A well-maintained commercial fire alarm system is vital for the safety and protection of lives and property. Recent technological advancements with fire alarm systems have improved overall performance, and have also made repairing legacy systems more difficult. While annual service trips and commercial fire alarm testing often fulfill safety checks and requirements, when the fire alarm & life safety systems in a facility become too old or the technology outdated, you’ll need to consider updating them.
HOW LONG DO COMMERCIAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS LAST?
The lifespan of a commercial fire alarm system typically ranges from 10 to 15 years. This can vary based on different factors, including the quality of the system, if the equipment has received regular maintenance over its lifespan, and technological advancements. By conducting regular system inspections and equipment maintenance on commercial fire alarms, your equipment can last longer and perform better. Egan’s local team of commercial fire alarm technicians in the Twin Cities and Rochester can help perform an inspection on your system and make a plan for necessary repairs and maintenance.
KEEP YOUR FACILITY SAFE
The most important aspect of your building and your business is that everyone inside is safe. By keeping a pulse on your facility’s fire alarm & life safety systems, you can rest assured that occupants will be alerted and kept safe in case of an emergency. Whether you need an annual facility and equipment inspection, or if it’s been more than 10 years since you’ve replaced your commercial fire alarms, the local team at Egan Company can help. Our fire alarm team partners with you to determine the best course of action to keep your building’s systems in top shape and provide comfort and safety to everyone inside. Get in touch with Egan to schedule a fire alarm inspection or an audit of your existing system to learn about options for your facility.
Commercial buildings, retail spaces, and warehouses spend on average one-third of their operating costs on energy usage, including lighting, refrigeration, heating, cooling, and water heating. With new technology and building automation solutions, energy efficient initiatives can improve a building’s decarbonization, lower operating costs, and improve the overall environmental impact. Transitioning to energy efficient infrastructure is a strategic move that many businesses are implementing as they look ahead and prepare for the future.
INCORPORATE BUILDING AUTOMATION
Building automation systems (BAS) are one of the leading technologies in commercial energy efficiency initiatives. Integrating with smart technology, these systems enable easy monitoring and control of building functions, including lighting, heating, and cooling. The right BAS optimizes the energy efficiency within a facility, making adjustments based on internal and external conditions such as building occupancy, weather, and time of day.
Building automation systems can be controlled from a singular point, even across multiple buildings, making them user-friendly and accessible for a variety of corporate campuses, schools, and retail spaces. Connecting to an automation system can improve the energy efficiency, operating costs, and comfort within your facility, which can result in long-term payoffs for your business.
UPGRADE LEGACY PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS
Buildings that haven’t switched their Automation systems from pneumatic to direct digital control (DDC) equipment have a real opportunity to increase their energy efficiency, improve total building operating costs, and increase the comfort of the facility. Outdated compressors require a lot of energy to run, and they are less reliable and precise in air handling than their digital counterparts. By converting to a new DDC system, buildings can see a significant improvement in air flow, comfort, maintenance, and operating costs all year round.
ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES
Finally, upgrading to energy efficient technology and equipment can improve the total operating costs and energy efficiency of your building. Switching to LED lighting is an easy way to upgrade your commercial facility. Smart technology, including thermostats and energy monitoring systems, can enhance the maintenance of the property and provide a better experience for occupants. Based on local power companies and state availability, rebates are available for commercial facilities who integrate energy efficient lighting, HVAC, and other technologies. Contacting your local utility provider is the best way to learn what is available for your building.
IMPROVE YOUR BUILDING’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Finding energy efficient solutions for your commercial property can help you keep your energy consumption and costs down, especially through extreme weather conditions that often occur in Minnesota. As a local electrical, mechanical, and building automation contractor and systems integrator in Champlin and Rochester, Minn., Egan Company understands the importance of keeping commercial buildings updated with new technologies and building automation systems. Whether you are looking for complete system upgrades, or need regular equipment and facility maintenance and service, our team can help. Let’s work together to create a more comfortable environment for your customers and employees, while improving your building’s operating costs with energy efficient solutions.
