SIA/Security Industry Association Profile: NSG Life Safety
SIA spoke with Torrey Champignie, senior project engineer at NSG Life Safety, about the company, the security industry and working with SIA.
TELL US THE STORY OF YOUR COMPANY.
NSG Co-Founder Daniel Chauvin
Torrey Champignie: NOREL Service Company was founded in 1972 by former owner Tom Norton. In 2017, Tom partnered with Daniel Chauvin and George Aguiar to form NSG Life Safety.
In 2023, George and Dan purchased NOREL Service Company. The two companies are now operating as a single source provider for the design implementation and aftermarket services of integrated security, life safety and critical communications systems. Dan and George have over seven decades of combined experience and have catered to all major occupancy types, including but not limited to health care, education, industrial, correctional, hospitality and multiunit residential.
WHAT SOLUTIONS/SERVICES DOES YOUR BUSINESS OFFER IN THE SECURITY INDUSTRY? AND WHAT MAKES YOUR OFFERINGS OR YOUR COMPANY UNIQUE?
NSG Co-Founder George Aguiar
TC: NSG Life Safety provides:
Engineering services: we have a team of engineers who are able to design any type low-voltage system within a building. We are code experts and employ eight nationally certified engineering technologies. Our computer-aided design department offers completely scaled drawings, including point-to-point diagrams and as-built data.
Implementation: Our applications engineers are seasoned and experienced in delivering customized programming and professional training.
After market service: NOREL Service Company serves all of New England, with over 65 service vehicles, and offers a team of client-centric service managers to support any size system or facility.
NSG/NOREL also caters to the design community, offering our years of expertise and knowledge of construction management.
A clear differentiator for our organization is that we are able to work with architects, engineers and consultants to ensure systems are fully code compliant, integrated and in concert with the owners’ specific needs.
We are manufacturer agnostic and have aligned ourselves with most major security product manufacturers. We are a Unified Elite Partner with Genetec, Avigilon, American Dynamics, Software House, LenelS2, Hirsch, DMP, Bosch, DSC, Kantech and Brivo and we are also a Gold Partner with Axis. This provides our clients with the best-in-class products and engineered solutions in the industry. In addition, we are the largest dealer in the Americas for Autocall fire detection products and have been recognized as Johnson Control’s largest distributor of Autocall fire detection products for six consecutive years.
NSG/NOREL is able to provide completely integrated systems, including turnkey installation.
WHAT’S SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMPANY – OR SOMETHING NEW YOU’RE DOING IN SECURITY?
TC: NSG was fortunate enough to have foreseen the supply chain issues that were taking the country by the storm and quickly began to counter them. NSG stores all project material long before they are needed, collect, inventory, store and insure the materials. This long-term approach to project success not only insulates the project from manufacturer pricing increases, but also provides peace of mind for our clients.
WHAT IS YOUR COMPANY’S VISION, AND WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE SECURITY INDUSTRY?
TC: As NSG continues to grow, there will be a continued effort to enhance customer success, new partnerships, revenues and marketing campaigns.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SECURITY INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW?
TC: Mass notification is the biggest opportunity in our marketplace as we see it.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING YOUR COMPANY AND/OR OTHERS IN THE SECURITY INDUSTRY?
TC: For a period of time, the biggest challenge was product lead time and availability. The biggest challenge now is staying up to date with the never-ending changes to the industry. The security industry is evolving rapidly and maintaining up-to-date product and system knowledge is crucial to maintaining great customer success. Additionally, the “me too” dealers are popping up. Competing with companies lacking a comprehensive understanding of systems technology and the same dedication we have towards life safety presents its own challenges.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING AT YOUR COMPANY – AND IN THE SECURITY INDUSTRY?
TC: Helping others – being in a position to protect the people and property of the premise and provide a solution that is first-class and fits the needs of the clients.
WHAT DOES SIA OFFER THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU/YOUR COMPANY? AND WHAT DO YOU MOST HOPE TO GET OUT OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP WITH SIA?
TC: SIA provides NSG with an important educational and promotional piece, advocating for new and old best practices.
