Fire Alarm Training Podcast

In this episode of The Fire Alarm Insider, we get real about what separates a decent installer from a true professional: inspection readiness. The install isn’t the final test. The punch list isn’t the final test. The first power-up isn’t the final test. Inspection day is where the truth shows up.

I break down why inspections expose every shortcut, every wiring mistake, every lazy programming decision, and every mismatch between plans and field work. More importantly, I share the mindset and daily habits that make passing inspection a lifestyle not a last-minute scramble.

1. Why Inspections Are the Real Test

Inspection day is binary: the system is either ready or it isn’t. There’s no negotiating with wiring, programming, device placement, supervision, or central station signaling. If it’s not 100% ready, don’t call for finals.

2. Inspections Reveal Every Shortcut

Inspectors don’t have to guess. They see everything:

• frayed or over-pulled wiring

• sloppy tape fixes

• reverse polarity

• open/shorted circuits

• missing end-of-line devices

• mis-labeled zones

• lazy terminations
  The panel tells on you every time.

3. Device Placement Must Match the Plans

Inspectors compare drawings to real-world locations instantly.

• smoke spacing

• pull station height/visibility

• sound coverage

• correct device type per environment
  If the plans say a device is there, it must be there—properly installed and working.

4. Programming Has to Match the Sequence of Operation

If your verification logic is off, your sequence doesn’t match the design intent, or your rules look like guesswork, inspection will expose it in front of everyone.
Examples I call out:

• elevator recall smoke in lobby

• alternate recall logic

• making sure the elevator company finishes their tie-ins, not just “relay activated”

5. Clean Installs Don’t Guarantee Passing But Mess Guarantees Failure

Neat panels, tidy terminations, supported wiring, and secure devices show pride and professionalism. This is a life safety system. Clean work earns trust and speeds up inspections.

6. Documentation Has to Be Perfect

As-builts, risers, functionality statements, engineering stamps everything must align. If paperwork is off, you’re resubmitting.

7. Why Passing Matters (Beyond Pride)

Passing inspection:

• saves money (no rework, no extra devices, no return trips)

• saves time (no tenant move-in delays, no CO delays, no payment delays)

• builds your reputation (consistent passes = trusted contractor)

• protects the client legally and operationally

• protects lives

8. Inspection-Readiness Is a Daily Discipline

Don’t wait until inspection day to care.

• test early

• fix issues as you go

• don’t let punch lists pile up

• induce failures internally so the inspector never sees them
  “Inspection-ready isn’t a moment it’s a lifestyle.”

9. Real-World Testing Example

I walk through a practical rule:
If 20 pull stations are supposed to release doors or shut down fans, test every single one individually. Don’t assume programming equals reality. Confidence comes from verification.

• “Anybody can install a system, but inspection reveals who built it.”

• “If messy work doesn’t guarantee a fail, it guarantees stress.”

• “We clean as we cook catch problems early so they never pile up.”

• “Inspection day should feel like confirmation, not panic.”

• technicians who want to pass finals consistently

• installers who keep getting hit with rework

• programmers responsible for sequence and verification

• owners building a reputation in the trade

If you’re tired of learning inspection lessons the expensive way through failed finals, rework, and reputation damage—then it’s time to build your company on a real framework.

Inside the Fire Alarm Business Blueprint, I help you:

• install and program systems with inspection in mind from day one

• build clean wiring, labeling, and testing standards your team can repeat

• price jobs to stay profitable even with real-world delays

• create systems so you’re not the only one who can pass an inspection

• grow from tech to owner with structure, not stress

Book a call and let’s map your next move.
You bring your current situation I’ll bring the Blueprint.

If this episode sharpened your mindset:

1. Follow The Fire Alarm Insider on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

2. Send this to a tech who needs to stop cutting corners.

3. Leave a review so more people in the trade find the show.

There are only two types of smoke detectors ionization and photoelectric and once you truly understand how they work, everything gets clearer: nuisance alarms, false trips, placement mistakes, and why one detector reacts faster than another.

In this episode of The Fire Alarm Insider, I break the science down in plain terms and connect it to real-world installs: what each detector is best at, how each one senses smoke, and the practical placement rules that keep your systems reliable and inspection-ready.

If you’re ready to stop operating off guesswork and start building a fire alarm business that’s structured, profitable, and scalable, the Fire Alarm Business Blueprint is your next move.

Inside the Blueprint, I’ll help you:

• master installs, service, and troubleshooting with real logic

• avoid costly mistakes that create false alarms and rework

• price jobs right so you actually profit

• build systems and a team so you’re not stuck doing everything

• grow from technician to owner with a clear roadmap

Book a call and let’s map your path from where you are now to running a legit fire alarm company.

The panel doesn’t “create” emergencies. It receives signals, interprets what they mean, and activates outputs like horns, strobes, doors, elevator recall, fans, and more. It also transmits alarms to central station so emergency response gets dispatched. Everything in the building ultimately reports back to this brain.

If you’re serious about going from “tech who knows the basics” to owner who runs a real fire alarm company, the framework in this episode is just the start.

