The grand prize for Best Integration System at the 2004 Innovation Awards went to Terry’s Alarms, Alexandria, La., for its security installation at the Central Louisiana Imaging Center.

The burglar alarm system for the 67,700-square-foot facility uses NetworX NX-8, along with GE Video equipment and a Topaz access control system. In a joint venture with Terry’s Alarms, GE Medical provided the center with all the CAT scan and magnetic imaging equipment for the project.

Best Wireless Residential Installation – Trestar Security, Houston

The installation took place at a waterfront home in Belize, Central America. The home has 130 windows and 12 doors.

The homeowners wanted perimeter, glass-break and motion sensors, smoke detectors, remotes, panic pendants and for the system to be able to page on-site security guards. They also were concerned about esthetics and did not want any exposed wires.

The installation required two Advent Home Navigator panels and the 130 windows had to be secured with two wireless sensors on each. A NetworX NX-4 panel numerically pages security guards.

Merit Award – Guardian Security of N.C., Lincolnton, N.C.

A Concord system and Smart ConnectionCenter were installed in a Mooresville, N.C., home that was tailored around the home’s unique timber-peg construction. The wireless equipment allowed the installers to be more productive and gave the homeowner a more affordable product.

Best Wireless Fire Installation – SimplexGrinnell, San Diego

This installation took place in the historic town of Julian, Calif., located on the side of a mountain with challenging terrain and varied weather conditions. Many of the town’s buildings (which are very close together) consist of 12-inch-thick rock walls.

The Advent Fire installation uses 64 wireless smoke detectors to cover buildings up to one-quarter mile from the town hall. Advent Fire was cost-effective to install and program and the relocation of sensors is simple in the case of future expansion.

Merit Award – Custom Alarm, Rochester, Minn.

This installation was at St. Mary’s Church, Lake City, Minn. The church, which was built in the 1900s with cathedral ceilings and intricate wood trim, had suffered a previous fire. An Advent Fire system was installed with all wireless smoke detectors, heat sensors and pull stations.

Most Innovative Use of Wireless Technology – Custom Alarm, Rochester, Minn.

The Willows apartment complex consists of five buildings, each with five separate digital communicators, which required 10 phone lines because two are required per communicator.

Custom Alarm installed an Advent Fire panel as the digital communicator for all the existing fire alarm panels, thereby eliminating eight phone lines. To get the best reception, the panel is centrally located between all the buildings. This reduces unnecessary phone lines and monthly monitoring costs.

Merit Award – Risk Management Consultants, Cockeysville, Md.

An inspector told managers of the four-story BB&T Bank to install a panic system or phone in its elevator for emergency use. The building has concrete floors between levels with steel decking and beams, and the elevator car is metal.

Using Concord, Risk Management Consultants installed an elevator panic alarm with a receiver on the lowest and highest levels to guarantee signal transmission. The alternative would have been to upgrade the elevator car and equipment at a cost of more than $25,000. Installing wireless resulted in significant cost savings for BB&T Bank.