NSG hopes to evaluate new partnerships, alliances and field marketing tactics to increase branding visibility and staff knowledge.
The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.
NSG Recognized for “Best of Brand” by Johnson Controls
West Bridgewater, MA: NSG was recognized in 2022 for the “Best of Brand” award by Johnson Controls. This achievement recognizes NSG’s superior go-to-market strategy, and further exemplifies NSG’s ability to leverage the Autocall offering. It appears NSG will soon be in need of another case to display their achievements.
New Weymouth Middle School Designed with Safety and Security in Mind
We’re so proud to be involved with the safety and security system in the new Chapman Middle School in Weymouth. The top priority in the design of the new school combining two middle schools was to keep everyone safe. Our state-of-the-art mass notification and alarm systems will help to protect students and faculty while offering both silent and audible notifications.
NSG Life Safety caters to the multi-faceted needs of the construction industry pertaining to life safety systems, ranging from fire alarms to mass notification systems. The company offers a suite of services. Not only does it engineer the safety features, it also delivers program systems and offers a detailed training program to assist the owners who use them. In addition to all this, the company offers aftermarket services for the lifespan of the product.
When NSG Life Safety was featured in Apeiron in August of 2021, it was noted that the company took no shortcuts. Unsurprisingly, since that feature the company has gone from strength to strength.
President at NSG Life Safety, Daniel Chauvin describes the company as a “one-stop-shop for large, complex systems in commercial buildings.” While it may seem like a grand claim, it is backed up by the figures. Every year since the company’s establishment five years ago, NSG has doubled in size. Incredibly, while we are only midway through the year, the company has performed this feat yet again. Chauvin calls this the “breakout year” for the company – something he deprecatingly puts down to “a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work.”
The company has grown exponentially since August of 2021, experiencing rapid growth, and doubling in sales as of June 2022. When asked about this, Chauvin said he would attribute the majority of the company’s incredible success to his skilled in-house team. “We have a really great group of players here that are extremely committed to the success of the organization and the satisfaction of our client base” Furthermore, he believes that the team’s “commitment to [NSG’s] success is the key ingredient.”
NSG was fortunate to have foreseen the supply chain issues that are now taking the country by storm and was able to react quickly to counter them. The company stores materials to accommodate projects long before they are needed. Chauvin explains that many companies buy as needed, ensuring it is delivered just in time for the job, whereas NSG orders the materials up to a year in advance and will collect, inventory, store and insure the materials. This long-term approach allows the company to deliver on time, something that Chauvin describes as a “catalyst” to the company’s success.
This forward thinking is the result of a wealth of experience, gained over many years. Chauvin himself has been working in this industry for thirty-eight years and, understandably, can recognize what works and what doesn’t. As stated in last year’s article, the company does not take shortcuts. To emphasize this point, Chauvin explains that the work NSG does is very “detail-oriented.” He goes on to describe the importance of presenting drawings, engineering and every piece of information required for the contractor to install the product. Chauvin believes that this is what “keeps them coming back.”
NSG doesn’t “sell to everybody,” according to Chauvin. “We sell to a tight group of clients that respect us, pay their bills and give us business.” In turn, Chauvin states, the company’s many clients receive “extreme customer service” from the team who will go out of their way to answer questions and solve problems with a same day service. In addition to this, the company boasts a wide range of “top tier” products, with Chauvin explaining that “when you get into the larger complex of integrated solutions you need to have the best products.”
One of NSG’s key manufacturers, according to Daniel, is Johnson Controls (JCI), which offers a tier-one life safety system platform called Autocall, which was launched in 2016. While there are now over one hundred dealers of the product, NSG was one of the first. This early adoption of the product has led to a keen understanding of how it works and why it is important for clients. To that end, NSG has consistently been the number one sales organization for the Autocall system and was recently awarded the Top Gun award in 2021. Chauvin explains that the detail used by the company combined with a deep well of knowledge has led to this success. “Because of our method to market, the way we do things, [and] the loyalty of our clients, we’ve been fortunate enough to be the number one sales organization for that product in North America, Canada [and the] United States of America since the inception of the award.” For the company, this recognition is very important, with Chauvin stating that it is “inspirational for our team to be recognized.” He goes on to explain that it “develops appreciation” while also sets the company “apart from our brothers who are selling it as well.”
