The USO Center is a 24-floor business center built on a total area of approximately 20 thousand square meters. The USO Center, one of the oldest high-rise buildings in Istanbul, was opened in late 1999.
While making the first investment for the USO Center in 1996, we received consulting from Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Kılıç. He suggested EEC for the low voltage control systems of our building. We received quotations from several companies. We discussed with 5 companies, one in Izmir, one in Ankara, two in Istanbul and EEC. For this type of work, you have to do research, because it was a serious investment. As a result of our research, we concluded that EEC is one of the companies that truly does this job excellently. We selected them because the products, quotations and works of EEC were better and more successful. We started to cooperate with EEC at the end of 1999, and we still continue to cooperate with EEC for our maintenance, breakdowns and procurement of stock materials.
EEC had initially offered to build the infrastructure of the fire detection system. They said that we could add the field devices subsequently or just replace its brain and use it. We did not receive such information from the other companies. Our office and store tenants have been using the infrastructure and system of EEC from the very beginning. We do not want them to cooperate with different companies because EEC has always offered assistance to us for over 20 years, and we stand behind them.
I find the products very successful. We have detectors that make detections in the field, in dusty and smoky places and cold and hot locations for many years. We are using really successful devices.
I would give EEC 9 out of 10 for their services. They have experienced staff. I observe them when they come to our facility, they are clean and work properly. They explain things to us with clear statements. I really like your statements such as "This device has a limited time of use and you should replace it before it causes a problem". They are really good at service, helping us day and night.
One of the most useful properties of the products is that when someone smokes on the floors or celebrates a birthday, detectors tell us: "Here, there is fun that goes against your rules". This is something that maybe 15 or 20 technical personnel cannot do. Secondly, it notifies us about the occurrence of pollution inside our air handling unit filters. Thirdly, I can give instructions to the panel. For example, I say "Make an announcement at this time", and it makes such an announcement. I say "Scan over there at this time", and it does the scanning.
It is perfect that the device reports everything. We are very satisfied with the software of the EST3 panel. Although the store sections have their own addressable panels not connected to us, I can still get information from there. Even if there is an alarm or a breakdown, I can receive information. As we are building management, this surely makes our job easier. These are the benefits of the EST3 panel. I would highly recommend this software to anyone because it currently meets all our needs at our plaza.
I would surely recommend EEC because they are very good about being directly contacted. It is great that they provide feedback to us when we want to ask something about a breakdown or quotations. I find them very successful in this matter.
I can surely say that the products are of high quality, but there is one point that we, as users, should pay attention to: we have to take good care of the devices. I have devices that have been operating for 20 years. They are properly maintained. Although the building receives cold winds and dust, the devices operate successfully. I recommend these devices. So far I have not had any problem with the devices. I have only replaced some 30 addressable and non-addressable detectors so far. The products truly work for us. I can't think of any other useful benefits for them, because they do not exist. I am very satisfied with the products. I can get the information that I want, and they fully meet our expectations.
EEC is slightly expensive when you compare it with the other weak current integrators and fire detection devices in this field. They are slightly expensive in terms of prices and contracts. Frankly, I would want them to reduce the prices a little.
Regarding lead times, they depend on the job and the equipment that you want. In our system, apart from the panel, we have some 400 pieces of field equipment. I have not so far experienced an incident where EEC failed to supply spare parts. They even brought and installed our display card within 2 days. A vehicle that has a flat tire cannot drive on the road with 3 tires, but it can fit the spare tire. EEC can also offer a temporary solution to keep us on track. I think they are very, very good on this matter.
I have not so far received any complaints from my coworkers about the staff at any level of EEC, from purchasing to top management.
According to our contract, EEC must provide us with technical service within a certain period of time when there is a breakdown, but I do not favor EEC visiting our facility often for a minor reset or a minor device replacement. If there is anything we can do, we will do it. I do not work with the principle that "I pay this company, they should come and do it ". I can do most of the things on the phone. When we call EEC day or night, they help us by saying "Mr. Emrullah, you should do it this way until we come and fix it tomorrow". EEC visits our facility for a breakdown either once a year or not at all, there is no second time, because the devices are really high quality and we take good care of them and we do not let anyone tamper with them. This extends the life of the devices for us. When EEC comes, they bring and fit the spare part and then leave. They are so quick. This is very, very successful for both EEC and for us in terms of time.
Our building was empty during the pandemic, but remote control was comfortable. Even when the building was empty, the system remained active thanks to its rotating personnel and remote control, and there was no risk-taking situation, because the systems are really smart. Knowing that the devices were operating successfully during the pandemic period means comfort for us. Just like this building could stand up on vacations, public holidays and when there is no one inside the building, it is really thanks to the devices of EEC.
We have not had a fire in our building so far, but no one knows when a fire will break out. Maybe it will break out 10 minutes later, or it will never occur. What matters is to respond to the fire immediately before the fire grows. Of course, this is possible thanks to these devices. I have not so far seen a process that these devices failed to do. Without this system, there would be great risks.
In some factories, an alarm system with 2 detectors is installed only to obtain an opening license, it is thought that this will protect the building. However, for the fire detection system to operate accurately, it must be accurately designed. It is not possible to protect the building against fire by connecting two sirens based on hearsay. This is very important. If you are doing this to obtain a license from the municipality, you are mistaken. One day, you would have to face heavier consequences such as spending more money and being exposed to loss of life. This means that you are just deceiving yourself, so the presence of these devices really pays off.
Why am I so comfortable when the building is closed? I know that my systems are operating and active. If a minor breakdown happens, it takes 1 minute for me to intervene from home or contact my security officers, and in that 1 minute, we can avoid huge fires and save a lot. First of all, you have to make sure that the devices are operating, if you take good care of the devices, they will pay off. In other words, a single panel can do more than what 100, maybe 500 security personnel can do.