Maintaining the quality and value of manufactured and stored goods within industrial facilities and warehouses requires top technology and well-run systems. When an industrial refrigeration system becomes outdated, operators and building managers risk spoiling their products and falling behind. By inspecting and upgrading industrial refrigeration systems and controls, manufacturers and industrial warehouses can keep their operations under control and maximize efficiency.
SIGNS OF OUTDATED REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS
If a refrigeration control system uses obsolete parts, then fixing or replacing the components becomes increasingly difficult and costly. Older industrial refrigeration systems tend to require more energy to operate, which leads to higher energy costs and demands on the equipment. If you notice increased bills over time, consider upgrading the refrigeration system and controls with more energy efficient solutions. Additionally, more frequent maintenance and repairs on industrial refrigeration equipment tends to indicate you’re due for an upgrade. Updating the systems can prevent excessive costs down the line.
BENEFITS OF UPGRADED REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS
By investing in a new refrigeration control system, industrial warehouses and manufacturing facilities can enhance the efficiency and production of their operations. Modern refrigeration control systems can be integrated with the entire facility, giving you greater control of the building and operating systems. Custom Refrigeration-IQ™ controls can meet the specific requirements of individual facilities, providing automation solutions and smart controls that increase energy efficiency, allow building technology to work together, and reduce maintenance costs.
UPGRADE YOUR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS
Refrigeration-IQ™ controls from Egan Company feature a host of benefits, including control optimization for energy and water consumption savings, load sharing configurations to prolong equipment life, and intuitive interface for streamlined operations. The user-friendly software is custom-designed based on your facility’s needs, then integrated into a control panel built in our 25,000 square foot UL 508A Panel Shop in Champlin, Minn.
When it’s time to upgrade your refrigeration system, consider how Egan’s Refrigeration-IQ™ controls can help optimize your facility and improve the way you control your systems. Get in touch with our refrigeration experts and system integrators to learn more.
The energy used to operate industrial refrigeration systems account for approximately 5.7% of the total industrial energy consumption in the United States according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Industrial facilities require significant energy demands, which can affect the costs of running the facility, as well as impacting the carbon footprint of the company. When it comes to refrigeration systems, maintaining peak performance is critical to ensure the quality and efficiency of the products and goods being held within the facility, and energy efficiency may not be at the top of mind for system operators. However, implementing energy efficiency strategies can reduce operating costs, improve the carbon footprint of the facility, and optimize the way the systems are run.
IDENTIFY INEFFICIENCIES WITH ENERGY AUDITS
Conducting regular energy audits can help identify areas within your facility that can be upgraded. Analyzing your refrigeration system’s patterns, energy consumption, and overall operational health is the first step to enhancing the way the system is run. Working with Egan’s industrial refrigeration experts and UL 508A Panel Shop ensures that nothing is missed in a system audit, and can help establish plans to improve the energy efficiency within your facility.
UPGRADE TO ENERGY-EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT
Once energy efficiency opportunities have been identified through an energy audit, consider upgrading your equipment to maximize the efficiency within your facility. Newer refrigeration systems are designed to consume less energy while delivering optimal performance, resulting in significant cost savings over time. Energy efficient industrial refrigeration systems are becoming industry standard and operate at the same or better performance than older equipment. With increased performance at reduced operating costs, energy efficient industrial refrigeration systems can make a significant difference in the way facilities are run.
IMPLEMENT SMART CONTROLS AND AUTOMATION
Whether you are updating legacy systems, overhauling your entire refrigeration systems, or are looking for small upgrades to improve efficiency, smart controls and system automation technology can help. Custom refrigeration controls, like Egan’s Refrigeration-IQTM, enable operators to monitor and adjust energy consumption in real-time, improving the energy consumption of the system without compromising performance. Additionally, automation can integrate within your facility to adjust throughout the day. Configuring day/night settings, defrost cycles, and other adjustments can improve the way your system runs. Rather than equipment running at full capacity 24/7, automatically adjusting the settings can optimize the way the whole facility works.
