Southfield Michigan Police Department

I would like to advise anyone considering an indoor range to look very strongly at the Carey's ventilation system. In regards to the ventilation system designed by Carey's, there is nothing on the market like it. We went from an indoor range with virtually ZERO ventilation to the Carey's system, and it's a difference of night and day! In our old range, we were limited in the number of shotgun shells we could fire because our old system couldn't clear out the smoke. I once fired four rounds in succession, causing the building's fire alarm to activate. Needless to say, the Chief and others in the department weren't very happy!

During the planning stages of the new range, I met with Carey's several times. They assured me that this system was like no other, and that I would be impressed. I then started construction phase, and the equipment started being delivered. The exhaust fan arrived, and everyone wanted to know what the JET engine was for! (I wondered about this myself.) The installation of the duct work began, and it was like nothing anyone around here had ever seen. Our Plant Management people came by every day, waiting for the startup, to see just how this contraption was going to work. 

Then, Carey's showed up with this big gray box, and a lot of electronics. (Great!...Electronics!) They explained what they were doing with the control system, and how the ventilation system functioned, and finally, it began to make sense. 
At last, startup time arrived. The start key was turned, and after a built in delay, the exhaust unit and supply unit started, and we were moving more air than you could imagine. I was told that without the diffuser system over the supply vents, you couldn't wear a ball cap backwards without blowing it off. Let me tell you, I'm a believer!....I was standing there, feeling the amount of air being sucked into the range through an open door. Thinking I would help out with getting a negative pressure going, I started to close the range door. Carey's technicians stopped me in a hurry. The pressures were not set and balanced yet, and I was advised that the system might have sucked out the 8x4 foot sheet of bulletproof glass from the Rangemaster's control room viewing window, as well as the window in the door. 

After all the adjustments were made, we closed the door and were ready for business. Carey's technician lit off a smoke bomb, and held it close to his face. You could see the smoke roll down the range without coming back to his face at all. This was repeated from every position on the range. 

Finally, the moment of truth arrived, and I took the first shot. I thought I did something wrong when all the construction dust fell, but in less than 30 seconds the range was clear. In the past, you had to blow the lead dust out of your nose after shooting, but now there are no signs of lead dust. All of the exhaust air is pulled through pre-filters and HEPA filters, and then exhausted to our underground parking garage, where it is pumped out through exhaust vents. There were complaints from people that this "contaminated" air was being put into a closed area. I had the air tested. The air we are pumping out of the range is cleaner than any other area in the garage, and cleaner than the air outside the garage.

The greatest thing is the support. The system comes with a modem in it. If there are any problems, I call Carey's technicians, they dial into the system to troubleshoot and repair the problem, and we are right back in business. 

I would invite anyone to show me a better ventilation system for an indoor range. I would also like to tell you that this is not a paid endorsement. This is the truth, and if you want to see it in action, come and see us. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call me.

Detective James M. Adamcheck
Southfield Police Department
Training Coordinator
(248) 796-5539