Interestingly, Chauvin used the word competition, before replacing it with brothers – something which demonstrates the key facet of NSG’s success. While this is a company that is founded on success through hard work and merit, there is also a tangible sense of community and a drive for collaboration. As Chauvin speaks, the saying about rising tides lifting all boats springs to mind. He explains that the team regularly receives calls from dealers, looking for guidance and advice. With Autocall having at least three major dealers in every market, Chauvin explains how the team will happily help and give advice to those who are not in the same market as them. “At the end of the day it’s friendly competition, but competition nonetheless.”
As anyone that has followed the upward trajectory of NSG Life Safety can attest to, the growth the company is experiencing is expected to continue. Despite this, Chauvin acknowledges the importance of remaining cautious, saying that while he doesn’t foresee a problem with achieving the Top Gun award again, “if you get cocky you get taken out, so we [have to] be humble and demonstrate some humility.”
NSG is trying to grow “intelligently” according to Daniel. The rationale for this approach stems from a desire to consistently offer top-quality service. Currently, the company has used this period of growth to invest in training the team. The result of this is the development of integrated security “at a higher level” – something which clients had been asking NSG to provide for a while.
In order to ensure this development runs smoothly, the company has developed internal subsets that will handle integrated security. In a display of cyclical development, the team will emulate previous successes, operating in much the same way it did five years ago with the Autocall JCI systems. “That team started small and worked our way up. Only good things are going to happen from here on out.”
NSG has recently been awarded the Cleveland Rudman Federal Courthouse project in Concord New Hampshire, a design-build life safety solution to the GSA. The team was selected not based on price, but on performance, credentials and their approach to the complex retrofit of life safety systems in the facility. The company was also recently awarded the Massachusetts Department of Health Laboratories in Boston, a multi-building site which Daniel describes as a “difficult job” from an implementation stand point. NSG was selected to provide the life safety systems while also doing the tier 2 engineering on it and the implementation plan.
NSG also recently completed a large-scale retrofit of their life safety mass notification system in the Biogen Building 8 – a two-story vivarium in Cambridge Massachusetts which “required some very unique signaling” to ensure the building could operate as normal. Despite the stress and intensity that comes from working on such complex and high-profile projects, Chauvin feels that they reflect how far the company has come. As he says, with a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work, NSG Life Safety is continuing to scale new heights. “We are proud of these projects – to even be entertained is a big deal but to be selected speaks to how far we’ve come and the need to keep doing what we are doing.”
No Shortcuts – “There are no shortcuts with life safety”
Our latest article explains how we’ve been able to demonstrate unprecedented growth in just three years. Read below or go HERE
“We don’t take shortcuts,” says Daniel J. Chauvin because, as he explains, “there are no shortcuts with life safety”. As President of NSG Life Safety, he is part of a leadership quartet who have collectively accrued over 100 years of industry experience between them. The veteran-owned business draws on its proprietors’ hands-on experience in electronics and aircraft safety in the US Navy, as well as distinguished civil careers in engineering, security and safety systems. Chauvin, Thomas Norton, George Aguiar and Michael A. Doucette joined forces and founded the company in 2018, pooling their extensive expertise, contacts, and institutional knowledge, all gained through involvement in many and varied projects in the federal, municipal and private spheres. No shortcuts.
“We have the expertise and we understand how to put these jobs together, and we’re code driven people and we get it,” he says about meeting the challenges posed by large-scale, diverse use structures. “We’ve been in so many different types of buildings, we understand it. So, we perform like a larger, national organization, but we’re more of a hometown, if you will, integrator.”
With offices in Providence, Rhode Island, Canton, Massachusetts, and Nashua, New Hampshire, NSG primarily serves the New England region. The team offers consultation, design, implementation and integration for fire alarm, security systems and critical communications in education, healthcare and commercial settings. Although it has national agreements with its major suppliers, the company is not anxious to overextend its geographic reach, as Chauvin explains: “We’re trying to grow our business intelligently. We have the projects. We recently completed the US Army Corps of Engineers in Illinois, which was a very successful project, but it’s just that distance creates inefficiencies.” He is keen to point out that, with less than fifteen people involved, the team is relatively lean but “big enough to get any size job done” without inflated General and Administrative costs. Financial and time savings are passed on to clients, as NSG also takes on the management of project materials and delivery, storing all incoming components in its own Canton warehouse until orders are complete and ready to ship to site. “This strategy improves project efficiency and reduces the burden of material management for our clients.”
