4 Benefits of Fire Alarm Notification
In retrofit applications similar to Towson, capitalizing on the strengths of existing fire alarm communication and notification technology can deliver important benefits. These include:
Supervision
These systems are self-monitoring, meaning immediate alerts are sent to central monitoring station personnel any time an issue that could compromise system functionality is detected (i.e. loose wire, detector tampering, etc.).
Survivability
Many of today’s fire alarm network technologies offer distributed intelligence, which can help to assure functionality during a catastrophic event. As a result, if one part of the network is damaged, the remaining components continue to operate properly.
Intelligibility
Clarity of communications is critical (indoors and outside). Increasing speaker volumes can distort the message. Proper ECS design takes background noise, room size and acoustics into consideration, while incorporating visual notification such as LED signage and special – colored strobes.
Testing Requirements
Per National Fire Protection Association code, all commercial fire alarm systems, in both pu
blic and private facilities, are to be tested and properly maintained on a semi-annual basis. Failure to do so typically results in the loss of occupancy permits.
Know These Mass Notification Standards
As part of a broad effort to effectively deal with the threat of terrorism, the Department of Defense (DoD) developed a standard for the design of mass notification systems, titled Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC).
Applicable to all DoD installations domestically and abroad, UFC calls for the use of new and existing fire alarm EVAC systems to be used as the platform of all mass notification systems. Consequently, facilities personnel are expected to collaborate with experienced fire protection engineers on emergency communications system (ECS) design. Chief reasons for this combo fire alarm/ECS approach, include fire protection’s history of proven reliability and substantial cost-saving benefits.
In June 2009, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) established similar requirements under Chapter 24 of its NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, 2010 version. Referring to an MNS as an ECS, the new NFPA code spells out rules for the design, installation and testing of these systems within public and private sector facilities.