IMPROVE YOUR FACILITY’S REFRIGERATION OPERATIONS
Prioritizing energy efficiency not only benefits the bottom line but also contributes to a more environmentally friendly operation. Facility operators can configure custom settings based on their specific needs and system requirements, so the refrigeration equipment utilizes only the energy necessary to ensure product quality and safety.
Find industrial refrigeration solutions that work for you with Refrigeration-IQTMcontrols from Egan Company. Our UL 508A Panel Shop in Champlin, Minn. can design and manufacture custom control panels that meet your needs. From system design to project commissioning, our CIRO certified engineers can work with you to improve the energy efficiency within your facility. Get in touch with Egan’s refrigeration experts to learn how to maximize the performance of your industrial refrigeration system.
In commercial facilities and industrial settings, safety and efficiency are top priorities. Keeping the equipment running while ensuring the employees and guests are safe is key to running a smooth operation and maximizing the use of the facility. By maintaining the electrical infrastructure and equipment within a facility, you can minimize equipment downtime while optimizing the safety and efficiency of the building, and the best way to achieve such results is through the implementation of an electrical maintenance plan.
WHAT IS AN ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE PLAN?
Recently, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published new 70B codes that outline necessary electrical maintenance plans for specific equipment within a given commercial facility. Electrical maintenance plans are a necessary guide that outlines regular inspection and maintenance requirements for commercial electrical equipment.
Typical maintenance plans can include:
Electrical Apparatus Testing & Infrared Scans
Electrical Maintenance Training
Arc Flash/Coordination Studies
Arc Risk Assessments
Electrically Safe Work Conditions
Documentation of Equipment and Service
BENEFITS OF AN ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE PLAN
Electrical codes and maintenance plans are designed to serve dual purposes: to maximize the efficiency of your facility, as well as to ensure the safety of your equipment, guests, and personnel. By establishing an electrical maintenance plan with a trusted electrical service contractor, you can proactively address the needs of your electrical systems and stay ahead of potential issues. Regular maintenance and inspections can help identify and address problems before they escalate, potentially saving you from costly downtime, equipment failures, and safety risks.
Additionally, preventative inspections and maintenance help identify and address potential fire hazards, loose connections, and other safety concerns, keeping your employees and facility safe from electrical incidents. Regular testing of circuit breakers, grounding systems, and other critical components can ensure they are functioning as intended, reducing the risk of electrical shocks or arc flashes.
MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITHIN YOUR FACILITY
The safety, efficiency, and reliability of your facility’s equipment is critical for your business’ operations. A well-designed electrical maintenance plan that is up-to-date with NFPA 70B codes, as well as other local, state, and federal regulations, can extend the lifespan of your equipment, reduce downtime from unexpected breakdowns, and enhance the overall performance and safety of your facility.
Partner with trusted commercial electrical contractors and service technicians who can work with you to design a maintenance plan that fits your facility’s needs and budget. At Egan Company, we take pride in our expertise in electrical maintenance and our commitment to helping our clients benefit from a detailed maintenance schedule. Contact our team to learn how a partnership can help keep you up to code.
In fast-paced industries that require reliable refrigeration system operations, maintaining uptime is crucial. When unexpected issues arise, identifying and troubleshooting the problem quickly can keep your business up and running with minimal downtime or disruptions. Every moment counts, which is why remote access and technology for industrial refrigeration control systems can help reduce downtime and provide greater control over your facility.
