I went back to my high school for parent/teacher conferences with my mother and father for my sister and I was surprised that there was a lot of change there such as new security cameras almost everywhere as well as some new areas one can go in a lockdown drill. The biggest change however was the updated freshman hallway. Instead of one long hallway, they put in a wall with two fire doors in order to divide the hallways. While the 9838s+9101s are still there, they added Gentex Commander 3s right next to the doors. Though they are a few feet away from the 9838s. Why would they put 2 new alarms right next to fire doors that are a few feet away from the older alarms?
I would assume the 9838’s are not spaced exactly apart both a few feet on each side of the wall. In that case, the Commander on the opposite side of the nearest 9838 would be needed to maintain the strobe coverage in that hallway, since the original coverage area of the 9101 strobe has been cut-off by the new doors. You will often see this in areas where there are retractable partitions: two alarms will be mounted very near each other, which appears odd at first. However, when the partition is in place, the devices now serve to provide coverage on both sides of the partition.
As for the Commander on the side of the nearest 9838, it really depends. How close is " a few feet"? 3 feet? Or 15 to 20 feet? It could serve some purpose to enhance the strobe coverage, or just to supplement the existing system. Whatever the reason, it is hard to speculate unless you know for a fact the reasons that the designer gave for the devices to be installed.
If I had to estimate, I would say maybe 10 or 12 feet? I’m not sure. They aren’t on top of each other, but the Commander 3s on both sides you can get a picture of them together relatively easy.
Also, I know they are discontinued, but couldn’t 9838s be used again as new-old stock? I understand why they replaced the 2DCDs with Wheelock Exceeders, but I didn’t think the 9838s were that old. My elementary school replaced EVERYTHING with SpectrAlert Advances though.
You need a strobe within 15’ of the door, could be the reason.
You are probably right. Though I know that some horns in the past were used as new-old stock, I was wondering if it was possible for 9838s to be used instead of them having to use the Commanders.