven based on the alarms and rules that you set up. This means that the video is only recorded when the camera is seeing something you have told them to look for or an alarm from one of the other sensors has triggered. The system can accomodate up to forty cameras.
4. Some of the sensors may be employed within the house for reasons other than Intrusion Detection; For instance you can set up the system that when the door contact on your pantry door is opened, the light comes on automatically; and when closed it extinguishes. A motion sensor can alert you when your child is in an area of the house that they’re not allowed to be in unescorted.
So - To the point of this blog - the problem is that all of this wonderful technology is controlled via a Qualcomm Data Chip. Qualcomm is the major manufacturer of almost all of the chips in today’s cell phones. While our Intrusion System manufacturer has systems in stock today, no one is able to promise what the future will bring. There are rumors:
"Cisco chief Chuck Robbins told the BBC: "We think we've got another six months to get through the short term. "The providers are building out more capacity. And that'll get better and better over the next 12 to 18 months."" (https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56847518)
Well I certainly hope so. I want to install this system for someone and impress them with how well it works!
Shooter Detection Systems (SDS) - April 21, 2021
Recently, as part of the over-all security measures at a distribution warehouse in Lordstown, DataCom Inc. installed a gun-shot detection system. This particular install was integrated with their intrusion alarm system and consisted of (19) sensors and (20) notification strobe lights.
In a typical shooting, once the first shot is fired, the average time until the authorities are initially notified is five minutes. This is typically by a witness reporting that an active shooter is on scene and engaged with the public. Thankfully, I’ve never been in this situation, but I can well imagine the doubt that would be running through everybody’s minds before they would want to alert the police. "What the heck was that?" "That can't be good." Like most of us, I too live in, and normally find myself working in, a basically peaceful neighborhood. Even when forced to enter the most questionable of areas, I’m not “on alert” for someone shooting at myself or others. This means that valuable time is wasted when this horrific event does occur.
It’s been reported that by the time the victim decides to call for help, they’re typically in such a state that inaccurate information is often given to the 911 dispatcher. As humans, our emotions can get the better of us and we pay attention to that instead of pertinent information that could actually help the first responders. “Is anybody shot? How many shooters? Where are they now?" Etc. These are questions that need answers; Answers that often aren’t readily available to the caller who isn’t within eyesight of the gunman.
What is needed is a rock-solid witness that is detached and unafraid with an immediate connection to the local police. This is exactly what the modern Shot Detection System (SDS) provides.
First, within milliseconds, the system quickly and accurately detects that a bonafide gunshot has been detected in the area. This is accomplished by at least three different sensors. The first is an audible detector; it “hears” the shot’s audible levels and frequency. Next is an infrared detector. The muzzle flash of a gunshot disturbs the IR section of light waves and is detectable at quite a distance. The third sensor is a pressure sensor. The percussion from a gunshot is also measurable. The audio, the flash and the percussion affect their respective mediums in a distinct, known manner. The SDS, through very complex software, analyzes these disturbances against others and determines if they are the result of a gunshot or not. There are other proprietary sensors on some models of detectors, but for the most part these are the three primary ones.
The second phase of what the SDS provides is dependent on the programming of the system. It is possible that the customer has the system tied into their Intrusion Alarm system and that, in addition to lighting strobe lights throughout the facility for the unknowing workers, it also alerts the police of a gunshot immediately. Possibly it is programmed with their video surveillance system to have the PTZ cameras immediately point towards the gunshot and provide real-time video of the scene. In any case, with the right setup, not only are the authorities notified almost immediately, but they also know where the problem is in the building, and possibly are being live-streamed video as it happens.
If nothing else, an investment in an SDS system would have to bring about a favorable reaction from your Liability insurance provider as well as provide peace of mind to everyone protected by the system. And I sincerely hope that after installation at your facility, it is never needed.
5G: Some possibilities... April 14, 2021
About two years ago, I watched a seminar detailing the coming evolution of cellular wireless. As was stated in the seminar:
- 5G isn’t just another “G” - it’s a revolution! -
In my opinion, this “revolution” will take not just another insidious step in the removal of humans from humanity, but a giant LEAP towards that goal.