ENHANCED MONITORING AND TROUBLESHOOTING
With remote access capabilities integrated within your refrigeration control systems, overseeing your equipment and facility is easy, intuitive, and allows for greater oversight into how your equipment is running. Remote monitoring technology gives users real-time insights and updates into their refrigeration systems, regardless of physical location. This allows facility managers and technicians to quickly and easily identify potential issues, diagnose problems, and begin repairs and adjustments without delays.
Regular maintenance and equipment inspections can extend the life of your equipment. Remote access refrigeration controls improves the efficiency of regular equipment maintenance, by providing technicians regular access to the status of your system. By working around physical barriers of travel and timely inspections in-person, remote refrigeration controls allow service techs to remotely monitor the status of the refrigeration systems and identify maintenance needs or potential problems more regularly than if they had to visit your facility. Implementing a regular refrigeration maintenance program can help maximize the uptime and lifespan of your equipment, helping to avoid costly emergency repairs.
ALARMS AND NOTIFICATIONS
Built-in alarm systems alert users of any malfunctions within their refrigeration equipment. From leak detection to emergency notifications, alarm systems can help notify operators about their refrigeration controls and help get ahead to reduce unexpected downtime. With remote access, authorized team members can receive instant notifications and respond promptly to alarms. Troubleshooting emergency situations with refrigeration equipment can be expedited thanks to remote access and alarm capabilities.
KEEP YOUR REFRIGERATION SYSTEM RUNNING
Incorporate remote access capabilities into your refrigeration control systems and decrease downtime in your facility. With greater oversight, monitoring, troubleshooting, and alarm features, facility managers and technicians can achieve more control and uptime for their refrigeration systems. Embrace remote refrigeration controls and optimize the performance and reliability of your new or legacy systems. Egan Company can help design, build, install, and maintain your industrial refrigeration systems with our Refrigeration-IQ™ controls. Connect with our team today to learn more.
School districts are always looking for new ways to improve the safety, security, and comfort of the buildings for students and staff. Building technology integration plays a crucial role in creating a safe and engaging learning environment. With new technologies and building automation upgrades, schools can plan ahead for the safety and quality of their building for students and staff for years to come.
FIRE ALARM & LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
Fire alarm and life safety systems are essential for fire detection and life safety needs throughout school buildings. Auditing and reviewing these systems every 10 years or so is important to ensure they are meeting your facility’s needs and you are utilizing the latest technology available to keep your schools safe. Intelligent fire alarm control panels provide early warning capabilities, allowing for quick response and evacuation during emergencies. With features such as easy-to-use panels, mass notification systems, and graphical user interfaces, schools can ensure the highest level of safety for students and staff.
SECURITY TECHNOLOGY
Advanced security systems, including video surveillance, intrusion systems, and access control, can help monitor and control access to school premises. This building technology can integrate into existing systems, or schools can undergo complete security upgrades during the summer. Integrating these technologies can further improve the safety of schools by connecting to lockdown systems and access control technology for emergencies. Many schools are implementing additional access control measures, including badging, visitor management, mobile credentials, and building lockdown integration with these systems. Individual classrooms as well as entire wings of a campus can have access control measures, keeping every student safe wherever they may be.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Effective communication is vital in schools. Robust communication systems, such as intercoms and public address systems, enable clear and efficient communication within the premises. Connecting these communication systems with electronic message boards, monitors, and other mass notification systems is an effective way to distribute messages throughout the school or campus, whether you’re trying to contact an individual classroom or the entire building at once. Moving from analog to digital communication systems can more effectively reach students and faculty during lockdowns, weather events, school announcements, and other communications needs.
BUILDING AUTOMATION
Building automation systems allow schools to have greater control and efficiency over their lighting and HVAC systems, leading to cost effective solutions and comfortable classroom environments all year round. A building automation system integrates smart technology to optimize the usage of lights, heating, and cooling systems throughout the entire school, including individual classrooms. Setting up these systems to operate based on occupancy in a room can reduce operating costs, improve the longevity of the equipment, and assist in your decarbonization initiatives. By utilizing a building automation system throughout each building, school districts can maximize the efficiency, cost, and comfort of running the building, whether it is during peak school hours or the downtime months during summer.
