Simplex Grinnell Company Profile

Is Bigger Better?

Simplex Grinnell is a nationwide company for full service fire alarms, fire alarm monitoring, and the installation of fire sprinkler systems for both home and commercial buildings. It's the company chosen to do both the Whitehouse and the Statue of Liberty. There are 25 employees in the regional Santa Rosa CA office and 15,000 employees nationally.

When it comes to local fire protection system contractors, there are certainly "one-man show" owner/operators that Bay Area consumers could choose if they had to. So we asked a 30-year employee of Simplex Grinnell, Tim Madura who runs the Santa Rosa office, if bigger was really any better when it comes to fire safety system installers and fire alarm monitoring companies.

"Definitely yes," said Tim Madura. "I've been in this industry for 35 years and I know from experience that a customer's biggest concern should be the stability of the company they choose and its ability to back up the quality of the equipment and the installation. We've been around since 1850. Obviously, we'll be around for our customers."

But fire protection is a state regulated industry, so aren't all installers equally competent? And aren't all rated and approved fire sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems pretty much the same quality? Apparently not. It seems there's a wide disparity between the minimum required by the state and what companies who go even further can provide.

Tim Madura explained, "All of our installers undergo a 5-year apprenticeship program administered by AFSA (American Fire Sprinkler Association) which includes a demanding series of classes and tests before they're a qualified journeyman fire sprinkler fitter. When it comes to the equipment, we have our own research & development company that's constantly testing and improving products. We have our own in-house designers. So our customers get a lot of quality with us compared to smaller companies."

Relationship of Size To Safety

And it seems there are actual safety considerations when it comes to the size of the fire protection company. For example, will you be left unprotected in case of a fire if the system needs fixing and a smaller company needs time to order the right part? Or you have to wait for hours or the next day or longer after calling and leaving a message for that smaller sized company for service or repair?

"Those are both important issues," agreed Tim. "As the world's largest fire protection company, we have a huge inventory of parts at the immediate disposal of our technicians. Most likely they have exactly what they need right in their truck so the customer's system doesn't have to stay down. At Simplex Grinnell we have people answering the phones live for our customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. And all field technicians pass thorough drug-testing and background checks. That's the kind of peace of mind and assurance a customer gets when they come on board with us."

Nationwide With Local Feel

Tim Madura opened the Santa Rosa CA office for Simplex Grinnell over 22 years ago. A visit there shows it to be a first class shop filled with the latest tools, equipment and parts, including many kinds of sprinklers. Also a state-of-the-art CAD design system, a library of industry books and conference room. The employees are extremely friendly, but could everyone expect that kind of treatment? "We work hard on behalf of all of our customers," says Tim, "no matter who they are. We treat them with an equal amount of respect if they're working-class, and don't overcharge them if they're rich and famous."

People who know Tim Madura back that up, and describe him as honest, hard-working, and someone who genuinely cares about people. A resident of Santa Rosa since 1984, he met his wife of 30 years on his first and only blind-date on New Year 's Eve of 1972, and they've raised three children together.

Tim got started in the fire protection industry when he got out of the Air Force and his brother-in-law invited him into the business, a natural for someone who'd shown high-aptitude as a pipe-fitter with Mobil Oil. Not long after completing the apprenticeship program, he was tapped on the shoulder by a Superintendent at Simplex Grinnell who learned of Tim's mechanical abilities. He's been with the company ever since and won many company awards.

Tim can also be found attending meetings of the FPO (Fire Prevention Officers), a gathering of local fire chiefs from around the county who meet once a month, which he says is natural considering the local fire chiefs recognize Simplex Grinnell as the leading fire protection provider.

Bigger is More Affordable?

"Not only does choosing a company our size mean more assurance and quality," says Tim, "but we can also provide financing options, as well as accept credit cards. And while the industry standard is only a 1-year guarantee, we give a TEN year guarantee on our products.

So in a fire-protection marketplace cluttered with competing claims, 158-year-old Simplex Grinnell has positioned itself as an island of stability, assurance and peace of mind to Bay Area consumers seeking fire protection equipment and service.

---Scott Rhodes
Managing Editor
The Prime Buyer's Report