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December 3, 2014 (ATLANTA, GA) – BuildingReports® is pleased to announce the launch of ScanSeries® for Android™, making BuildingReports the first fire and life safety compliance reporting provider to offer inspection applications for the four major mobile operating systems, including iOS®, Android, Windows Mobile® and PalmOS® platforms.

Exclusive to members of the BuildingReports network, ScanSeries for Android provides the entire suite of inspections apps, including FireScan®, SecurityScan®, SprinklerScan®, SuppressionScan® and SafetyScan®. The application is available for immediate download from the Google Play app store.

BuildingReports is initially supporting the application with the Motorola TC55 device. The release comes on the heels of extensive beta testing with service companies in the field, similar to the process preceding the launch of ScanSeries for iOS in late 2013.

BuildingReports’ ScanSeries is also supported on a number of other popular devices, including the Janam XP20 and XP30 PalmOS® scanners, the Motorola MC55 and MC65 Windows Mobile Scanners, and the Intermec Ci70 Windows Mobile scanner. BuildingReports supports Janam and Intermec devices for service organizations that must comply with the North American Class 1, Division 1 and Division 2 standards.

ScanSeries for Android includes features not available on older mobile device platforms. Data entry has evolved from stylus-based input to touch-friendly interfaces, speech-to-text, auto-correction, and automated spell check features. In addition, features like GPS for locating properties that they need to service are particularly handy for a mobile workforce. Connecting to BuildingReports web-based reporting system from the field is also simplified with support for all of the latest cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth technologies.

“We are committed to providing fire protection and life safety service companies with the latest inspection solutions on their choice of mobile operating system,” said Jason Kronz, president and chief technology officer. “These are devices that have to be able to withstand daily abuse in many different types of environments, but also need to provide us with features to help us expand and advance our electronic inspection platform. After extensive research and testing, we decided to partner with Motorola, who has been a trusted provider of our devices for years.”

In related news, BuildingReports also supports the latest iOS release and Apple® iPhone® 6 and 6 Plus devices. Service companies interested in learning more about joining the BuildingReports service member network are encouraged to email [email protected] or visit the website at www.buildingreports.com.

About BuildingReports

Building safety compliance is critical to service companies, building owners and fire and safety officials who are charged with safeguarding occupants. BuildingReports’ mobile and online inspection reporting tools enable inspectors to quickly gather data on fire and life safety devices to ensure they are working properly and meet code requirements, or identify actions needed to meet compliance through easily verifiable inspection reports. With more than 2 million inspection reports to date, 400,000 buildings represented and over 600 inspection companies in its network, BuildingReports has earned its reputation as the trusted name in compliance reporting. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.buildingreports.com.

November 19, 2014 10:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–BuildingReports, an inspection reporting technology company, announced that it now equips building inspectors nationwide with the Apple® iPhone® or iPod touch® and the Linea Pro from leading enterprise mobility device provider Infinite Peripherals, Inc. (IPC). To date, the solution has been deployed to 169 fire and life safety services companies that use BuildingReports compliance reporting solutions, thereby helping the channel improve efficiency, decrease downtime and enhance customer satisfaction.

The Apple handheld units can be used in conjunction with the Linea Pro barcode scanners and BuildingReports’ Scan Series® applications so that inspectors can quickly scan bar-coded fire and life safety devices while in the field. The data can be combined with information from an online database of safety equipment and national and local safety regulations to ensure the devices are in working order and meet code requirements. This innovative mobile system allows inspectors to complete a building system inspection more efficiently and accurately than a paper-based process, and in real-time deliver an online, comprehensive inspection report to building owners and safety officials that can be securely accessed online 24/7.

“Infinite Peripherals is a great partner; its solutions have proven cost-effective and reliable for our service member network, and they allow inspectors to migrate from many of the legacy mobile devices to the newer, more popular iOS versions,” said David Spence, marketing manager at BuildingReports. “Infinite Peripherals sleds not only enable our barcode scanning technology to work on the iPhone and iPod touch devices, but they also ruggedize this expensive equipment for workers constantly climbing up and down ladders and crawling through difficult environments to inspect devices.”

Enterprise mobility devices optimize productivity

The line of Linea Pro enterprise mobility devices adds a 1D or 2D barcode scanner and magnetic stripe reader to the iPhone and iPod touch to facilitate tasks including inspection/work flow, inventory management, asset tracking, ID verification, lead tracking, mobile point-of-sale, dispatch, time/labor and lab and healthcare. Software development resources and tools from IPC allow customers to easily program scanner and reader functions into their own application.

IPC was the first company to mobilize iOS for the enterprise and currently has more than 400,000 iOS mobile devices deployed worldwide.

“BuildingReports consistently reports improved customer satisfaction with the Linea Pro, which is a critical component in streamlining operations and maximizing productivity as we mobilize the enterprise,” said Victor Bobadilla, channel development manager at IPC.