First and foremost, this IS NOT about better cell phones! Today’s cellular telephone on 4G does virtually everything that it will do on 5G. This is about a “system” of wireless data transmission that will affect, to some degree, almost everything you do on a day-to-day basis. Also, true 5G is quite a way down the road. (Or so I thought when this was written, see below.) How far is unknown at this time. It was only in the last couple of years that placement of 4G hardware was 100% completed across the country. 5G requires total replacement of ALL of this. The expenditure that was incurred installing 4G, (as well as the money spent on R&D of 5G) has not yet been recouped by the cellular providers. Thus, complete 4G equipment replacement isn’t economically feasible at this time. So… What is going on is that, at many locations, 5G technology is being “pushed” over 4G equipment. This is probably a good thing as it will give the programmers and code talkers a chance to work the “bugs” out of their brand-new system before its actual wholesale release. In the end, all wireless data transmission will be conducted via 5G cellular wireless. All wireless devices will all have a radio that “makes calls” via 5G to transmit/receive data. And you'll be getting calls from devices that you never knew you wanted to talk to. (Wait until you hear about who's calling our Japanese friends...)
The seminar, talking about just a few sectors worldwide that will be most affected with the full implementation of this technology, brought up many possible scenarios as well as “solutions” to existing problems. Every single one of these involved “wearables” and “embeddables”; devices that are carried on or in the body that would be continuously monitored for various reasons. Think about the exploding market for Fit-Bits and Smart Watches. Soon, pretty much every item that does anything more than a paper clip does will have a 5G transmitter installed. Animals, devices, – and humans - can be “chipped” in a whole new way.
With 5G, it would become very conceivable for every human, having sensors installed under their skin at birth, to be monitored 24/7. These are cognitive systems that not only yield location but contain context-aware sensors. These are necessary to provide data for analytics. Analytics are the programs that are necessary to take said data and provide possible outcomes - and even predict future actions. It is an analytic program that tracks your internet activity and determines which pop up ads might be most useful or interesting to you based on the sites you’ve visited. This is one way that web sites make money. They either sell your searching and web site visit history to a company that does these analytics, or else they analyze your data themselves. Just one aspect to the type of info that you would be providing freely – and unknowingly. But I’m getting ahead of myself…
Allow me an example of the bandwidth available with 5G. One of the given day-to-day scenarios listed “Smart Stadiums”. With the implementation of 5G, every single attendee in these stadiums would be able to enjoy up to 50Mbps on their devices simultaneously! The reason given was so that the user could enjoy live streaming and instant replays on their smart phone or tablet. (Why - after spending exorbitant fees on tickets, parking, snacks, and refreshments, etc. - would I want to stream a game instead of just watching it live? And why would I want instant replays on my small screen when I could just look up at the “jumbotron”?)
While I’m sure this would add to the enjoyment of the game, wouldn’t it be more prudent to track how many hot dogs and beers I consumed while attending the game in order to supply my health insurance carrier with this information? (Especially if we were silly enough to adopt a government-mandated, taxpayer paid-for, health care insurance scheme.) This way the insurance company could continuously update my life span (or maybe increase my premium payments) as well as any other health concerns affected by my diet and lifestyle. Remember, this technology will involve wearables, at least. While you’re viewing the game, your every movement could be tracked. Your purchases could be tracked, etc.
It would be sold as a convenience; you don’t have to carry money or a credit card – no, all you do is scan your chip to the cash register and voila, done! Of course, the register knows who you are and can now disseminate this info – that you voluntarily gave – to whoever they wish.
At home, your toilet would have sensors also. (These already exist and are in use in Japan.) The device tests your waste to detect deficiencies in vitamins and minerals in your body. Appropriate groceries are then suggested (read: mandated) for you to consume to correct this deficiency. Screening for virus’ as well as other medical tests are also conducted with that information being forwarded to your doctor and health insurance agency as well. This is wonderful for catching diseases early, but maybe that info is something you want to keep private?... Sorry, that doesn’t fit with the plan.
World-famous surgeons will be available 24/7, at practically any location on the planet. They will conduct surgery even if located thousands of miles away from their patients utilizing virtual-reality visors and gloves connected via 5G wireless signals to a network with robots at the patient’s location doing the actual surgery. Keep in mind, today’s hackers make unauthorized long-distance calls on your phone or send strangely “suggestive” messages to your friends on social media. Tomorrow’s? Maybe carve a smiley face on your gizzard during your tonsil removal. (Too much? Sorry.) As of 3-15-19 there was a commercial on TV for one of the cell providers showing an artist “drawing” a picture on a tablet. In the next scene is a shirtless male laying on his stomach in what appears to be a sterile operating theatre. There is also a robotic arm next to the prostrate man. This arm is holding a tattoo needle and the drawing is being rendered beautifully on the man’s back. The idea of remotely-operated procedures is being normalized. Lifesaving? Sure, but at what price?
