Cool! Can’t wait to see a video of them!
Another old school building in Brockton, MA has had its’ old fire alarm system junked. This time it’s an elementary school on the northeast side of town that has the same floorplan as the elementary school my dad attended in the 60s. The school had an old Gamewell FlexAlarm fire alarm system, with Benjamin dual-projector horns (ala the IBM/Simplex 4030-2) in the original 1963 structure, and Federal Vibratone 350 horns (old version) in the 1969 addition, with Gamewell Century “LOCAL ALARM” pulls and Gamewell-branded Chemtronics 500-series heat sensors throughout (and a few 400-series as well). The Gamewell panel was replaced with a Notifier NFS2-640 that has been set up as a conventional panel, and all the old alarm signals got replaced with SpectrAlert Advance horn/strobes (Aw, geez!) They kept the old heat sensors and Gamewell pulls though (as long as they were redoing the fire alarm system, they should’ve made a little effort to at least replace many of the heat sensors with smoke detectors in the proper areas.) I guess their old Gamewell system was failing and needed to be replaced, like at my first elementary school and their old Simplex system. It may not be long now before my second elementary school has to get a new alarm system as well (also an old Gamewell FlexAlarm system, but with old-style Vibratone 450 horns.)
But hey, that combo is still far more interesting than just SpectrAlert Advances and BG-12’s. 
Walgreens - Arlington, MA
Panel: Notifier System 500
Pull stations: Fire-Lite BG-12 at main entrance. Notifier NBG-10’s (most likely) elsewhere.
Smoke detectors: System Sensor i3’s.
Portillos in Gurnee: Notifier system with Wheelock Exceeder horn/strobes. Pull stations are Notifier BG-12s.
Dollarama in Cochrane has a Mircom FX-2000 system (the panel is OUTSIDE.) with Mircom FHS-340 horn/strobes. Pulls are all Mircom MS-401. The Staples beside it has rhe same system
Cochrane Community Health Center has an EST system, with EST G1-HDVM horn/strobes. Pulls are all EST 270-SPO.
by OUTSIDE do you mean like outdoors? if so, thats not cool. Big no no in my book
Yup. The area it’s in is VERY exposed to rain and snow.
This year, Boston Comic Con relocated to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, a much larger space for the convention. The fire alarm system was a bit interesting: they had a Siemens voice-evac system (probably an MXL). Siemens fire alarm systems are very rare in Boston, which is normally dominated by EST, Simplex, Notifier and sometimes Fire-Lite and Gamewell. The building was built in 2003, so this system is obviously the original. There were several remote command centers of some sort around the building. The majority of the building had white U-MCS-W remote strobes installed in all appropriate areas, with the alarm presumably wired into the building’s speaker system. But a few areas, like some restrooms and some other smaller area, had a S-LP70-MCS-W speaker/strobe installed. The pull stations were HMS-Ds with Stopper II covers over them.
I was on a field trip a few days ago. Here are the fire alarm systems I saw.
A random parking garage near Atlantic Ave / Milk St - Boston, MA
Panel: Some sort of addressable Notifier system (didn’t see the panel, but there’s an LCD-80TM annunciator at the entrance.)
Pull stations: NBG-12LX’s
Detectors: Mix of FSP-851’s and FSP-751’s
Signals: Wheelock MT-24-LSM horn/strobes, and a few Wheelock AS horn/strobes at the entrance.
Isn’t it a bit interesting to see MT-24-LSM’s and BG-12’s together?
New England Aquarium - Boston, MA
Panel: Some sort of Simplex system (There’s a graphic annunciator at the main entrance, and the actual panel is hidden behind wooden paneling with ‘FIRE ALARM’ on it.)
Pull stations: Mix of 4251-30’s, 2099-9796’s, and 4099-9003’s (all with Stoppers). One outdoor area has 2099-9138’s (also with Stoppers).
Detectors: Mix of older and newer TrueAlarms. Older Simplex beam detectors in areas with high ceilings.
Signals: Many areas have wall-mount TrueAlert speaker/strobes. The main entrance area has a few 4904 strobes. One area has 4903 speaker/strobes, and another area has a ceiling-mount TrueAlert speaker/strobe. The aforementioned outdoor area has Wheelock ET70WP speaker/strobes.
Crowfoot Plates Registry has a Notifier system, with System Sensor P2R/P4R horn/strobes. Pulls are all Notifier NBG-12L
Commonwealth Stadium has an EST system, with mostly Edwards MB10-24 bells on EST 403-5A-R strobe plates. Some areas are General Signal MB10-24 bells on the EST strobe plates. These are also in the bathrooms. Pulls are all EST SIGA-270
Century Park station in Edmonton has a Simplex system, with Simplex TrueAlert horn/strobes. Pulls are all Edwards 270-SPO.
University station has an Edwards system, but this station has Edwards 894B-001 strobes. (no audible signals). Pulls are all Edwards 270-SPO.
Southgate Station has an Addressable Notifier system, with System Sensor PC2W horn/strobes, one place has a System Sensor HR horn. Another area has a System Sensor PC2R, and a P2R. Pulls are all Notifier NFM-950B.
Red Deer A&W has an Edwards 1527 system, with a Wheelock MB-G6-24 bell on an EST 403-5A-R strobe plate. Pulls are both Edwards 270-SPO
If there is no audible system, how do people know to leave if there is a fire or the system goes off? Just flashing strobes alone won’t really help with notifying people I don’t think.
