 Attention to Detail
Pays Off
Allied Fire and Security Offers Advice on Installing the INTREPID™ MicroPoint Cable System
Following a written set of instructions is an element in the installation process that sometimes gets overlooked, but the experienced technician knows that setting aside the time to read an installation manual can make a huge difference in getting new equipment up and running successfully. The experts at Allied Fire and Security are no exception. Operating by the book has allowed them to successfully install Southwest Microwave's INTREPID™ MicroPoint™ Cable Perimeter Fence Detection System every time.
Allied Fire and Security provides security products and services to corporate businesses, industrial and residential customers. With offices in Spokane, Seattle and Portland, the company offers a wide array of security solutions including access control, CCTV, intrusion detection sensors and alarm monitoring tools. From basic protection applications to more sophisticated networked security systems, Allied Fire and Security has been serving the Pacific Northwest for more than 50 years.
The company’s longstanding experience installing the INTREPID system made them the perfect candidate to introduce MicroPoint Cable at the Washington Institute of Corrections (WIC) —one of Allied’s largest security systems projects to date.
“I really like the breakthrough fence sensor technology that Southwest Microwave has come up with, and I’m especially impressed with how easy INTREPID Micropoint Cable is to work with,” says Scott Szobota, Field Supervisor at Allied Fire and Security. “In addition, Southwest Microwave provides superior training with a hands-on approach so technicians are better prepared when installing and troubleshooting the system.”
Read Carefully
Szoboda insists that the secret behind a successful installation of the INTREPID MicroPoint Cable system is as simple as attending the training class and reading the manual. He says that paying close attention to the step by step details it contains can help prevent challenges down the road.
“Once you deviate from the instructions, not only can you run into trouble, you can also waste time.”
For example, because the MicroPoint cable contains delicate sense wires and a center conductor, it can be sensitive to rough handling. Szoboda recommends following cable handling procedures outlined in the manual to avoid causing damage to the cable prior to installation, and to prevent having to remove and replace cable that may have been rendered nonfunctional due to improper handling techniques.
Szoboda advises other INTREPID users to ensure that wire connections are made as per the directions in the manual, and that cable is hung according to specifications.
“Be sure that there is adequate cable spacing at each fence post to prevent stress-induced damage to the cable in the event of attack. Also, leaving adequate drip loops at the processor provides extra cable to work with if future repairs are necessary.”
Szobota continues, “I strongly encourage technicians to read the manual even if they’ve installed the INTREPID system before, because they might overlook crucial steps if they’ve been out of practice. It’s good to keep refreshing your memory.”
Challenges with the Weather
Situated in a region where rain is a frequent visitor, INTREPID system installation and servicing can get difficult when the weather is not cooperating. For instance, changing out an INTREPID processor is easy enough if it’s bright and sunny.
“However,” says Szoboda, “when you’re working in conditions with lots of rain, wind or even ice storms, we often choose to stop working because terminating cable in harsh weather is not the ideal scenario. Exposed cable can be sensitive to moisture, so when it’s wet and we’re cutting and splicing wire, we either come up with ways to cover the equipment, or we wait until it’s dry.”
As part of a preventative maintenance program for their INTREPID installations, and per the INTREPID installation manual, Szoboda ensures that his team applies adequate dielectric grease to keyways when terminating the MicroPoint cable to prevent moisture or air getting into the cable. They also check grease levels regularly to avoid system malfunctions.
Thorough Testing Essential
With any perimeter security system, rigorous testing is the key to making sure that equipment performs properly. At the Washington Institute of Corrections, Szobota explains, it was critical to set detection sensitivity of the MicroPoint system at precisely the right level before taking the system live.
“We performed the initial calibration then worked with Southwest Microwave to perform further testing,” says Szobota. “We wanted the system to perform optimally, so we kept adjusting sensitivity until it successfully detected the cut and climb attempts but ignored nuisance alarms. We achieved uniquely effective protection.”
When replacing a system, as they did at the WIC site, Szobota recommends keeping the existing system running while the new system is being installed.
“The INTREPID system is a very stable security system, but to maintain site security constant, keep the original system operational until the new one tests 100% ready to go,” he says.
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