Interacting with all the major stakeholders over the timeline of a construction project, the team is accustomed to navigating the different priorities of various parties: from Owners to Architects, Electrical Engineers to Electrical Contractors, property managers and so on. Integrity is essential throughout this process and Chauvin is emphatic that this value extends to all aspects of the business. Cutting corners is not an option when lives or property could be at risk. Occupancy use group codes also dictate requirements and minimum standards, and familiarity with these codes has seen the team develop a portfolio composed of around 75% public spaces. Within these, there are further nuances between the code requirements of federal, local and municipal projects. Chauvin describes the federal GSA (General Services Administration) building criteria as very refined and clearly articulated, while those of local government tend to be less specific. Meanwhile, on the municipal level, regulations may vary hugely. In some cases, Chauvin says, the criteria can be on a par with those of the federal government.
“The team is accustomed to navigating the different priorities of various parties: from Owners to Architects, Electrical Engineers to Electrical Contractors, property managers and so on.”
The Somerville High School in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, is a recent portfolio highlight, undertaken in collaboration with Wayne J. Griffin Electric and Suffolk Construction. This was a great opportunity and challenge, being an unusually big structure for a school. Standing at some 396,000 square feet, the building is classified as a high rise, the first such school that Chauvin has encountered in his 37-year career. That classification came with a lot of code implications, such as dictating how the fire alarm should operate, which had to be reconciled with the building’s primary use as an educational space. This entailed considerable coordination with the relevant authorities to ensure that the planned systems would be code compliant and that all parties understood what was being installed and how it would work.
So how do these systems work? In the aftermath of a series of high profile tragedies in America, security at schools has become a major concern. One key point for this use group is mass notification In the event of a hostile situation, to alert occupants to the threat and create compartments, to contain it. NSG has already become a market leader in this area and Chauvin describes in detail what is typically involved:
“We’re at the end of a major project in Fall River: Durfee High School, which is about 502,000 square foot facility. Our system is responsible for collecting data from various disparate systems, whether it be intrusion detection, access control, duress or medical systems, and broadcasting that information not only internally, but externally. We notify the authorities having jurisdiction: police, fire. We send out text notifications, emails to the stakeholders, such as the superintendent, School Resource Officer, medical staff and so on and so on, to ensure that everybody understands the situation in real time. This is mass notification.”
Protocols are essential too, as there should be an emergency response plan that establishes a sequence to then eliminate the threat. The NSG team works with end users from the outset, as well as architects and engineers to assess risks and develop strategies for such plans, in tandem with the physical electronic systems. Chauvin observes that American society in general seems to have become more aware of safety and security issues in recent years, which he attributes to contemporary incidents being relayed through social media in real time. A positive result of this instant communication is more enthusiastic engagement with the development of risk mitigation measures.
Although the hope is always that none of these measures will ever be needed, rigorous testing of these NSG solutions is conducted during the implementation phase, post-construction and periodically afterwards, to ensure that their sequences run as designed and installed. The team prefers to offer the periodic testing on an aftermarket basis, but does not want to lock clients into long-term contracts from the outset unless the Owner desires NSG to do so. This is obviously connected to the company emphasis on integrity and openness as core values and calling cards, as Chauvin explains: “We try to provide an open architecture system or group of systems that communicate, so that the end user has choices. Ideally, we want that end user, the Owner, to want to use us. That means we haven’t made any mistakes and they like doing business with us.”