Autonomous cars that drive themselves are another area that will be affected. The cars, every one of them, will communicate on this 5G network! Of course, this also means that they will have to be “controlled” remotely as well. Yet another facet of life where we will lose the necessary skills to “fend for ourselves”. It is easy for me to visualize our government outlawing every other form of vehicle due to their being “dangerous” and much more prone to accidents.
Imagine this: Should you live in a remote area where ambulance services are not readily available, it might, sometime, become necessary for you to drive yourself or someone else to the local hospital due to an emergency. These trips are usually conducted with the posted speed limit being exceeded. Speeding can be dangerous. I have not heard mention of an “emergency” setting available on self-driving cars. I’m certain that speeding will be just one of the many things that these vehicles will not be allowed to do. It might be sold to the public with the line that it will “free up” law enforcement from traffic duty, so that they have more time available for “actual crimes”. And what is the local government going to do once the revenue stream from traffic tickets is eliminated? I’m guessing that police department manpower will not be reduced; even without the need for traffic officers. That means that money must be raised in some other way; more taxes anybody? Not to be macabre, but with the serious downturn in traffic deaths, how are we going to feed all of these people that should have passed in an auto accident, but are now alive?
I use my telephone’s GPS for navigating to all of our vacation destinations. I can’t imagine that self-driving cars would use anything too much different. Recently, on Interstate 70, a major, long-established highway in Indiana, I looked down to see that my navigation app had me out in the neighboring corn field. The highway was nowhere in sight! Thankfully, I didn’t believe it, and the silly thing recovered before my next turn. Another time, the pleasing voice instructed me to “Make a left turn”. As I gazed out over the cliff to my left, I decided not to heed the request. These are not uncommon occurrences. (Maybe it’s trying to make up for the lack of speed-related deaths?)
Not to mention; If the entity controlling my car decides that I shouldn’t go somewhere (or maybe don’t “need” to go somewhere) then they simply disable my car from going there. Using more than “your fair share” of gasoline? Oh no you’re not! Going into a bad neighborhood every Tuesday night? Maybe you’re working at a shelter handing out food or clothing – but maybe a better answer is: “You must be buying drugs”. We’ll go ahead and alert the local constabulary to “keep an eye on you”. No seatbelt? No move the car. No proof of insurance (although why do I need insurance – I’M NOT DRIVING)? No move the car. No freedom? Hey, you wanted it; It’s safe!
It should be frightening to see just how much control “they” will have over your/our existence. We will give it up gradually, but freely, so that we may enjoy all of the pleasures that this new technology will bring. But it still won’t make you a sammich. OK… it WILL let others know that you’re eating that delightful snack when the ‘fridge lets them know that you removed the mayo and returned it weighing 3oz less; and that the cheese appears to be missing 3 slices, and the salami, mortadella, and capicola add up to almost 1lb less; but the lack of lettuce, tomato, avocado use reveals that veggies are not high on your sammich list!
Update!.
One of my latest seminars was an introduction to Li-Fi. This is the acronym chosen for the wireless medium of data transmission via LED lighting. That is to say: every LED lightbulb, every single one of them, are capable of becoming a Wireless Access Point of sorts. The speed at which these devices can be switched on and off is so fast that it is not visible to the human eye; we are unable to detect when the LEDs are passing data, just being a light, or both! They are also able to operate in the dark, as the light is on for such a short period of time that it does not register to the human eye. Also, the wireless spectrum for radio frequency Wi-Fi is fast becoming “crowded” with all of the devices accessing Wi-Fi at any one time. (It is estimated that up to 60% of ALL data transmission is via wireless.) Using the light spectrum opens up this spectrum by over 1000 times and makes available speeds that are up to 10,000 times faster! (It is predicted that the initial bottleneck regarding speed of transmission will be in the switch gear itself.)
This technology will become integral to the installation of 5G. It will lighten the “load” potentially placed on the 5G mechanical infrastructure. No longer will it be necessary to build the number of cellular towers I talked about above or launch the vast numbers of cellular satellites. Every device that uses an LED bulb, can be networked. And remember, coupled with 5G they don’t have to be physically connected to each other! I’m certain that any lag times experienced while you are out of range of an LED or a cell tower, will be reduced by analytics. They will determine what data is most important to transmit/receive and will have that on the data stream before the mundane stuff like time and temperature thus making your wait time less, if only fractionally, once you're back in range.