About BuildingReports

Building safety compliance is critical to service companies, building owners and fire and safety officials who are charged with safeguarding occupants. BuildingReports’ mobile and online inspection reporting tools enable inspectors to quickly gather data on fire and life safety devices to ensure they are working properly and meet code requirements, or identify actions needed to meet compliance through easily verifiable inspection reports. With more than 120 million inspected devices to date, 400,000 buildings represented and over 600 inspection companies in its network, BuildingReports has earned its reputation as the trusted name in compliance reporting. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.buildingreports.com.

Infinite Peripherals Background

Since 1993, Infinite Peripherals, Inc. (IPC) has been fueling mobility with cutting-edge mobile peripheral devices, receipt printers, mechanisms and receipt printer-related components. Numerous major retailers in the United States are adopting enterprise mobility with IPC’s Linea Pro® and Infinea Tab®, helping to transform shopping, drive traffic and increase customer conversion rates. Anticipating trends and pre-empting solutions for a constantly evolving business landscape, IPC enhances operations in retail and other industries, including healthcare, hospitality, transportation, warehouse and logistics, entertainment and security. For more information, please visit www.ipcprint.com. Connect with us at www.facebook.com/infiniteperipheralsinc and www.twitter.com/infiniteperiph.

Linea Pro and Infinea Tab are registered trademarks of Infinite Peripherals, Inc. All other trademarks are protected by their respective owners.

The following is an excerpt from the October 7, 2014, Security Systems News coverage of the 2014 Benchmark Report’s official release…

Certification program verifies fire and safety inspectors and service companies’ credentials, certifications and training

ATLANTA, GA – October 8, 2014 – BuildingReports, the most trusted name in compliance reporting, today launches the TrueCompliance certification program. The program verifies an individual inspector as well as service companies’ credentials to ensure the proper certifications and training are in place as a professional service provider within the BuildingReports Member Network.

There are billions of fire and life safety devices that require individual testing, maintenance and inspection. BuildingReports has created the TrueCompliance certification program to ensure nothing is left to chance.

“There’s an old adage that says you’re only as strong as your weakest link,” said Jason Kronz, president and CTO of BuildingReports. “But with BuildingReports’s certification program, we’re removing any doubt from building owners and fire and safety officials’ mind that they are working with the best inspectors and service companies in the industry. We are also raising the level of awareness for inspectors and service companies who go above and beyond the average level of compliance inspections through the proper training and certifications.”

By enabling service companies to list their licenses, certifications, insurances, distributor relationships along with their employee’s details, building owners and fire and safety officials can rest assured that the service companies they do business with conduct thorough and fully compliant inspections.

“We pride ourselves not just on the volume of service providers in our member network, but in the quality of the service they provide across the country,” said Kronz.

The TrueCompliance certification program has two levels: the Certified level for inspectors and the Verified level for service companies.

• Certified Service Member – Individual inspectors can become certified in the TrueCompliance program by training on BuildingReports’ inspection reporting tools by a BuildingReports trainer. Once complete, the inspector receives a proof-of-training certificate which can be stored in the BuildingReports solution to automatically appear on all of their inspection reports. The “Certified Service Member” seal appears within a report when both the inspector and service company have received BuildingReports training. This assures building owners and managers that the inspector is trained on documenting a life safety compliance inspection correctly.
• Verified Service Member – Similar to the certified service member process, a service company can become verified by providing company licenses, certifications, affiliations and insurance details. BuildingReports verifies this information by contacting each association, insurance company, etc. to independently confirm the service company is up to date on each of the required documents. Verified service companies also receive a “Verified Service Member” seal that identifies them to building owners and managers as a higher-level BuildingReports member. Note: there is a fee associated at this level of the certification program.

For more information about the TrueCompliance certification program, email [email protected].

About BuildingReports
Building safety compliance is critical to service companies, building owners and fire and safety officials who are charged with safeguarding occupants. BuildingReports’ mobile and online inspection reporting tools enable inspectors to quickly gather data on fire and life safety devices to ensure they are working properly and meet code requirements, or identify actions needed to meet compliance through easily verifiable inspection reports. With more than 120 Million inspected devices to date, 330,000 buildings represented and over 600 inspection companies in its network, BuildingReports has earned its reputation as the trusted name in compliance reporting. For more information, contact sales(at)buildingreports.com or visit http://www.buildingreports.com.

BuildingReports and its service member network achieve significant accomplishment with online inspection reporting and technology

ATLANTA – October 2, 2014 – BuildingReports, the most trusted name in compliance reporting, announces the upload of its two millionth fire and life safety inspection report. Chicago-based SMG Security is the inspection company to officially upload the milestone-making report. With the largest network of qualified inspection service companies, BuildingReports has quickly become a leader in the compliance reporting industry.