It seems that people like doing business with NSG Life Safety. The company has gone from strength to strength during its short life already, and has just secured the design and build contract for the Cleveland Rudman Courthouse in Concord, New Hampshire, which will mark another milestone for NSG. This type of award for such a significant federal building project demonstrates NSG Life Safety’s abilities. The team has also been recognized by fire alarm manufacturer Autocall Johnson Controls (JCI) as its top seller in North America for three consecutive years and actually tripled its business with JCI in 2020. Is there any chance of this going to anyone’s head? Not at all, as Chauvin reassures me: “You’ve got to have humility. I find that when you think you’re the best, there’s somebody out there to take you down, so we just try to stay humble and keep grinding.” Spoken like someone with a healthy balance between security in their ability and experience in security.
NSG Life Safety Awarded Highest Sales for Third Consecutive Year for Autocall
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (PRWEB) JANUARY 06, 2021
NSG Life Safety has been acknowledged as the top sales achievers in North America for Autocall Systems Sales. This is the third consecutive year that they have been recognized as “Top Gun” for JCI’s (Johnson Controls International) Autocall fire detection suite of products. As a premier fire detection system and solutions provider, NSG Life Safety has successfully designed and installed large scale, state-of-the-art, future-ready, Autocall systems in educational, healthcare, government and commercial institutions in and around New England.
In addition to the North American Sales achievement, individual awards were bestowed to several team members including:
Materials Manager, Ron Benaski, was awarded the “Warrior Award” for his commitment to coordinating with JCI’s logistics team during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Systems Engineer, Chris Viveiros, was awarded the “Academia Award” for his superior understanding of networked solutions and the entire portfolio of Autocall products.
The entire NSG team is to be commended for an extraordinary effort in achieving their goals and being recognized as the “Top Gun.”
Photo: NSG Team left to right: K. Chauvin, R. Benaski, J. Reyes, C. Viveiros, T. Champignie, M. Doucette
Q: Can you tell us something more about the company and what you do?
A: We provide a full suite of life safety products including fire detection and integrated security. We have been recognized as Johnson Control’s largest distributor of Autocall Fire Detection products in North America for two consecutive years. Our systems are installed in educational, federal, municipal, hospitality, multi-unit residential and commercial institutions. Our staff is highly-qualified and includes our recently-awarded NICET certified employees. These certifications mean that the quality of services and products we provide our clients, meets or exceeds the performance standards of the NICET organization. NICET is a non-profit organization providing certification for those who meet their rigorous standards in technical mastery towards engineering and ensuring state-of-the-art practices towards safety for the public.
Q: What types of services do you provide to your clients?
A: We provide consulting services, systems layout, design and commissioning of fire and security systems. We work with Facilities Managers, Building Owners, building design Architects, Engineers and Contractors to address protection of their most important assets – people and property. All facilities, from small to large, as well as campuses, require a comprehensive and well thought-out plan, specifically for fire alarm systems, mass notification, critical communication, areas of rescue and integrated security. In addition, we provide 24/7/365 monitoring of these mission critical systems and ensure that responsible parties are notified in real time, and with the most accurate information during an event.
Q: How do you know if your industry is a mature one requiring nurturing of younger talent?
A: The life safety field is a code driven, well-established and very mature industry. Building and Life Safety codes have grown in complexity. Those who have grown with the industry have developed and maintained both prescriptive knowledge as well as performance based, institutional knowledge necessary to meet client needs. The majority of those in our business are aging and are looking towards retirement. More specifically, the baby boomers are leaving the workforce every day – Life Safety is not a discipline that younger generations consider when applying their studies while seeking a career.
Q: What did you first recognize as signs that you needed to foster young talent in your industry?
A: We noticed that identifying and recruiting young talent who understood our business and were interested, had become difficult. Colleges that offer Fire Protection Engineering or Electrical Engineering do not emphasize the significance of Fire Alarm Signaling or Integrated Security. With that stated, this fact does not lend itself to new talent considering our chosen field. We recognized our growth trajectory and knew we needed to take immediate steps to cultivate quality talent for the future.
Q: What else can companies do in order to address shortages in their talent pipeline?
A: Be sure to provide the support for courses, certifications and further education for your employees. Talk to them about their goals and be sure to assess your talent to be sure you are nurturing the appropriate skill sets. Participate in career fairs at colleges, even if they don’t provide the exact major, so that young people become aware about the guaranteed opportunities that exist in the life safety field.
