Web service consolidates fire product info

August 28, 2003 COLUMBUS, Ohio - The general manager of a Notifier and Edwards Systems Technology distributor here has developed a web resource that combines the product specifications of these manufacturers, and others, into a single spot on the web. The new website, www.surespec.info, is designed to eliminate the mounds of paper catalogs, CD-ROMs and updates juggled by systems designers as they hunt for the most appropriate product and system for many different applications. Through SureSpec, a designer can also search by product type and name, model number and compare the systems of up to three manufacturers side by side. At press time, SureSpec had 18 different manufacturers on board, said John Larkin, president of SureSpec, more than half of the estimated 30 fire systems manufacturers in the market. As a 12-year veteran of the fire and security industry, Larkin said he has repeatedly found a need for this type of service, both in the field and working with engineers. A recent seminar held for engineers in Security Corp.'s offices found that information the company had in house for smoke heads were all outdated, he said. When engineers, architects and spec writers develop a project, "the fire alarm is the last thing they put together before the project goes to bid," Larkin said. "I wanted to build a site to help them do their job better." One user, Fire Systems Design of Hurst, Texas, said the site is a worthwhile tool to have the most recent information at its fingertips. Because the company is a Notifier ESD, said Todd Burgart, director of marketing, the site won't replace the information his company gets directly from Notifier. "It is a great tool for when we get specs for a job that call for a competitive brand, we are able to view and see the proper comparative fit and be able to find the right product."