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RadioShack calls on Fire System Design for project

RadioShack calls on Fire System Design for project By Jeffrey Sanders, managing editor

HURST, Texas--When RadioShack set out to build its new headquarters in Fort Worth, the company had questions about the look and feel of its new fire detection system. Fire Systems Design had the answers. The long of it was a network of six alarm panels, 26 transponders, 2,400 notification devices, 83 manual pull stations, 92 heat detectors, 66 duct smoke detectors, 1,000 smoke detectors and one Notifier Network Command Center computer used to display alarm events in color. The short of it was, what should the fire system look like for the new headquarters? It is a campus with six buildings--three office buildings, a commons building, a retail store and parking garage--two million square feet of new construction and home to 2,400 employees. "It presented some real unique challenges," said Todd Burgart, vice president of Fire Systems Design, referring to the project. "We had to man up for the job." The RadioShack contract is one of the biggest jobs the company has undertaken. It is not, however, the largest dollar wise. That designation goes to the Fritz Lanham Federal Building in Fort Worth, which the company is now working on. Fire Systems Design began working with the electronics retailer in early 2003. And once the job started about one and one-half years ago, the company installed and tested the system in phases until RadioShack occupied the buildings this spring. Founded in August 1994, Fire Systems Design is an installer of fire alarms, an integrator and provider of related services. The company focuses on the north central region of Texas and employs approximately 24. "In the past few years, we have been marketing ourselves to promote our business," said Burgart. "Our primary focus is to get the word out so they know who we are and what we do." To do this, the company hosts informal learning seminars for engineers, end users and fire marshals. In the past, Fire Systems Design relied on word of mouth and repeat customers. Burgart said the company completed approximately 60 jobs last year, accounting for approximately one installation per week. The company is a Notifier NESCO Affiliate distributor and focuses primarily on commercial work. Without disclosing revenue figures, he said last year was the best in the company's history and this year revenue will not exceed that figure, but will come close. "We got a lot of business going on right now," he said. "It's very good, but we'll always take more." Fire Systems Design has no plans to expand its territory beyond north central Texas.

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