Incandescent light bulbs have been being phased out in the United States for quite a while now. Amazingly, clear back in 2011, Li-Fi was demonstrated to not only be theoretically feasible, but to actually work! To move forward with Li-Fi implementation, the first thing that has to be done is the mass replacement of incandescent bulbs for LED bulbs. I know, We’ll FORCE them to do it! We’ll tell them it’s to save the planet!! Coincidence?
Why was 5G brought into the public’s eye a couple of years ago, but Li-Fi, though in existence, not mentioned for another 2 years? Once the 5G embeddables and Li-Fi systems are completely implemented, the powers that be, will be able to constantly track, and analyze through analytics, every human being on earth. One supposition is that if all of this was brought out at the same time, some enterprising, thinking, individual might, just might, put two and two together and come up with four!
Through the companies controlling 5G, we will not only be tracked, but the information that we are able to have access to will be strictly controlled “for our own good”, (Think of what Google has admitted to recently regarding political searches), similar to the way that our children’s public education is conducted today. I, for one, do not look forward to this future! Remember this: “If it sounds too good to be true, it is”!
That last sentence sums up this rant perfectly. I’m not being a conspiracy theorist. I’m simply relaying truths and giving possible outcomes based on having paid attention – and remembering – for the last 30 years to what the government of The United States has done in the past thereby proving what it is capable of doing in the future. Couple that with what our current spate of "leaders" - at all levels - are promising and what is possible (probable?) becomes a little less hazy.
Firestopping
Firestopping is: A System of passive materials and procedures which greatly impedes the progress of a fire – and sometimes more importantly, smoke – from penetrating a wall, floor, or ceiling opening.
This affords your company four vital items:
1. Time for your sensors to detect a fire, or smoke, and then signal your horns and or strobes, to sound the alarm.
2. Time for your personnel to exit the danger area before being overcome.
3. Time for your suppression system, if installed, to activate and quell the source
4. Time for emergency responders to arrive to your facility thereby limiting structural damage as much as possible.
Always required in hospitals and public schools, firestopping is often warranted at many other locations. When driven by regulations and architectural specifications, the devices and methods are spelled out. When requested by the owner, the correct installation practices must be derived by you and your contractor. Choosing the correct firestopping devices and methods is a case-by-case decision and can be a daunting task. There are many choices available from foams and caulks, to pillows and pre-made sleeves.
At DataCom Inc., we are extremely qualified to help you decide which system to install; we continually update our knowledge base of this vital component of construction. We stay abreast of the current standards, visit the construction site to determine the make-up of the wall or floor we are dealing with, the requirements of the government, the desires of the customer, and consult with the firestopping manufacturer for their recommendations. We then expertly install up to and beyond what is determined to be the correct system.
DataCom techs utilize EZ Path pathway devices, SSB Firestop Pillows, SSM Firestop Mortar, as well as other sealants, foams and sprays. Our safety record is unsurpassed for both the initial install and during the life of the system.
New for 2021
Some things have changed • April 05, 2021
Late last Fall Joe Dickey Electric acquired DataCom Inc. As an electrical contractor in the Mahoning Valley for over 60 years, the sheer size of their customer-base and accumulated business knowledge has everyone at DataCom very excited to begin working more closely with them. We've already partnered up with them for the mammoth TJX/Homegoods distribution warehouse in Lordstown. Begun in November, we are currently in the process of completing a successful installation there. The distribution warehouse, a $90 million facility has over 1.2 million square feet of concrete floor with a approximately 300,000 sq/ft mezzanine above.
We installed: (99) office Intrusion/Alarm devices and (526) in the warehouse; (35) Office Access-Control doors and (10) in the warehouse; (30) Office cameras and (154) in, and outside of, the Warehouse. In addition, we installed a Shot Detection System to warn of the discharge of a firearm with (19) sensors in the Office areas and (20) Strobe lights for notification in the warehouse.
We've begun preparations for moving on to the GM Battery Plant (approximately 3X the size of TJX) as well as Lordstown Motors, both of which are located in Lordstown.
While growing and experiencing larger and larger jobs, we're still the same technology company that we've prided ourselves as being over the past 25 years. We continue to install and service state-of-the-art camera, entry-access, and telephone systems. We still install infrastructure cabling utilizing both copper and fiber offering a lifetime warranty for the system. What's changed is that we now are able to more easily call upon our parent-company to supply their wealth of knowledge and man-power when faced with larger, more daunting tasks. In the past, we might have needed to sub-contract out for some of the more industrial-sized jobs; now we partner with 'Dickey regularly to get the job scheduled quickly and installed promptly and professionally.
