Hello guys! So I have been wondering what the Firecom 8500 panel looked like. They were in WTC7 and played the eerie tones. Does anybody have any pictures of one?
@Wei_Huan has some i think
I know Wei_Huan has at least one of a Firecom 8000 I believe but I’m not sure he’s managed to find an 8500 that hasn’t been upgraded to an LSN-2000.
No pictures of the acutal panel control interface yet, i kinda doubt anyone will ever find one since all the 8000/8500 systems have been replaced in the early 2000s and 2010s, however i did find old installations where they kept the old 8000/8500 wall cabinet and some of the panels used in the old systems.
Both panels are in different buildings.
Closest thing i have found related to the 8000/8500 that haven’t been know yet except for the panel cabs is, the TTB enclosure and AMP racks and a Panel Voice Bay used in the systems.
A Firecom 8000 TTB (Transmission Termianl Box) used to monitor and control devices on the floor it serves as stated in the patent.
Firecom 8000 Amp rack seen inside Firecom’s testing room, these would have been found on 8000/8500 systems and is where all the amplifers were, you can also see in the patent picture above this is item 62 in the image.
i have also found the old 8000/8500 system’s “Audio Control Panel” which was left behind in this 8500 to LSN2000 conversion and still mounted in the panel.
Heres something else interesting if you think a 8500 was rare how about a non voice one, this was in a mid 1980s highrise apartment and it might still have the original system, there is no smoke detectors on this system, only pull stations and bells and a phone system and the system looks like its been the same and haven’t been upgraded, did not find any photos of the panels in the building from my research unfortunately.
Still actively looking for more info and pictures so ill update if anything comes up
In any case I hope as many as possible older Firecom systems including both the 8000 & the 8500 are saved: those things are valuable pieces of life safety history! (especially with so few likely still in service)
Ooh! Nice! Very cool and very rare! The 8500 I think was replaced too early to find out what it looked like. Hopefully someday we’ll find out what they looked like. Thanks for sharing the photos!
Is this an 8500? Found through a video the YouTube algorithm randomly showed me. It was filmed in NYC and has the distinct Firecom “FIRE” decal, so… maybe?
The video in question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5Igf9FWt4&t=180s
I think it is an 8500! I recognize the big fire lettering logo, which is also what the newer LSN2000 features. This is in New York so it’s most likely a Firecom 8500. Especially given the fact that the video is old explains a lot about this because they were installed in the 80s/90s. Its Definitely it!
Well how about that…looks like a photo of the legendary 8500 has finally been found! (not that good of a photo but a photo nonetheless)
good find, it indeed is the old 8000/8500 front end confirmed it with a tech who has seen one
probably a elevator communications panel, not related to the firecom system
I just realized that going by the height of the people in the foreground of that photo that 8500s are really tall! (or at least they seem that way)
You don’t suppose that’s also the very same 8500 that was in 7 WTC do you?
they can be mounted in a desk setup which was 7WTC’s setup, and yes the wall mounted ones are huge
Firecom Panels layout is different on every install depending on the building’s needs like more status panels or switches for fans, smoke purge and etc
Heres a example of a desk mounted LSN2000 system
Oh, right: that’s likely what that one video from inside 7 WTC shows (what seems to be the 8500 beeping can be heard as well).
Dang…
Ah okay. Rather neat.
That’s very cool! I wonder where that picture of the LSN2000 desk mounted panel was taken because that is cool!
somewhere in Manhattan, desk mounting is a very popular choice in NYC for panel mounting since some building designers perfer having the panels hidden away for aesthetics behind closet type doors or desk mounted.
Resending a picture of the panel so people can find the picture easier
i will try and locate where this was taken but it might take a while because of how many buildings are in NYC but most likely this system has been replaced since like most were
Imagine finding one in an abandoned building in New York and taking it out… talk about HEAVY!!
By the way, found this video.