UPGRADE YOUR SCHOOL
As schools strive to create safe and conducive learning environments, building technology integration becomes increasingly more important. By integrating the latest technologies into buildings, school districts can enhance the safety, security, and overall functionality of educational institutions. Considering upgrades in the near future? Contact Egan Company’s Automation and Technology team to learn how you can benefit from new technologies.
Buildings are made up of more than just the concrete walls and floors that specialty contractors provide. Underneath the surface of the conduits, wires, ductwork, and electrical and mechanical systems are formulas, regulations, data, and efficiencies that weave together to create hospitals, high-rises, stadiums, schools, offices, and more. Before they are translated to the jobsite, these factors are carefully put together by teams of engineers and craftspeople who are strategizing new ways to improve the quality and safety of the work done on the jobsite.
Engineering practices in the construction industry have evolved significantly since the turn of the century, with new efficiencies and opportunities presenting themselves every day. From virtual construction to prefabrication, more construction projects are being completed off-site than ever before. The jobsite, which used to be a centralized location where everything was built, has now evolved to become a receiving area where pre-engineered and pre-fabricated products are staged and assembled. Taking advantage of these practices is essential for modern project demands, optimizing efficiencies, timelines, budgets, and job site safety.
VIRTUAL PROBLEM-SOLVING
One of the first “construction sites” a project goes through is a virtually simulated computerized model known as virtual design construction (VDC). Egan’s engineers are taking advantage of VDC capabilities to streamline design and improve the entire build process. For more than two decades, VDC has become the tool of choice for the engineering industry, acting as the canvas on which engineers can work and create a model of their final product.
By beginning with VDC technologies in the early stages of projects, teams can identify project and material needs, potential hazards, and solutions before any work begins onsite. Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology, and other systems enable Egan’s VDC teams to get ahead of the curve, maintain safety and accuracy on the job site, and prevent delays in the building process.
ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
The benefits of engineering can be measured by the reduction of total labor hours, costs, and project timelines in conjunction with an increase in the quality of work. By engaging with Egan’s engineers early on in projects, the estimating and proposal processes can be exponentially more efficient and accurate thanks to the systems and software in place. This can also set a firm foundation for efficient prefabrication processes later in the project.
Engineering technology at Egan is not necessarily Artificial Intelligence (AI), though it looks like it on the surface level. Made up of formulas, spreadsheets, and efficiencies, engineering softwares can calculate and assess material, design, timeline, and budget requirements with high accuracy. Incorporating smart engineering can help predict the labor hours needed on projects or tasks, problems that may occur, or other considerations that can be planned for and solved ahead of time.
PREFABRICATION: THE NEW INDUSTRY STANDARD
Prefabrication is a standard practice utilized across many of Egan’s trades, and is becoming one of the primary construction sites for any project within the industry. InterClad, Egan’s glass and glazing team, has benefitted from the safety and efficiency of prefabrication since its founding in 1998. Egan’s Mechanical pipefitter teams are able to complete welds and piece together larger parts of projects within a controlled environment, utilizing custom CAD drawings to guide the fabrication process. Egan’s plumbing shop and control panel shop also utilize prefabrication to complete as much of the work as possible independently of the field site, to increase efficiency and safety at all stages of the project.
A prefabrication facility eliminates jobsite waste or excess labor that may come as a result of working in the field. This enables prefabrication experts to receive plans from trades professionals in the field and engineers and put them into action without slowing down the work on the project. Egan’s recent electrical work on the 568,000 square foot FedEx Distribution Facility in Rosemount, Minn. utilized nearly 3,500 hours of prefabrication work, which resulted in significant cost savings, as well as a reduced risk of injuries and mistakes on the jobsite. The dedicated team completed much of the repetitive or harder-to-complete work in a controlled environment before sending the ready-to-install materials to Rosemount.