“We pride ourselves on providing reliable, cost-effective services and BuildingReports helps us do that in a way our competitors can’t,” said Corey Gallois, operations manager at SMG. “Since we started using it in 2012, the detailed device-level reports and anytime-anywhere access has been very popular with new and existing customers. BuildingReports also allows us to track inspection performance data such as inspection times and device recalls as well as improve our customer service, manage our teams more effectively and generate additional revenue.”

While the number of inspection reports completed is impressive, BuildingReports also prides itself on implementing its online inspection and reporting solution at over 330,000 facilities globally and includes more than 120 million devices inspected.

“At the end of the day, it all comes down to our network of over 600 service companies,” said Jason Kronz, president and CTO for BuildingReports. “From day one we have been extremely selective about which companies comprise our channel. Our success and reputation are directly tied to having great partners like SMG who live by the notion that fire and life safety is too important to cut corners.”

BuildingReports CEO, Brett Brewster, added, “Having been involved in the fire and life safety industry for decades, I saw the role technology could play in an industry that’s had a tendency to lag behind others in adoption. Before BuildingReports, it was not uncommon for a facility manager’s office to have volumes of handwritten, spreadsheet-style reports that were often illegible and cumbersome to use. We knew there had to be a better way, and based on our success it appears the market agrees.”

Inspectors use mobile devices equipped with BuildingReports’ online inspection and reporting technology to scan and log device inspection results of fire and life safety devices throughout commercial facilities. Upon completion of an inspection, a building’s report is immediately available online with a comprehensive record of which devices passed or failed, why devices failed, (including the associated codes and standards) and what action is required to be in compliance.

About BuildingReports

Building safety compliance is critical to service companies, building owners and fire and safety officials who are charged with safeguarding occupants. BuildingReports’ mobile and online inspection reporting tools enable inspectors to quickly gather data on fire and life safety devices to ensure they are working properly and meet code requirements, or identify actions needed to meet compliance through easily verifiable inspection reports. With more than 120 Million inspected devices to date, 330,000 buildings represented and over 600 inspection companies in its network, BuildingReports has earned its reputation as the trusted name in compliance reporting. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.buildingreports.com.

BuildingReports is pleased to announce that they are once again sponsoring the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) Conference in Orlando, FL. Company representatives will be providing demos and meeting with existing and prospective customers in booth 316 during exhibitor hours.

The AFSA is a non-profit, international association representing merit shop fire sprinkler contractors, dedicated to the educational advancement of its members and promotion of the use of automatic fire sprinkler systems.

The 33rd Annual Convention & Exhibition of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), “Come for the Convention, Experience the Magic,” is being held Sunday, September 28 through Wednesday, October 1, 2014, at the Hilton Bonnet Creek Hotel in Orlando.

Memphis-based State Systems, a BuildingReports Service Member, was the subject of a recent article published by The Daily News.

June 9, 2014

By Amos Maki

In 1986, the father-and-son team of Robert and Bob McBride bought a fledgling small business called State Systems.

At that point, the company had just two employees. Today, State Systems Inc. employs 114 people and has around 5,000 active commercial customers.

The family-owned business has been providing fire protection services to Memphis-area companies for decades and is constantly evolving to keep pace with the latest in technological, fire safety and security improvements.

The McBrides take seriously their role as being the final line of defense between a raging fire and catastrophic damage. The company’s motto is “Protecting Life and Property.”

“We want to make sure people are protected,” said Bob McBride. “We recognize it’s a great responsibility, and we take it very seriously. It’s always gratifying when you hear a news report about a fire and they say the system worked and put the fire out and you know they did not lose property or people were injured.”

That focus on quality and safety filters down to employees in the field.

“Our employees take it very seriously,” said Bob’s brother, Tyler McBride. “When they’re out doing service or maintenance, they get the big picture and recognize that this is about saving lives and property.”

The company installs, maintains and services all the equipment it places in a business.

State Systems’ longest-standing and best-known services – fire protection equipment, training and cleaning services – have been enhanced by new technology services, such as network integration, structured cabling systems and wireless support.

The company added a fire sprinkler division three years ago to go with its fire protection, low voltage, cleaning services and technology divisions.

Bob and Tyler said operating each division as its own company has helped manage the day-to-day operations.

“That really allows us to focus on quality and making sure we’re delivering the right services and products to our customers,” Tyler said.

Bob said having the different divisions run as their own distinct business empowers managers and helps maximize the profits within each division.

“It makes it easier to have the managers report to me and they run as separate profit centers,” Bob said. “We run them as if they’re different business silos.”

State Systems serves companies within a 150-mile radius of Memphis, and clients include Smith & Nephew, the University of Memphis, Burger King, Sonic, McDonald’s and Wendy’s.