Inside the Fire Alarm Business Blueprint, I show you how to:

• master installs, service, and programming with confidence

• price jobs correctly and stop leaving money on the table

• build quoting and troubleshooting systems that scale

• set up your business legally, professionally, and profitably

• grow from solo operator to a company with a real team

Book a call and let’s map out your path.
You bring where you are right now I’ll bring the Blueprint.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what a real day looks like as a small fire alarm contractor trying to operate like a big one. From waking up at 3:00 AM to writing proposals, running service calls, managing sales, and still showing up for family this is the unfiltered routine behind the highlight reel.

I break down why early mornings are my “deep work” zone, how quoting and government proposals really take 2–3 hours when done right, and what it means to switch hats all day owner, technician, salesman, and project manager until the right team is fully in place.

If you’re tired of guessing your way through this industry and you want a real step-by-step path to build a fire alarm business that’s profitable and scalable, then you need the Fire Alarm Business Blueprint.

Inside the Blueprint, I’ll show you how to:

• price and win installs the right way

• set up systems that replace chaos

• build a team even before you feel “ready”

• grow beyond being the only technician in your company

• turn your daily grind into an operation that runs with or without you

Book a call and let’s map your next moves together.
You bring your goals and your current situation I'll bring the Blueprint.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Anthony T. Richardson shares the eight most common mistakes electricians make when installing fire alarm systems and how to avoid them. Drawing on over 25 years of experience designing and servicing systems across New York City, Anthony breaks down real-world examples, code violations, and costly oversights that can lead to inspection failures, wasted time, or safety risks.

Whether you’re a licensed technician, an aspiring fire alarm installer, or a general contractor, this episode will help you master compliance, wiring standards, and life safety best practices.

Key Takeaways

🔧 Why filing and permitting delays derail most projects

⚡ The right way to choose fire alarm cable types and gauges

🧠 How to prevent bad wiring and cross-circuit mistakes

📏 Proper device spacing and mounting heights for compliance

✅ The importance of testing every circuit and signal before inspection

🗂️ Why as-built drawings are crucial for final approval

🚫 The legal and financial risks of working without a license

Resources Mentioned

Join the Fire Alarm Business Blueprint
Learn how to start, scale, and license your fire alarm business the right way.

Free Fire Alarm Training Center
Access free resources to improve your technical skills and get certified.

Why Most People Fail the Exam (And How to Avoid It)Anthony explains the biggest mistake he sees: trying to memorize every fire code, electrical rule, and module all at once. Anthony breaks down why this causes burnout and confusion, and how to switch to a smarter study method that actually sticks.

 

Take the License Navigator Pro Course

In this episode, I break down how to approach the NICET Level I exam without stressing yourself out or trying to memorize hundreds of random facts. You’ll learn how the test actually works, why the code books matter more than memorization, and the simple method I use to identify keywords, pick the right book, jump to the right chapter, and find the exact answer fast. I explain the types of questions you’ll face, the books you’re allowed to bring in, and the strategy behind saving time by answering the easy questions first. This episode gives you a clear roadmap to study smarter, move with confidence, and finally understand how to navigate NFPA 70, NFPA 72, IBC, and NFPA 101 like a pro.

NICET Level 1Download the Top 100 Codes Every NICET Tech Must Know the exact list I recommend studying daily to build speed, confidence, and accuracy for Level I and beyond. It’s free, and it will instantly give you an edge over techs trying to pass this test by guessing.

In this episode, I break down one of the biggest lies entrepreneurs believe: that they’re “bad at sales.” The truth is far simpler most people aren’t struggling with selling, they’re struggling with clarity. When your offer isn’t specific, outcome-driven, or packaged in a way people instantly understand, even the best funnel, ad, or script won’t help.

I share my own story of wasting money on marketing, chasing leads, and creating content that spoke to no one until I fixed the real issue: my offer. That shift led to the creation of the Offer Architect a simple, repeatable system that forces you to define your audience, articulate the transformation you provide, and package it in a way people actually want to buy.

You’ll hear how this framework challenges your assumptions, sharpens your message, and helps you build a complete marketing plan around one clear promise. By the end, you’ll understand why you don’t need better ads… you just need a better offer.

Price Like a Pro — Episode Show Notes (Brief):
In this short episode I walk you through the exact approach I use to turn a chaotic job scope into a confident, profitable price. You’ll learn how to read a site quickly, translate scope into labor and material estimates, factor in markups and contingencies, and protect cash flow with deposits and RMR strategies. I also break down how prevailing wage/PLA requirements and government bids change your math, and share simple language you can use to present your price so clients understand the value instead of arguing cost. Tune in to stop underbidding, start winning the right jobs, and build a business that pays you what you’re worth.

Quick CTA:
Want the pricing checklist and scripts I mention? Grab the free Offer Architect or go deeper with the Fire Alarm Business Blueprint™ at https://offerarchitect.secureitsecurities.io/free-architect

In this episode I strip away the jargon and show you how to explain fire alarm systems in plain English so clients finally get what you’re selling and why it matters. You’ll hear how a simple, honest sentence can replace confusing acronyms, why I always use a three-step approach with building owners, and how everyday analogies the panel as the brain, wiring as the nervous system turn technical complexity into real client confidence.

Join The Fire Alarm Business Blueprint™ and take control of your future.
Learn the difference, master the systems, and build a business that protects lives.