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Burglar and Fire Alarm Installers and Repairers

TRENDS

Burglar and fire alarms have become standard equipment in many homes and
businesses in California.  Today most insurance firms want homes and
businesses they insure to be equipped with alarm systems, especially those
most vulnerable to theft or fire.


THE JOB

BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM INSTALLERS (also called Protective Signal Installers
or Alarm Agents) install electrical signaling systems that either:  notify a
private central office of fire or burglary on a subscriber's premises;
automatically dial 911 if a break-in or fire is detected, or simply ring an
alarm. Installers set up wired and wireless alarm systems, conduits,
electronic sensors, and signaling units in residential and commercial
establishments, following blueprints of electrical layouts and building
plans. They also install closed circuit television, surveillance systems and
intercom systems. 


Various hand tools, power tools, and a soldering iron are used during the
course of their work. After gaining experience as installers, workers are
usually trained to become repairers of the alarm systems. A few employers
reverse this order, providing training first on repair procedures followed
by training on installation.


BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM REPAIRERS examine the initiating and signaling
installation to ensure sound connections and unbroken insulation.  This
involves the keypad control system, door and window contacts that detect
entry, an interior alarm to alert occupants to an intrusion or fire, motion
detectors, and often, telephone connections to a central station monitoring
the system.


They test and repair circuits and sensors, following wiring and system
specifications.  To do this, electrical testing devices such as ohmmeters or
voltmeters are used.  Controls and sensors are then adjusted or repaired to
ensure the proper operation of the alarm system on the premises, as well as
the transmission of signals to the appropriate central station.


WORKING CONDITIONS

The job is done almost equally indoors and outdoors.  These workers must not
be afraid of heights and must be able to climb ladders and crawl in small
spaces.  Some of the largest employers are covered by union contracts with
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.


EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

The following information is from the California Projections of Employment
published by the Labor Market Information Division.  The figures represent
the broad occupational group Electricians which includes Burglar and Fire
Alarm Installers and Repairers.

Estimated number of workers in 1993             38,220
Estimated number of workers in 2005             45,160
Projected Growth 1993-2005                         18%
Estimated openings due to separations by 2005   11,250

(These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.)

As of March 1998, there were 9,944 registered alarm company employees in
California.  This figure includes Installers and Repairers, those who
respond to and monitor alarm systems, and on-site salespersons.

The occupation is growing due to several factors. The increasing concern for
security in many communities has fostered a demand for residential burglar
alarm systems. In addition, many California cities have mandated that new
housing contain fire alarm systems.  Some installation companies are doing
this work for entire subdivisions.  If the demand continues for new housing,
it will provide work for alarm installers.  Opportunities will also result
from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation for various reasons.


Most job openings exist in the urbanized areas of California.  Employers
report difficulty in getting experienced Installers-Repairers.  As a result,
some of them have set up their own training so that they can train new
employees to follow certain set procedures that they have established.
Employers prefer applicants who have an electronic/electrical background.


WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS

A 1994 national survey of burglar and fire alarm firms showed a median
hourly wage of $11.90 for installers.  This same survey found that about
70 percent of installation technicians and service workers are paid on an
hourly basis.  About one half of the firms said they also paid commissions
or bonuses to installers.  The median hourly wage in California for the
broad occupational group Electricians, which includes Burglar and Fire Alarm
Installers and Repairers, was $18.11, according to a 1996 Occupational
Employment Statistics wage study.


All-around technicians, who do both installation and repair, generally work
a 40-hour week, Monday through Friday.  In addition to this, they often have
to be on standby for emergency repair work one or more nights each week and
perhaps one weekend every four to six weeks.  Employers state that although
the technicians must be available for these situations, actual calls are
fairly rare.  However, some of the larger companies employ all-around
technicians to work any of three shifts, as well as weekends. In these
instances, a shift may be assigned on a permanent basis or rotated among the
technicians.  Benefits usually include vacation and sick leave, as well as
health insurance, although some of the smaller firms do not provide health
benefits for their employees.


ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING

Installers and Repairers should know enough about electricity and
electronics to understand the equipment they are installing.  Such knowledge
includes knowing how to run a circuit wire indoors and out, connecting
equipment into a circuit, and being able to tell whether or not the circuit
is open, closed, or grounded. It's important for Installers and Repairers to
have the ability to read a wire drawing and follow the manufacturers'
installation instructions.


For most companies, high school or technical school courses in mathematics,
basic electricity and electronics are important. Applicants should know how
to use and handle electrician's tools and be able to learn how alarm
equipment works.  Employers will sometimes train qualified applicants.
Certain companies may provide on-the-job training through videos and
technical manuals while others offer manufacturer training programs.  When
hiring trainees, they look for applicants with mechanical and math
aptitudes, the agility to climb ladders, those willing to work at heights
and in confined areas. 


A valid California driver's license and good driving record are needed.
Candidates should also have good color perception, a neat appearance, the
ability to deal with customers, and a stable work history.  Those with
knowledge of electrical principles or experience in any of the construction
trades would have a hiring advantage.


Those hired cannot have a felony conviction and must be registered with the
State of California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.  Employers
usually help with this 90-day registration process,which includes application,
fingerprinting, and renewal fees.  Some employers may require no experience prior
to employment for their firms.  A few firms also require that these workers 
be bondable.


ADVANCEMENT

Experienced Installers and Repairers can become installation supervisors.
Advancement beyond this level is not common without more education, since
large firms want managers with at least a college degree.


FINDING THE JOB

Persons interested in this occupation should apply directly to employers.
They are listed in the telephone book Yellow Pages under "Burglar Alarm
Systems" and "Fire Alarm Systems." Job Seekers should also watch help
wanted ads in local newspapers under the job titles Alarm Installer, Alarm
Servicer, Alarm Repairer, Alarm Technician, and Service Technician.  They
should also register with the nearest California Employment Development
Department Workforce Services Office.


ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association
7101 Wisconsin Ave.,  Suite 901
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 907-3202
www.alarm.org/

Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
Information and Applications: Alarm Agents
400 R Street, Suite. 3080
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-7724
http://www.dca.ca.gov/


RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

Electrical/Electronics Engineers               No.    12
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Techs.  No.    60
Electricians                                   No.   121


OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES

DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed.,1991)
Protective-Signal Installer   822.361-018
Protective-Signal Repairer    822.361-022

OES (Occupational Employment Statistics)  System
Electricians            872020

Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
        Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
        (916) 262-2162.