The prefabrication team is taking quality one step further at Egan by documenting and double-checking the quality checkpoints of each build. These checkpoints are printed on a sheet with a unique QR code that is attached to each build. In the field, the QR code can be scanned by any field personnel to provide feedback/comments via a Google Form that provides an easy method for tracking, resolving, and improvements that are made in association with the comments.
THE FUTURE OF PREFABRICATION
The industry continues to evolve with these engineering practices; prefabrication is quickly becoming a larger operation where teams assemble whole sections of projects in a separate controlled environment independent of the final jobsite. Egan is finding solutions to improve the work we do while maintaining safety and quality at every step.
Egan sets high standards and goals annually for the number of prefabrication hours that are logged each year. This number directly correlates to the success of projects, revenue, and the entire operational efficiency across each of Egan’s 12 multi-trade expertise. Additional prefabrication capabilities are on the horizon at Egan, with the investment of a new 40,000 square foot facility that will primarily focus on electrical prefabrication being built in Southern Minnesota. As the construction industry continues to evolve, Egan strives to be at the forefront, ready to find solutions that help our customers in every way possible.
When you see orange cones on the side of the road during the summer, it can often beg the question: what exactly are they doing? How will this help the roads and infrastructure? Depending on the scope of the work, there can be a number of different things Egan Company’s Electrical Outdoor team and other contractors are doing on the side of the road during the busy construction season. It all is designed to improve the quality of the infrastructure, as well as your experience and safety while traveling.
TYPES OF ROAD WORK
No two road projects are the same. A project scope can be as simple as upgrading the lights alongside the highway, while others are much more extensive and require multiple contractors on a single job. Common types of road work includes installing or updating traffic management systems, lighting, new pavement, and reconfiguring the road itself, such as adding new lanes.
UTILITY WORK
A large aspect of any road work includes utility maintenance, upgrades, and installation. Underneath the road’s surface is a complex network of utilities and wiring. During construction, electricians work alongside other trades to install or relocate electrical lines, communication cables, and water and sewer lines. This often is done in tandem with projects that may require other major roadwork, such as repaving or other significant road reconstruction. Because utility lines can affect hundreds of homes in an area, this phase requires careful coordination to minimize disruptions to existing services.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
Traffic control systems are a big part of road projects, and Egan’s Electrical Outdoor team specializes in the installation, maintenance, and upgrades of these signals and control systems. New technologies and traffic management systems are being installed throughout Minnesota to improve safety of the roads, as well as traffic flow. In addition to stop lights or other traffic management systems, electricians may also be installing street signs, digital signage and highway displays, and will complete additional wiring and electrical installation as needed.
STAY SAFE AROUND ROAD WORK THIS SUMMER
Road construction season is just getting underway in Minnesota, with improvements coming to infrastructure quality, safety on the roads, and technology along highways and streets. From planning and design to installation and maintenance, each phase plays a crucial role in creating safe and efficient roadways.
Whenever you see us or anyone working on these projects, remember what goes on at the job sites, and slow down when driving through work zones. It takes everyone to be aware during construction projects to help keep our roads safe all year round.
Committed to offering an exceptional experience, Egan Company launched a new Portal that offers real-time access to facility data, including invoices, recent payments, and service/maintenance appointments. With this online tool, Egan’s customers can view and access:
Billing Details
Upcoming Service Appointments
Request Service
Current Maintenance Contracts
Key Contact Information (field technicians, account managers, project managers)
A self-service billing option allows for managing open invoices, viewing payment history, and submitting online payments through credit card or electronic funds transfer (EFT). The online tool also enables customers to request 24/7 facility service and send feedback.
Current Egan customers can log into the portal on a desktop or mobile device using a primary email address already shared with Egan, or connect with their service account representative. Questions about Egan’s customer portal, or interested in how you can access your account? Contact us!
