Frequently Asked Questions

Pulse Online is a recent extension to the Pulse Electronic Record Information system. Pulse Online allows clients/facilities managers/maintenance engineers etc to securely access critical record information instantaneously from anywhere in the world with the click of a mouse. This is a convenient new tool that has endless possibilities.

If you are an existing client please select your Pulse Online link below to access your Pulse Electronic Record Information Resources.

If you are interested in further information on becoming a Pulse Online Client, please complete the form below and a TSA Sales Representative will contact you in the near future to discuss options to accommodate your needs.

	Technical Support Associates
	Unit 1B
	70 Wood End Green Road
	Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 2SL
	
	Phone: 020 8569 1155
	Fax : 020 8569 1166
	Email:  enquiries@tsaservices.co.uk
	Website: www.tsaservices.co.uk

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Copyright: is Pulse copyright protected?
Yes but only the web structure, search engine & overall concept, not the information, drawings, adobe scanning, word tables etc which are all yours.
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Cost: How much does it cost to make changes to the system?
A cost update spreadsheet is available to all signed-up Clients to calculate costs changes.
Pulse Project Integration & Scanning Costs 2006
The cost depends on the changes made but they are not high; i.e. if you have made a few changes to a single word file our 2006 update charge would be £9.75.
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Cost: How much does it cost to set the system rolling?
Not much, the whole system is designed for your use and convenience; you own, use & provide the data, we administer & manage the information and provide guidance and standards. The following graph summarises initial set-up costs to pull together base information (a starting point for full record information) for your property including the first years’ web-hosting:

We will try to populate as much of the system as possible; it is in our interest to provide you with useful information. Much depends on the quality and amount of information you provide, and the system can be developed to meet your specific requirements. We can provide as much help as you need (which obviously increases costs) including drawing, scaning, surveys, cheap tracing in 3rd world countries, compiling Safety Files, Building TM31 Log Books, Project Management, M&E Design, Planning Supervision, arbitration, etc. We have a vast amount of experience within the building industry.
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Cost: Is there a web-hosting cost?
Yes, but not much as data is cheap these days and access made easy by modern high speed internet connections. We charge £150/GB per annum which includes data management & phone support. The following graph shows how this relates to typical Pulse building portfolios:

Some of these project contain over 5,000 files including drawings, scanned documents, tables, asset schedules, task sheets etc.
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Cost: What happens if I no longer wish to use your service?
It’s up to you, you have all the data on a CD/DVD/Intranet which is not password protected and the data is yours to do as you please.
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DIY: Can I do it myself?
Yes, the more you provide us the less we have to do. Use our specification, develop the documents then pass them onto us for managmemnt & web-hosting.
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Drawings: How do you control drawing quality?
It is essential to control CAD drawings properly. You do not want multiple drawings all showing un-coordinated information. Even drawing lists linked to your drawings can be very time consuming. We develop one AutoCAD file per floor using pre-defined descriptive layers so that everyone can benefit from the information contained. We have very large floor plates with vast amount of information containing all services including space planning all on the same file so be assured the file sizes & layering conventions work well. Although we have standard CAD layers we tune these to suit each building where required.
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Further Information:
Pulse Specification 2006
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Help: Can you provide further assistance?
We can help in any way you need including telephone / email support, site surveys, barcoding, CAD work, compiling the information, setting up CAFM system, etc.
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Passwords: How many passwords can I have?
There is no restriction. We issue a unique password and username specifically for your information which you can share as required. We can also offer additional usernames & passwords for set periods as controlled by you at a cost of £20/ month each. This is an ideal way of providing access to your information to a 3rd party for a limited period defined by you. Password Protection: Do you lock the documents with passwords? No, you can open all the word, excel, AutoCAD, & adobe files and cut, paste, extract pages as required. Changes to the web-information are undertaken through us to ensure that the data remains structured and in tact.
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Projects: How can a drawing be updated?
If for example you have a project which changes the lighting layout you must ensure that your contractor changes the lighting & text lighting layers only which you then email to us for incorporation. The cost to update the master floor plan AutoCAD drawing on the web-site including an updated pdf version would be £23 (2006 price).
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Projects: How can my Contractor use the data?
Its simple & there’s no cost. Full access is available via the internet to all files, drawings etc. We only charge for the updating process and this is kept to a minimum where the changed information is in compliance with our specification.
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Projects: How can revised project information be incorporated?
Your contractor should provide all information in compliance with the Pulse specification and email us the changes to be incorporated. We evaluate the data and issue a cost breakdown for the project update process. Costs vary depending on the quality and amount of information provided i.e. if we have to tag, sort & scan 3cm of paperwork our costs for this element of the work would be £416. If however this information was issued in compliant electronic format (scanned with tables etc detailing the information provided) our involvement is far less and costs will be nearer £40.

Pulse Project Integration & Scanning Costs 2006: A cost spreadsheet available to calculate project costs for signed-up Clients.
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Search Engine: Does the Search Engine work over the internet?
Yes, but much depends on the speed of your internet service. 2MB broadband works fine 5MB is faster. Larger projects and more complicated searches take longer. Searches are fastest from you LAN or PC.
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Search Engine: What does the Search Engine find?
It searches for the search string you enter i.e. FCU 201 will find text anywhere within the system containing the words FCU 201 whereas FCU will return all occurrences of FCU including FCU 201.
When we sort the data we use descriptive filenames and also add other useful information which helps find the data, for example we may use a filename of First Floor FCU Secondary Airflow but would add Fitout Commissioning test results, July 2004 & Test Report and file the data under the commissioning section. Where we receive information electronically every word is searched. So it’s easy to find what you are looking for.
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Security: How secure is the information?
All data is accessed via unique usernames & passwords which we only issue on your authority & specific request. See also Web-hosting.
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Software: Do I need any special Software?
No, only the software which is on most PCs – adobe, word, excel etc. On larger projects we convert AutoCAD drawings into Adobe including controlled layers so that anyone can view and use the CAD layers. There’s no special database to download and it all works like the internet.
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Specification: Is there a Pulse Specification, which I can issue to my Contractors?
Yes, a Pulse Specification is available to signed up clients which we will taylor to meet your needs i.e. headers etc will include your logo, the building name etc: Pulse Specification 2006
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Start-up: What information do I need to start the process going?
Very little but remember the more you give us the more beneficial the information will be to you in the long term.
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Structure: How is the information structured?
We structure all the record information into the following categories:

	Asset Data
	Certification
	Controls
	Descriptions
	Design Criteria
	Drawings
	Environmental
	General Information	
	Health & Safety
	Maintenance	
	Manufacturers’ Information	
	Operating Procedures
	Schedules