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PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: One stop shopping for fire protection and low voltage systems SimplexGrinnell supplies, services equipment ranging from fire sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers to intercoms, security and fire alarms Alan Bailey PNA Contributing Writer
Security and fire protection have moved a long way from the stand-alone burglar alarms, fire alarms and fire extinguishers of a few years ago. Nowadays engineers build security and protection systems that use low voltage electronics to achieve a high degree of automation and systems integration. Similar electronic technology controls and connects internal building communications systems such as intercoms and closed circuit television.
SimplexGrinnell LP offers services for the design, installation, maintenance and inspection of all forms of building security, fire protection and internal communications equipment. The company operates more than 150 centers throughout the United States.
SimplexGrinnell was formed in early 2001 from the merger between Grinnell Fire Protection and Simplex, when Tyco International Ltd. acquired Simplex. Tyco is a multinational corporation that manufactures, supplies and services a wide range of products, including underwater fiber optic cable, fire protection equipment, electronic equipment, medical supplies and flow control equipment.
Grinnell was a leading manufacturer of fire sprinkler systems, with a company history dating back to 1850. Simplex started out in the late 1800s as a manufacturer of industrial time recording devices; the company later expanded its business to the manufacture of fire alarms.
More than 40 years in Alaska “The company started up in Alaska in the late ‘50s, early ‘60s, under Grinnell Fire Protection,” Jeffrey Wilcheck, district general manager of SimplexGrinnell, told PNA.
Initially the company ran its Alaska services out of Seattle, but it established a permanent office in Anchorage in the late 1960s.
“Through ... the ‘70s and ‘80s we were pretty much a fire sprinkler company that offered additional services like inspections, maintenance and repair,” Wilcheck said. “We did handle all the big contract jobs as well.” For example, Grinnell carried out the installation of the fire sprinkler systems for the Performing Arts Center, as well as, the retrofit of the sprinkler system in the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage.
“We did a lot of the code upgrades that came out,” Wilcheck said. Customers included Westward Seafoods in Dutch Harbor and the Sheraton and Hilton Hotels in Anchorage. The company installed the majority of the fire sprinkler systems in all the Carrs stores, Wilcheck said.
Expanding the services “In the early ‘90s Tyco started purchasing companies that extended our fire protection base,” Wilcheck said.
For example, in 1992 Tyco bought Wormwald, an Australian manufacturer and distributor of fire extinguishers. Wormwald supplied fire suppressant foam and manufactured Ansul fire extinguishers. The Anchorage office of Wormald was merged with the Grinnell Fire Protection office. Later, in 1995, Grinnell bought Alaska Fire Extinguisher, Wilcheck said.
In parallel with its expansion into the fire extinguisher business, Grinnell became involved in supplying and servicing fire alarms. Tyco acquired Thorn/Autocall, a manufacturer and contractor of fire alarms. This acquisition provided Grinnell with its own fire alarm product for expansion into the fire alarm market.
In December 2000 Grinnell in Alaska purchased Audio-Video Inc., thus making a major move into the supply of integrated low voltage systems.
“This has brought in a complete fire alarm, low voltage and integrated system contractor,” Wilcheck said. “Audio-Video was one of the largest and most recognized fire alarm and low voltage contractor in the state.”
Low voltage installations by Audio-Video included the boardroom presentation system for the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. and the boardroom center for the National Bank of Alaska. Audio-Video also provided many of the fire alarm systems for schools statewide.
The merger of Grinnell with Simplex in 2001 consolidated the growth of a company that now offers a complete range of fire safety, security and low voltage systems.
SimplexGrinnell now operates three offices in Alaska — in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks.
“We have a staff of 70 here in Anchorage,” Wilcheck said. “The Fairbanks office ... has a staff of 16.” The small satellite office in Juneau has a staff of two, he said.
Current service lines SimplexGrinnell’s current service offerings span three major divisions — mechanical, electronics and fire suppression. The company also provides a 24-hour emergency repair and maintenance service for all of the products that it supplies.
The company’s mechanical division supplies and services sprinkler and special hazards systems such as gas-based fire suppressants.
The electronics division supplies low voltage systems such as fire alarms, intercoms, building access control, closed circuit television and nurse call systems. The division’s electronics shop is Underwriters Laboratories licensed, so that the shop can UL certify relay and switch boxes that it assembles for customers’ applications. The company particularly excels in the design and installation of integrated electronic systems.
“A large integrated system was the (Anchorage) Assembly chambers, where they upgraded their video and provided electronic voting,” Wilcheck said. “We provided the presentation system — and the ability for them to hook up their laptops to provide Powerpoint presentations, as well as upgrading the voting system.”
Currently the company is supplying the new fire alarm, intercom and security systems for Dimond High School and it recently installed the sprinklers, fire alarms and security system in the new Arctic Slope Regional Corp. building in Anchorage.
The company’s fire suppression division supplies fire extinguishers, safety equipment and kitchen hood systems. As part of its equipment maintenance services, this division can do hydrostatic testing of high-pressure cylinders, such as cylinders for scuba diving.
Oil industry support SimplexGrinnell has been involved in the Alaska oil industry for many years.
“We retrofitted some of the camps up on the North Slope (with sprinkler systems) and service a lot of the special hazard systems (for the oil industry),” Wilcheck said. The company also supplies water mist systems that are commonly used in oil industry facilities.
Inspection and servicing form major components of the company’s oil industry work.
“Everything that’s installed has to be inspected and maintained every year ... so we have a staff of ... inspection technicians,” Wilcheck said. “Their job is to ... inspect and test all these installed systems and certify that they work correctly.” SimplexGrinnell also provides technical support for engineering firms that build facilities for the oil industry or that are involved in other types of construction project — the company augments the design and engineering teams with certified experts in fire protection and low voltage applications.
“With our extensive background and our years of service, a lot of our technicians and designers are NICET certified, and that’s recognized by the state,” Wilcheck said.
The challenges of Alaska With frequent work assignments in remote parts of Alaska, Wilcheck finds it essential to employ people with multiple skills and high degree of self-sufficiency. With the time and cost of travel in Alaska, it isn’t cost-effective to send whole teams of people on remote assignments.
“We send a lot of technicians out to the field that have to deal with many issues and troubleshoot very thoroughly,” Wilcheck said. “We actually have a very talented employment pool, so that we can send one person that’s certified in two different categories.”
One-stop shopping SimplexGrinnell is continuing to pursue new markets for its services in Alaska. The company is trying to publicize the versatility of its services — many potential customers don’t know about the total range of services that SimplexGrinnell can provide.
“Our biggest challenge is to explain to the customer that we are a one-stop shopping service provider,” Wilcheck said. “We can do anything fire protection related and low voltage related.”
And thanks to its skilled and experienced staff, SimplexGrinnell enjoys a reputation for getting out and completing the work on time.
“That really makes a difference,” Wilcheck said.
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