Delaware Valley Job Corps Campus-Wide Smoke Detector Upgrade & System Reprogram (Callicoon, NY)

Published November 26th, 2025 by Secure IT Securities Corp.

Delaware Valley Job Corps operates a 7-building campus in Callicoon, NY serving students and staff daily. Their fire alarm system was plagued by constant false alarms from smoke detectors more than 30 years old. Secure It Securities was brought in as the prime contractor to execute a large-scale upgrade: replace hundreds of obsolete smokes, fully reprogram over 1,000 devices, and restore system stability across the entire campus.

Quick Facts (use as sidebar or stat bar):

Facility: Delaware Valley Job Corps (7-building campus)

Location: Callicoon, NY

Project Type: Campus fire alarm upgrade + full system rewrite

System Platform: Kidde VM-1 (7 networked panels)

Devices on Site: 1,000+ devices total

New Devices Installed: 500 smoke detectors + bases

Timeline: Jun 15, 2022 – Oct 4, 2022

Estimated Savings: $100,000 vs. prior contractor pricing

The Challenge

The campus was running on aging smoke detectors that were over 30 years old and increasingly unreliable. False alarms had become a regular disruption to operations and inspections were being jeopardized due to defective devices.

As a government facility, Job Corps acts as its own Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Their expectation was clear:

Replace obsolete smoke detectors rapidly without interrupting campus life

Reprogram a large, networked VM-1 system spanning multiple buildings

Eliminate false alarms and restore trust in the system

Previous contractor bids were high and lacked the Edwards/Kidde VM-1 experience needed for a clean, stable upgrade on a campus this large.

Our Solution

Secure It Securities performed a full-scope system modernization from engineering to final approval while the campus stayed fully occupied.

Scope of Work

Campus-wide fire alarm survey and assessment
Full design/engineering support
CAD shop drawings, riser diagrams, wiring plans, and calculations
Device layout planning and replacement sequencing
Installation of 500 new smoke detectors and bases
Full system rewrite and reprogramming of 1,000+ devices
Network logic configuration across 7 panels
Correlation groups for output activations
Voice programming for the gym
Remote microphone setup for the guard house
HVAC shutdown and purge/exhaust fan integrations
Daily testing / pre-test validation
Final inspection and approval support
End-user training
Full OSHA safety compliance

Execution Strategy

To keep the system stable during the upgrade, we replaced approximately 25 smoke detectors per day, then programmed and tested each batch immediately. This prevented downtime and kept the network free of troubles during active construction.

Challenges Solved During Execution

Once work began, it became clear that all smoke detectors were obsolete and required full replacement per manufacturer guidance.

The solution wasn’t technically difficult it was operationally heavy. The job required disciplined sequencing, precise programming, and consistent testing at high volume across seven buildings.

Results

The campus now operates on a modernized, stable system with dramatically reduced false alarms.

Outcomes

500 smoke detectors replaced campus-wide
1,000+ devices reprogrammed and validated
False alarms reduced to near-zero, restoring operational confidence
Approval achieved on first inspection with Job Corps staff and engineering department
Approx. $75,000 saved compared to prior contractor proposals
Improved purge performance: smoke can be cleared from targeted areas in 5–10 seconds

Impact in One Sentence

We restored reliability across a 7-building campus by replacing obsolete smokes and rebuilding the VM-1 network logic eliminating false alarms and delivering a stable, inspection-ready system.

Client Feedback

The facilities team emphasized the relief of finally finishing a long-needed upgrade:

“We waited a long time to get this done. With funding delays and short staffing, we’re glad to be at the finish line.”

They highlighted your speed, technical command, cleanliness, communication, and ownership of the work from start to finish.

Why This Matters

Large campuses can’t afford unreliable fire alarm systems. False alarms disrupt learning, staff operations, and safety readiness. This project demonstrates how high-volume system upgrades can be executed fast and clean without downtime when handled by experienced life-safety specialists.