Fire alarm system interfaces

For many years, building fire alarm systems have been used to provide interfaces with building systems beyond the HVAC system interfaces. One example of such interfaces involves signals being sent from the fire alarm system to the building’s elevator control equipment to initiate Phase I emergency operations (or “elevator recall,” as it is commonly referred to within the United States) and return elevators to a designated level for occupant safety and to ensure elevator availability for emergency responders. Another example of fire alarm system integration is where the fire alarm system sends signals to a building’s security system to disable electronic locking devices in the means of egress pathway where such locks are permitted during nonemergency times to restrict the travel of occupants within a building.

Fire alarm systems have been successfully interfaced with other building systems to improve the overall level of safety in large assembly occupancy spaces, such as theatres and large entertainment facilities. In these buildings, it can be difficult for a fire alarm system to draw the attention of an otherwise-occupied person in the building. To address this, fire alarm systems are often interfaced to disable both the use of public address systems and the use of light-dimming equipment. Disabling these systems allows the fire alarm system to be heard and provides an adequate level of illumination for safe occupant egress when evacuation of a space becomes necessary.

http://www.csemag.com/home/single-article/integrating-fire-protection-in-building-systems/eafc82d45e.html

Best Economic System: The Criteria

Among others, there are seven criteria in determining the best economic system.

Abundance

There is abundance when the members of the society experienced satisfaction, mass poverty was eliminated, goods and services are sufficient, no problems in food, clothing, shelter, medicine, education and in recreation.

Growth

The quantitative changes in the economy signify economic growth. As earlier mentioned, economic growth is present when the society acquires greater productive capacity which can be used for consumption or investment. For example, increase in terms of the number of buildings, houses, schools, cars, hospitals, factories or machinery made in a given year.

Stability

When inflation and unemployment are absent in that country then we can say that their economic system is the best because this means that their economic condition is stable.

Security

When there is an assurance of not losing their jobs there follows the security.

Efficiency

It occurs when the opportunity cost (the value of the next best opportunity to a good or to some activity) of some specific amounts of goods is at the lowest possible value and when maximum production from given sources and cost is achieved.

Justice and equity

It is clearly seen when there is fair distribution of income and power among the members of the society. These can be proven when there is sufficient opportunity for job seekers and people had improved their social and economic conditions.

Economic freedom

When consumers are free to choose their food, style of house, education, recreation and etc. then we can say that there is economic freedom. Businessmen are free to invest their money; however this freedom is construed not to violate legal and moral values.

http://www.shvoong.com/social-sciences/economics/1744491-best-economic-criteria/#ixzz1WpMZaWgi

Mixed economy

The term “mixed economy” arose in the context of political debate in the United Kingdom in the postwar period, although the set of policies later associated with the term had been advocated from at least the 1930s. Supporters of the mixed economy, including R. H. Tawney, Anthony Crosland and Andrew Shonfield were mostly associated with the British Labour Party, although similar views were expressed by Conservatives including Harold Macmillan.

Critics of the British mixed economy, including Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich von Hayek, argued that what is called a mixed economy is a move toward socialism and increasing the influence of the state.

The term mixed economy is used to describe economic systems which stray from the ideals of either the market, or various planned economies, and “mix” with elements of each other. As most political-economic ideologies are defined in an idealized sense, what is described rarely if ever exists in practice. Most would not consider it unreasonable to label an economy that, while not being a perfect representation, very closely resembles an ideal by applying the rubric that denominates that ideal. However, when a system in question diverges to a significant extent from an idealized economic model or ideology, the task of identifying it can become problematic. Hence, the term “mixed economy” was coined. As it is unlikely that an economy will contain a perfectly even mix, mixed economies are usually noted as being skewed towards either private ownership or public ownership, toward capitalism or socialism, or toward a market economy or command economy in varying degrees.

There is not a consensus on which economies are capitalist, socialist, or mixed. It may be argued that the historical tendency of power holders in all times and places to limit the activities of market actors combined with the natural impossibility of monitoring and constraining all market actors has resulted in the fact that, as we understand a “mixed economy” being a combination of governmental enterprise and free-enterprise, nearly every economy to develop in human history meets this definition.

The elements of a mixed economy typically include a variety of freedoms:

· to possess means of production (farms, factories, stores, etc.)

· to participate in managerial decisions (cooperative and participatory economics)

· to travel (needed to transport all the items in commerce, to make deals in person, for workers and owners to go to where needed)

· to buy (items for personal use, for resale; buy whole enterprises to make the organization that creates wealth a form of wealth itself)

· to sell (same as buy)

· to hire (to create organizations that create wealth)

· to fire (to maintain organizations that create wealth)

· to organize (private enterprise for profit, labour unions, workers' and professional associations, non-profit groups, religions, etc.)

