Friends,
The past months have been overwhelming, challenging, and, to be frank, bizarre. We cannot remember a time in New York City’s history where there has been so much uncertainty. However, New Yorkers have faced our fair share of adversity before, and each time we have become stronger and more resilient because of them. In the painful weeks and months following September 11th, we worked together to create new safety criteria, including a new standard for testing and inspections for all New York City buildings. In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, we reimagined technical design and installation to ensure all New Yorkers are safer in the event of a natural disaster. Our job, at AZ Fire Alarm Security, is to ensure your safety. We know the way to do that is to be available to answer your questions and to provide you with the proper guidance and compliance as we respond to COVID-19 and look toward future challenges.
Two frequent questions (with answers) we are asked:
How can you make small (inexpensive) improvements to make your current and prospective tenants feel safer?
Contactless door entry has been industry standard for quite some time, but many buildings do not take contactless access control beyond door entry. Suppose tenants are still required to touch door handles and enter via keypad entry. In that case, it may be time to consider mobile phone readers and other biometric solutions like facial recognition, retina scanners, and Bluetooth phone readers. For a quick fix, we suggest products like Nanoseptic — a self-cleaning skin and mat, you can apply to high traffic public touchpoints to address your immediate concerns.
How does CARES ACT impact building fire alarm and security retrofits as it pertains to tax credits through Qualified Improvement Property? There has never been a better time to retrofit or upgrade your fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems in existing commercial structures — including significant commercial high rises — than it is today, thanks to the CARES Act tax incentive. The ability to immediately write off the full cost of installing or updating your fire alarm system in an existing building should motivate many owners to act quickly to show their tenants they are taking the necessary steps to secure their premises—the tax credit phases out in 2022. Read More Here.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to respond to this email or reach out to us at 212.389.2567. As you know, many laws and guidelines on fire safety and security are written in a way that is not easily digestible. We are here to help and look forward to providing you with guidance on navigating the coming months.
In Good Health and Safety,
Jet