| Type | Subsidiary of Tyco Fire & Security |
|---|---|
| Industry |
Fire suppression systems |
| Founded | 2001, with roots going back to 1850s (Grinnell) and 1894 (Simplex) |
| Headquarters | Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. Corporate Sales & Marketing: Westminster, Massachusetts |
| Key people | Bob Chauvin, President |
| Parent | Tyco International |
| Website | www.simplexgrinnell.com |
SimplexGrinnell, a subsidiary of Tyco International, is an American company specializing in active fire protection systems, communication systems and testing, inspection and maintenance services. The company headquarters is in Boca Raton, Florida; corporate sales and marketing offices are in Westminster, Massachusetts, and the company has about 160 district offices throughout North America.[1]
Grinnell Fire Protection was purchased by Tyco in 1976. Tyco bought Simplex Time Recorder Company on January 5, 2001 for US$1.15 billion and merged it with Grinnell Fire Protection, forming SimplexGrinnell. It is currently the largest fire protection company in the world.
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Frederick Grinnell, a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,[2] worked in railroad engineering until he retired as chief mechanical engineer and general manager of the Jersey City Locomotive Works. Soon after his retirement, he purchased a controlling interest in the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Company.
Grinnell already knew Henry S. Parmalee, who patented the first automatic fire sprinkler head in 1874. Providence Steam & Gas partnered with Parmalee and manufactured the Parmalee sprinkler; Grinnell also designed and erected the piping installations into which the Parmalee sprinkler heads were fitted. Grinnell improved Parmalee's first practical automatic sprinkler and patented his own Grinnell sprinkler in 1882.[3] Continual improvements resulted in the glass disc sprinkler in 1890. With slight modifications, this sprinkler head is still used in modern fire sprinkler systems; sprinklers are even called le Grinnells in France.[4] In 1892, Grinnell organized the General Fire Extinguisher Company, which was renamed the Grinnell Fire Protection Company after his death in 1919.
Meanwhile, Edward G. Watkins founded the Simplex Time Recorder Company in 1894. Watkins invented and patented one of the first practical time clocks, along with the synchronized clock systems seen in schools up until recent times. The company, located in Gardner, Massachusetts, purchased the IBM Time Equipment Division in 1958. [5] This purchase included IBM's fire protection division. Originally, Simplex's fire alarm line simply consisted of relabeled IBM devices and control panels (including the 4217 and possibly the 4201 series), but they began to introduce their own products starting in the early 1960s, including the 4245, 4246, and 4247 series control panels. Most of Simplex's notification appliances were relabeled Benjamin Electric, Federal Signal, Faraday, and Autocall devices. Simplex's time division began to lose market share, but their newly-founded fire alarm division significantly prospered. In the early 1970s, Simplex introduced the 4207 and 4208-series conventional control panels, along with their first visual signaling devices, the 4050-80 series. Around this time, Simplex also introduced the iconic "T-bar" style pull station, which is still manufactured today.
In 1979, Simplex introduced the LifeAlarm 2100, the industry's first multiplex building control system that was capable of handling fire alarm, security, HVAC, synchronized time, and watchman's tour. It centered around a large CPU console with built-in CRT display and keyboard that controlled the system's remote transponders (smaller self-sufficient panels connected to the MAPNET loop that distributed the system's I/O). In 1981, the 2100 was replaced with the popular 2120-series.[6] Unlike the 2100, the 2120's main CPU came in the form of a traditional wall-mount panel, but several more options for remotely controlling the system through external CRT consoles and status command centers were now made available. The main panel featured a vacuum fluorescent display screen, DOS-based EEPROM programming, built-in printer, and a voice evacuation option. Though flexible and robust, these systems were often criticized for being difficult to operate and troubleshoot. These two computer-based systems were accompanied by the conventional 2001-series. First released in 1979, the 2001 was a highly customizable system that used plug-in modules. Some were common to every system (basic controls), while many other options were available, including signal coding cards, waterflow monitor cards, and many others. These cards were also compatible with Simplex's multiplex systems. In 1988, the 4100 panel was introduced.[7], while the 2001 was replaced by the 4001 and 4002 series. Around 1992, the 2120 was replaced with the 4020 and 4120-series panels. In 1993, Simplex began manufacturing their own notification appliances, and in 2001, Simplex introduced the TrueAlert-series, cited as being the industry's first addressable notification appliances which can be tested individually without activating the entire system. From time to time SimplexGrinnell also uses Cooper Wheelock, Gentex and Federal Signal notification appliances, mostly for outdoor/weatherproof applications. However, this is becoming less frequent with the introduction of weatherproof TrueAlert signals.[8][9]
Today, SimplexGrinnell markets its 4005, 4006, 4008, 4010, 4010ES, and 4100ES fire alarm control panels, along with the TrueAlert-series notification appliances, TrueAlarm smoke detectors, and a variety of accessories. SimplexGrinnell also makes burglar alarms, PA systems, and nurse call systems. They also provides testing, inspection, and maintenance services for fire alarm, sprinkler, suppression, security, and communication equipment. To a much lesser degree, the company also sells and services time clocks and master time systems.