State Systems recently introduced a new product that could help restaurants dramatically cut down on costs. Called Safety Shield, it uses sheep wool in filters to trap around 95 percent of grease vapors. Traditional filters collect 30 or 40 percent of the grease and other material emitted from kitchens, allowing the rest to escapes to roofs, kitchens and HVAC systems.

“(Our system) saves time and money because most restaurants pull their filters down on a weekly or daily basis,” Tyler said. “With this, they only have to pull them down once a month.”

The fire protection division includes sprinkler systems, fire suppression systems that are utilized when water could do more harm than good, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting and signs.

For companies with information technology infrastructure to protect, State Systems can install a suppression system that will extinguish the flames while protecting the data.

“The doors will shut automatically and the room would fill up with a gas to extinguish the fire without damaging the systems,” Tyler said.

The company’s pressure-washing division can be particularly useful for restaurant equipment and vent hood cleaning.

The technology division includes structured cabling systems, wireless connectivity, and telephone and surveillance systems.

The low-voltage division includes fire alarm systems, wireless connectivity, CCTV systems and access control systems.

The addition of the low-voltage division allowed State Systems to move into the security business, so in addition to offering fire protection and detection services, the company can also provide security, including CCTV services.

State Systems allows customers to bundle all of the different systems, making it a one-stop shop for companies’ fire protection and security needs

“You can deal with one company and one point of contact, and that’s been a great plus for us,” Tyler said.

State Systems also uses a Web-based system, BuildingReports.com, which allows customers to gain automatic access to all their fire protection and safety data. The system will tell business owners where each fire extinguisher or smoke detector in a building is located and maintenance information on each piece of equipment.

“It’s a differentiator,” Tyler said. “We’re the only one in the market who has it, and our customers love it.”

ATLANTA – August 8, 2014. BuildingReports announced today the availability of ScanSeries™ version 1.5 with updates and enhancements for Apple® iOS. ScanSeries is a suite of industry leading applications for device-specific inspection and reporting of fire, life safety and security systems. Using a simple point-and-scan process leveraging iPhone® and iPod touch® devices in coordination with barcode-scanning Linea Pro sled hardware, inspectors can easily scan safety equipment labeled with BuildingReports barcode stickers, complete a building system inspection and deliver real-time, web-based inspection reports to building owners and safety officials.

With the release of version 1.5, BuildingReports relied on customer feedback to provide popular enhancements including a new power management feature. The feature alerts the user once the mobile device battery power level reaches 30 percent, 20 percent and 10percent, and provides the option to charge the mobile device from the sled battery. The option can also be manually enabled at any time through the ScanSeries application settings.

Because a mobile device requires more power than the sled due to screen lighting, memory and application processes, and other features not found on the scanning sled hardware, the rate at which the sled uses battery power is much lower than the host mobile device. Thus, the sled may be utilized as a secondary power source from which the mobile device can replenish its own battery supply during the course of longer inspections, reducing downtime for charging and increasing inspection efficiency. This option is only active while the ScanSeries application is in use.

Depending on a user’s device settings, the update may have been installed automatically. Users who do not have automatic application updates enabled should receive an alert from the iOS device’s App Store icon to download and install the update to their device.

Jason Dooley, quality assurance manager at BuildingReports, urges customers to keep BuildingReports applications up to date. “For users that prefer not to enable the automatic application update feature on their mobile devices, they should establish a schedule for checking application notifications and manually applying updates as they become available. This practice ensures that they are not only getting the full value from their investment in BuildingReports’ mobile solutions, but that their devices and applications will continue to operate properly,” said Dooley.

Apple users in the United States can view the update version history and download updates at itunes.apple.com/us/app/scanseries, or check from updates within the application itself. ScanSeries for the Android platform is currently in development and undergoing beta testing. It is set scheduled for release later this year.

Inspector’s Boot Camp, a leading training resource for the Fire and Life Safety industry, will be holding it’s second week-long fire and safety inspection training course of the year September 15-19 in Aiken, SC.

Dedicated to enhancing the value of inspectors through education, certification, and quality hands-on building inspection training using the latest inspection tools and technologies, graduates of IBC represent some of the leading service providers of building inspections.

Space is limited for this popular class and interested parties are encouraged to register soon. The $2,495 tuition fee includes:

• Hotel Accommodations
• All meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Transportation between hotel & college each day
• Shuttle from ATL Airport

Every student receives:

• Battery Tester (Fire Alarm and Extinguisher/Safety Equipment Classes Only)
• Sound Meter (Fire Alarm Systems Class Only)
• Books and Classroom Materials

As a convenience to students, and due to heightened airline travel restrictions, all equipment and materials can be shipped home via UPS for the student upon completion of the class. Shipping costs are included in the tuition.

Contact Inspector’s Boot Camp to learn more.