A Bi-Directional Amplifier, or BDA system, is an essential life safety system that makes sure first responders can send and receive crucial radio messages during an emergency. But it’s one that many people have never heard of. Fire Protection Alarm & Detection Manager Jerrad Carpenter explains the ABCs of BDAs. Q: What is a Bi-Directional Emergency Responder Radio Coverage System? A: A BDA/ERRCS system broadcasts communication signals through a system of amplifiers and antennas strategically engineered inside large buildings. These systems can support VHF/UHF/700Mhz/800Mhz/900Mhz. It’s a c ..read more

If you have a building with a fire sprinkler system, a monthly, quarterly or yearly inspection is required to make sure the system is up to code, functioning properly, and will spring into action if a fire breaks out in your building. These inspections should be conducted by a fire safety professional who is certified, knowledgeable, and up to date on all codes and requirements.  How often your system needs to be inspected depends on the type of system you have installed, and local or state fire code and building code regulations. The company that installed your sprinkler system, or ..read more

Home. A word with many different meanings to many people. To most, it is a noun where one lives permanently, especially as a family or household member. But it is more than just that place of dwelling; it is a place of peace and contentment where you can be yourself and unwind; it is a place where one feels safe. Protecting your loved ones and the contents of your home is an essential piece of everyday safety. W&M Fire Protection installs fire sprinkler systems in new house construction and retrofit systems in existing homes. W&M offers complete fire protection services, including spr ..read more

Hopefully you never encounter a house fire, but it pays to include security measures like fire sprinklers to keep your family safe. A fire can become deadly in as little as two minutes, not allowing much time between fire alarms going off and widespread flames! Time for evacuation can be limited, causing a severe safety hazard especially for the elderly, disabled, children, and pets that may need assistance.  Home fire sprinklers consist of many sprinkler heads all attached to a water source that is deployed individually to protect the area affected by fire. Each sprinkler head has a hea ..read more

If you have a building with a fire sprinkler system, a monthly, quarterly or yearly inspection is required to ensure the system is functioning properly and will be employed upon the event of a fire. When the fire professionals come in for inspection, they will leave tags on each riser of your sprinkler system, and on each fire extinguisher.  Fire Sprinkler Inspection Tags Inspection tags will be 7×3.5” and will be green, yellow, orange, or red in color. The tags are indicators of the health of the system and are specific to the area in which they are attached.  Green tag: System is f ..read more

W&M Fire Protection is proud to be celebrating its 30th anniversary as a fire protection provider in 2023. While W&M Fire Protection was founded in 1993, our company has been around for over 100 years as a mechanical contractor. The founders of W&M Fire Protection were Emile H. Munier III and Sami C. Khoueiri. In 2007, W&M Fire Protection became a division of Davis-Ulmer Fire Protection, a successful fire protection company serving New York and the Northeastern United States. Davis-Ulmer is a member of APi Group, Inc. international corporation focusing on providing life safety ..read more

One commonly issued FDNY violation is for the 5-Year fire department connection (FDC) test. It is mandated by NFPA 25 and NYC Fire Code that the FDC for your fire sprinkler system undergoes hydrostatic testing every 5 years. What is a Fire Department Connection? A fire department connection is a part of a fire sprinkler or standpipe system that the fire department can connect to during a fire to pump additional water into the sprinkler system to allow it to quickly and effectively suppress a fire. Although NFPA compliant fire sprinkler systems are designed to get their water from the building ..read more

Just like you depend on firefighters to put out a fire, firefighters depend on fire hydrants for their water supply. Coming full circle, your fire hydrants then depend on you to keep up on inspections and testing in order to remain in working condition. If you fail to regularly inspect and test your hydrant, you are putting your area or business at serious risk. Your water supply provided by your fire hydrant is crucial to keeping you and your building safe in the event of a fire. How often Should you Test and Inspect your Fire Hydrant? If a fire is to occur, you do not want to be questioning ..read more

1. Are Newer Homes More Fire Safe than Older Homes? Newer homes with open designs and lightweight construction allow a fire to spread faster and are more hazardous than fires that occur in older homes. In a newer home, occupants may have as little as two minutes to escape a fire which is much lower than it is for an older home. 2. Why Were Fire Sprinklers Added to National Model Codes? 9 out of 10 fire deaths occur at home. Both ICC and NFPA model codes aim to provide a minimum level of life safety. In order to provide this level of safety, ICC and NFPA model codes require fire sprinklers in h ..read more

On October 7th, the NYC Department of Buildings voted to pass a holistic update to the city’s Construction Codes. The new changes include 600 major updates that are designed to improve safety for New Yorkers. This is the first comprehensive update to the entire set of NYC Administrative, Plumbing, Building, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes since 2014. Some fire and life safety revisions to the codes include the expansion of the number of high-rise residential buildings that require emergency voice evacuation systems as well as requirements for FDNY access to exit stairways. “The updated codes app ..read more