Since 9/11, life’s priorities shifted dramatically for all Americans. Things we took for granted, like our basic safety, are now primary concerns. On the job, in schools, on public transportation, along the nation’s thruways, and even in the privacy of our own homes, security takes precedence.

It is easy to understand why fire alarm systems are inherently the right choice for use in mass notification.

Today we think of firefighters less in terms of putting out flames and more as “first responders” to emergencies. We think of fire safety systems in an entirely new light, and the broader term “emergency notification” has become a greater priority in evacuation. Mere fire alarms are no longer enough.

The federal government has attempted to rapidly address these clearly warranted fears. In 2002, the National Strategy of Homeland Security outlined a vision for future security which described a need for “communication and delivery systems indispensable to our national effort to detect, prevent, and, if need be, respond to terrorist attacks.” That same year, the Department of Defense (DOD) developed Uniform Feasibilities Criteria (UFC) in its Minimum Anti-terrorism Standards for Buildings.

Central to UFC was the need for mass notification – systems that would “provide a timely means to notify (building) occupants of threats and instruct them what to do in response to those threats.”

Beyond the Alarm
In developing this UFC, the DOD determined that most basic fire alarm systems were lacking in their ability to communicate with people in the event of non-fire emergencies such as terrorist attacks or weather emergencies. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) was thus directed to develop new standards for mass notification systems and as a result, manufacturers of voice evacuation systems will have to address the task of producing systems to meet today’s potential mass notification needs.

The DOD now requires mass notification systems to include a paging component that allows live audio to be instantaneously transmitted throughout a protected facility. These mass evacuation systems should also include self-monitoring capabilities for failures or disruptions of service. Additionally, new systems must be able to automatically report any failures or disruptions to a central station and/or remote stations.

It is easy to understand why fire alarm systems are inherently the right choice for use in mass notification. For one, fire alarm systems are code-driven and regulated. The circuitry is fully supervised and the systems are periodically tested using NFPA guidelines. In other words, the rules, testing procedures and installation practices are already established, so fire alarm companies are able to hit the road running. Furthermore, first responders are typically familiar with fire alarm system equipment, many having years of hands-on experience. There is no great learning curve for these individuals and in today’s environment, time is of the essence.

Peerless Peer-to-Peer Advantages
Not all fire alarm panels are created equal. Certain panels possess unique advantages over other fire alarm-based systems, making them better suited for handling a variety of emergency situations. Reliable operation is foremost among them. Specifiers should seek out panels that utilize peer-to-peer net-work technology to ensure the complete system continues to operate properly, even if any one part goes down. Many systems may feature peer-to-peer in their detection and control components, but most of these use one box for centralized messaging. The ideal fire systems’ messaging should be distributed out to the field, so that each transponder has a copy of the system’s messages. Thanks to this distributed messaging, with no primary or “head-end” message box, the messages will always get delivered.

Delivering the Right Message
In an emergency situation, one broad reaching message does not always apply to every floor or section of a facility. In many instances, different scenarios demand different messages. The forthcoming NFPA 72 code will allow mass notification systems to take precedence over fire alarms. For example, these systems will be able to override the fire signal and instruct people to remain in a building to protect them from terrorists outside, or to move to a shelter for protection from an impending tornado.

It is possible for fire alarm systems to be perfectly in sync with the new code. Some existing multi-channel fire alarm systems have such robust distributed messaging capabilities that they allow users to create customized messages for practically any type of scenario. Ideally, the system can be programmed to put out messages that can automatically change as the situation changes. For instance, residents on floor 9 of a high rise college dormitory will receive different instruction from those located on the floor below or the floor above. Stairwells can remain free flowing and safe because evacuation alerts can be staggered in a way that makes sense.

Notification for Education
School systems are also starting to install speakers and audio evacuation with messaging instead of standard horn strobes. In a personal emergency situation at a school, for example a school shooting, a station can be triggered that delivers messages such as “stay in your classroom” and “close the doors” or perhaps “exit via windows” – whatever notification messages the system has been programmed to deliver to address the specific situation at hand.

These mass notification systems are suitable for a wide range of applications and serve basically any public place, including schools, government buildings, hospitals and shopping malls. An incident such as a shooting in a shopping mall can lead to pandemonium but with a mass notification system in place, people can be given clear, concise instructions as to where to go and how to best ensure their safety. Panic is greatly reduced.

The Sound of Safety
The NFPA 72 code guidelines also address the issue of intelligibility. Approaching node connections using a simple twisted wire pair affords systems the marketplace’s greatest degree of intelligibility and fidelity, according to Gamewell-FCI project engineer, Dick Aldrich. He explains, “The sound reproduction is near high fidelity quality, so that messages are delivered clearly and better understood. The speed of the message delivery is also unsurpassed – the system can be ready to broadcast a voice message within one or two milliseconds for near instantaneous communication. Also, a system with a fiber optic communication network defies jamming or any other kind of outside interference.”

The Technology is Here
New technologies designed to address our nation’s homeland security needs continue to be developed on a continual basis. As for those emergency evacuation systems dictated by the DOD, cutting-edge mass notification systems have arrived – spread the word.

Jim Kimpel is the product manager at Gamewell-FCI.

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