· to communicate (free speech, newspapers, books, advertisements, make deals, create business partners, create markets)

· to protest peacefully (marches, petitions, sue the government, make laws friendly to profit making and workers alike, remove pointless inefficiencies to maximize wealth creation)

What is Construction Management?

Construction Management is a professional management practice consisting of an array of services applied to construction projects and programs through the planning, design, construction and post construction phases for the purpose of achieving project objectives including the management of quality, cost, time and scope.

Construction Management is a discipline and management system specifically created to promote the successful execution of capital projects for owners. These projects can be highly complex. Few owners maintain the staff resources necessary to pay close, continuing attention to every detail--yet these details can “make or break” a project.

A professional CM can augment the owner's staff with pre-planning, design, construction, engineering and management expertise that can assure the best possible project outcome no matter what type of project delivery method used.

“Agency” CM is a professional service that can be applied to all delivery systems where the CM acts as the owner's principal agent in the management of a construction project or program, where the CM is responsible to the owner for managing the planning, design, construction and post construction phases, or portions thereof. The CM represents the interests of the project in its dealings with other construction professionals, and with other private and public entities.

· Optimum use of available funds

· Control of the scope of the work

· Project scheduling

· Optimum use of design and construction firms' skills and talents

· Avoidance of delays, changes and disputes

· Enhancing project design and construction quality

· Optimum flexibility in contracting and procurement

Comprehensive management of every stage of the project, beginning with the original concept and project definition, yields the greatest possible benefit to owners from Construction Management.

“At-risk” CMis a delivery method which entails a commitment by the construction manager to deliver the project within a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). The construction manager acts as consultant to the owner in the development and design phases, but as the equivalent of a general contractor during the construction phase. When a construction manager is bound to a GMP, the most fundamental character of the relationship is changed. In addition to acting in the owner's interest, the construction manager also protects him/herself.

http://cmaanet.org/construction-management

Construction Managers: Nature of the Work

Construction managers plan, direct, coordinate, and budget a wide variety of construction projects, including the building of all types of residential, commercial, and industrial structures, roads, bridges, wastewater treatment plants, and schools and hospitals. Construction managers may supervise an entire project or just part of one. They schedule and coordinate all design and construction processes, including the selection, hiring, and oversight of specialty trade contractors, such as carpentry, plumbing, or electrical, but they usually do not do any actual construction of the structure.

Construction managers are salaried or self-employed managers who oversee construction supervisors and personnel. They are often called project managers, constructors, construction superintendents, project engineers, construction supervisors, or general contractors. Construction managers may be owners or salaried employees of a construction management or contracting firm, or they may work under contract or as a salaried employee of the property owner, developer, or contracting firm managing the construction project.

These managers coordinate and supervise the construction process from the conceptual development stage through final construction, making sure that the project gets completed on time and within budget. They often work with owners, engineers, architects, and others who are involved in the process. Given the designs for buildings, roads, bridges, or other projects, construction managers supervise the planning, scheduling, and implementation of those designs.

Large construction projects, such as an office building or an industrial complex, are often too complicated for one person to manage. Accordingly, these projects are divided into various segments: site preparation, including clearing and excavation of the land, installing sewage systems, and landscaping and road construction; building construction, including laying foundations and erecting the structural framework, floors, walls, and roofs; and building systems, including protecting against fire and installing electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning, and heating systems. Construction managers may be in charge of one or several of these activities.

Construction managers determine the best way to get materials to the building site and the most cost-effective plan and schedule for completing the project. They divide all required construction site activities into logical steps, estimating and budgeting the time required to meet established deadlines. Doing this may require sophisticated scheduling and cost-estimating techniques using computers with specialized software.

Construction managers also manage the selection of general contractors and trade contractors to complete specific phases of the project—which could include everything from structural metalworking and plumbing, to painting, to installing electricity and carpeting. Construction managers determine the labour requirements of the project and, in some cases, supervise or monitor the hiring and dismissal of workers. They oversee the performance of all trade contractors and are responsible for ensuring that all work is completed on schedule.

Construction managers direct and monitor the progress of construction activities, occasionally through construction supervisors or other construction managers. They are responsible for obtaining all necessary permits and licenses and, depending upon the contractual arrangements, for directing or monitoring compliance with building and safety codes, other regulations, and requirements set by the project's insurers. They also oversee the delivery and use of materials, tools, and equipment; worker safety and productivity; and the quality of the construction.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos005.htm