Q: What does the future hold? Where is the company headed?
A: Our future is bright and we’re excited! As we continue to identify and cultivate a pool of talent needed to meet the upcoming needs of our clients our legacy will continue well into the future. There’s a sense of satisfaction in knowing that we’ve been responsible in planning for our staff to grow and face new challenges. Eliminating this worry allows us to concentrate on our core business moving forward.
Ultimately, we will ensure that we provide the latest products and services while keeping up with the ever-changing technologies associated with building systems and their integration. It has become imperative for life safety systems to integrate with other systems and to be future proof. Our staff, along with our product line, is poised for the future.
NSG Life Safety recognizes newest NICET Certified Technologists.
East Providence, RI (January 29, 2020) – NSG Life Safety recently recognized the achievement of NICET (National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies) certification for three of their employees.
After a rigorous training syllabus and on-the-job training, NSG’s Engineering staff members have earned their NICET Certification in Fire Alarm Engineering Technologies.
NSG Life Safety’s President, Dan Chauvin (NICET IV Engineering Technologist) stated:
“For two consecutive years, NSG has been honored as North America’s largest Autocall dealer. This achievement is a direct result of the efforts and commitment of our engineering group. The future of NSG and the Fire Alarm Industry as a whole, is reliant on the cultivation of young talent to replace an ageing group Life Safety Professionals. Our team represents the next wave of building systems experts.”
Systems Engineer, Chris Viveiros earned a Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Rhode Island in Mechanical Engineering. Sales Engineer, Kyle Chauvin earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in International Business. Project Engineer, Torrey Champignie earned a Bachelor’s Degree from The Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Facilities Engineering.
About NICET:
Established in 1961, NICET is a non-profit organization providing recognition and certification for engineering technicians and technologists in the U.S.
All NICET programs are designed by industry experts to ensure that companies in engineering and technology fields have a qualified workforce. As a result, the institute greatly invests in its members by promoting their continuing professional development through job placement services that connect employers with highly qualified technicians and technologists.
For technicians, the program requires a written and multiple-choice test and documentation including a work history, recommendations, and usually a supervisor to verify your proficiency for certain skills.
For technologists, the certification requires a 4-year degree in a field related to engineering technology, and at the advanced level, a work history including references.
For a company, NICET certifications mean that any potential candidate with a NICET certification has been evaluated by an objective third party including committees of experts, and is guaranteed to have the qualifications necessary to fulfill your needs. This means that their quality of work—and ultimately the quality of the products and services that they perform—will be of the highest standards.
Left to Right: Chris Viveiros, Kyle Chauvin, Torrey Champignie
NSG Life Safey Awarded for Highest Sales in Year-Two of Autocall Distribution
NSG once again received “Top Gun” national award from Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) for highest sales of Autocall products in second year of distribution.
LaJolla, CA (October 28, 2019) – NSG Life Safety was once again awarded for achieving the most sales of all distributors of Johnson Controls Inc.’s (JCI) Autocall product line. NSG Life Safety was recognized as a “Top Gun” for the second year in a row, and ranked as the number one distributor of all Autocall distributors in North America.
JCI’s Autocall fire detection suite of products, built on legacy systems, is in its second year of successful distribution. As a premier fire detection system and solutions provided, NSG Life Safety has designed and installed the state-of-the-art, future-ready, Autocall systems in educational,healthcare, government and commercial institutions in and around New England.
NSG Life Safety’s President Dan Chauvin, attributes the company’s success to meeting and exceeding their core mission of using their collective industry expertise to provide clients with the most innovative and practical solutions to their Life Safety, Integrated Security and Critical Communications needs.
About NSG Life Safety
NSG Life Safety is entering its third year of operation and is led by Dan Chauvin, a 30-year industry leader having grown a previous life-safety company to 38 million in revenue. With Mr. Chauvin a the helm, the NSG Life Safety team looks forward to continued grown providing life-safety products, systems design, installation and the most optimal solutions available in the industry. Dan is a Certified Engineering Technologist (NICET IV), and holds both a RI Master Fire Alarm License and a Telecom Contractor’s license (TSC).