Maybe there’s a tone or a message over the PA system?
The pulls are NBG-12LX, not NFM-950B.
Well when he said no audible signals, I thought he meant NO signals at all. Not not audible fire alarm.
Agrium Western Event Centre in the Calgary Stampede has a Siemens FireFinder system, with Siemens rebranded Notfier KMS-10-24A bells on Siemens-rebranded bilingual Wheelock RSSP-24MCW strobe plates. Outside, there is a Siemens-rebraned Wheelock RSSWP-2475W strobe. At least one strobe plate is branded by Wheelock, and has only english lettering. Pulls are all bilingual Siemens HMS-S
St. Mary Mercy Hospital (Livonia) - This is the most complicated system I have ever had to explain, because the original building/patient tower was added onto several times over the years; consequently, upgraded systems and replacement alarms were included. Since I have never heard nor seen the main systems activate during my volunteering and clinical affiliation time there, I am basing parts of my NA descriptions below on logical judgement. For confidentiality reasons, no pictures are included and only generalizations of areas are used.
The original building/patient tower first opened in 1959, with an identical patient tower and addition opening circa 1971:
- The original system, judging by the square trim plates on both pull stations and NAs, likely consisted of bells and possibly coded pull stations. (I don’t remember the current detectors used here, but I know there are some models of ion detectors used above elevator pathways.)
- The pull stations are mostly a mixture of National Time 641 models and Simplex 4251-series t-bars. The 641 devices, in particular, were mostly mounted on large, silver trim plates where the original pulls were.
- The NAs are where things start to get complex. Most alarms are a mixture of Simplex 2903-series light/non-ADA strobes with Simplex 2902-series chimes from the original upgrade. Some of the replacement devices for the chimes were U-EC-series chimes/speakers in place of the old chimes. Most, but not all, of the alarms are mounted where the original 1959/1971 devices were, judging by the large, square trim plates around them. Most alarms are wall-mount, but there is at least one ceiling-mount example with a U-EC-series chime/speaker in a lobby.
- There is a standalone Wheelock CH70-24 chime/speaker in the cafeteria, which also has an Ansul kitchen suppression system.
- Upper floors of the 1959/1971 buildings consist of a mixture of the alarms from #1 above along with red, wall-mount Simplex 4906-9133 chime/strobes replacing the old devices. Some spots have white, ceiling-mount Simplex 4903 or 4906-series chime or speaker/strobes.
- The basement area consists mostly of the alarms described in #1 above, but also including standalone Simplex 2901-9332 bells, some of which have “FIRE” stickers on the gong mechanisms. At least one bell replaced a 2902-series chime. There are also gray Federal Signal Vibratone-series horns connected to red beacons used for general signaling purposes in one hallway.
- An unknown sprinkler bell exists outside on a wall of the 1971 addition.
The next part I’ll describe is the Pavilion/Marian Professional Building (1988) and the old Emergency Wing (circa 1995). The 1988 addition is my best guess for when the original 1959/1971 system was upgraded:
- The pull stations are mainly Simplex 4251-series t-bars, but it’s possible 2099 or 4099-series single-action pull stations may have replaced them in some spots.
- The NAs are Simplex 2903-series light/non-ADA strobe plates with 2902-series chimes. Some of the chimes were replaced by either U-EC-series chimes/speakers or CH70-24 chimes/speakers.
Next up is the West Wing addition from 1997:
- The pull stations are Simplex 2099 or 4099-series pull stations, some of which are double-action models. Some of them also have protective STI covers.
- Most of the NAs are white and red wall-mount Simplex 4904-series strobe plates with 2902-series chimes or replacement U-EC-series chimes/speakers. There are some color combinations of red/white devices (e.g., red strobe plate with white chime/speaker) and several devices also have “FIRE” stickers placed on them. It’s possible some of these devices were painted over with white paint.
- There is one Gentex GMS/SHG device near a bathroom corridor.
- The maternity section uses Simplex 4904-9301? strobes in addition to the alarms described in #2.
- While not tied into the fire alarm system, the maternity section also uses white, ceiling-mount Gentex Commander-series devices with yellow strobes, most likely used for child abduction emergencies.
- A SimplexGrinnell panel with a floor plan (circa 1997) exists near one entrance of the West Wing.
Lastly, the South Wing from 2012:
- The pull stations are Simplex 2099 or 4099-series single-action devices.
- The alarms are Simplex 4906?-series speaker/strobes with the TrueAlert branding.
The Sam’s Club in Brunswick, GA has a rather interesting system where the ceiling mount speaker/strobes also serve as the PA system speakers. The alarms are Wheelock S8-24MCCH 8 inch speaker/strobes in the main store area, and Wheelock E90-24MCC-FW speaker/strobes in the restrooms, offices, and other smaller areas. There is also a Wheelock ET70WP-2475W-FR behind a counter in the meat processing area. I’m unsure what type of voice evacuation system is used here or what the panel is, but I did see a Bosch annunciatior and a Bosch pull station at the front entrance. I also didn’t see any smoke detectors anywhere.
Winners in Beacon hill has an EST system, with EST G1R-HDVM horn/strobes. Pulls are all Edwards 270-SPO.