Make Up a System (2.0)

If My House Had A Fire Alarm SYstem It Would Had This

Panel: 4100 Classic With Voice Evac In The BAsement Laundry Room

Annunciator: 4603 Classic In The Entrance

Pulls: 2099-9795 Pulls Upstairs And 2099-9761 Basement

Alarms: simplex 4903-9219 upstairs in the living room, kitchen, dining, and hallways, 4904-9137 in the bedrooms and restrooms, Wheelock e70 speakers on 4903-9105 strobe plates but they kinda look like 4903-9101, and 2901-9846 outside also with Wheelock e70 weatherproof speaker strobes

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This is for a 3-story, sprinklered, mostly A-3 building containing a halfcourt gym, some multipurpose spaces (A-3/B office and classroom spaces), and two commercial bays (one restaurant-ready, so A-2, and the other intended to be a “generic” A-3/B/M spec space) being built as a community center by a local church.

Panels

The fire alarm panel is a Napco Gemini Firewolf GEMC-FW32CNVKIT, mounted behind the front desk along with a GEMC-FK1 & paired with a Potter EVAX-25 system for voice evacuation. Intrusion, though, is handled by the ACS, an ICT Protege WX system consisting of a PRT-WX-DIN-IP controller, 9 PRT-RDM2-DIN-485 door modules, at least 2 PRT-ZX8-DIN zone expanders, and PRT-KLCD keypads at the main staff door, main gym entrance, and each main tenant bay entrance. The FACP reports via a GEMC-NL-MOD to the cell network router, which is a Teltonika RUT956A that has a backup connection to the main building network, and is powered from a diode OR of the elevator communicator and fire alarm 12V supplies.

The Protege system lives in a Trove2DR2 enclosure fitted with an AL1024ULXB2 power supply card, a VR6 with a PD8ULCB stacked atop it mounted on a BR1 bracket to provide 12V power to the Protege and to the intrusion notification appliances, a PD16WCB for 24V lock power distribution, and a PD4ULCB on another BR1 to power the ELRs on the main doors. There’s also a Trove2BWC below it holding the batteries for the intrusion/access control system.

Initiation

Fire initiation is handled using 4WTR-Bs for recall in the elevator lobbies and machine room, a 4WT-B for self-protection, a pair of zones for flow and supervisory switches, and zones for CO and fuel gas detection (if needed). A GEMC-EZM8 supplies additional zones for AOR and elevator communications power trouble supervision, restaurant hood system monitoring, and the FWC-CNV-PULLKs at the riser room and main desk.

Intrusion initiation is handled using recessed MSS series Magnasphere contacts for door service and Honeywell DT8035V dual tech motion sensors + FG1625RFM glassbreaks in the commercial bays. There are also intrusion zone inputs from the locally-recording dome cameras in the commercial bays and from the main building CCTV system.

That CCTV system consists of an InVid PN3A-8X8FNH-3TB NVR, 2MP dome cameras monitoring the back exit, back stair, and first floor lobby, and a Vivotek FE9180-H 5MP fisheye camera on the gym ceiling. The locally recording dome cameras are also 2MP units, and are powered from an AL125ULX set for 12V with a 7Ah battery fitted.

Notification

Fire notification consists of TOA SC-630TUs in the kitchen and gym, two each, with the gym units set to 4W and the kitchen units set to 1W, along with Eluxa ELSPSTW-N speakerstrobes (set for 15cd everywhere save for the one behnd the stage which is 75cd, along with either 1/8W for small rooms or 1/4W for larger ones), ELSPKW-N speakers for infill in corridors & the dining room, ELSTW-N remote strobes set to 15cd everywhere but the gym, which uses 75cd strobes, and EL3RSPST-FWs with ELLP-NW plates set to 15cd & 1/8W for the two covered balcony spaces. There’s also an Eaton MT4-115-WH-VFR multitone hornstrobe set to the HiLo tone outside to serve as the sprinkler hornstrobe. (This uses 1.127A of strobe power and 24.5W of speaker power.)

The EOL on the strobe circuit is replaced by a PAM-SD relay that cuts off 24VAC coil power to a contactor or power relay controlling the stage receptacles – this is used to provide audio cutoff for any sound reinforcement in the gym. A separate NAC is used to control and monitor the EVAX.

Intrusion notification consists of a Potter FSS-26T in the gym rafters on a relay controlled circuit, two ELK-74s and two WBox 0E-1GANGSIRNs in the first floor lobby on the Protege’s bell circuit, and two ELK-73 speakers in each ground floor commercial bay driven from ELK-110 voice cards located at the the Trove and connected to relay outputs. The tamper circuits on the ELK-74s, ELK-73s, and FSS-26T are brought back to inputs on the Protege, along with the supervisory contacts on the ELK-110s as they can supervise their speaker circuits for opens.

Access Control

The remainder of the access control system consists of ICT tSec readers, along with a mix of Yale 8897FLxREXxDBM electrified deadbolt mortise locks that have been wired for deadbolt privacy for the office bays and 8891xREX electrified mortise locks for classrooms and conference rooms. The main tenant space and main gym entrance doors, along with the balcony doors on the third floor, are in the “main entrance” configuration using push-pull hardware with a double-cylinder indicator deadbolt, while the restaurant and gym auxiliary exits, along with the various back exit doors from spaces, use straightforward exit only panics in a rim or rim by rim by keyed mullion configuration, with SDC and Marray retrofit REX switches used where needed. (There are a total of 35 doors and 18 areas, although only 20 of the doors have keycard access in this setup.)

The main lobby entrances, though, use Adams-Rite 8600C CVR panics (the C standing for cylinder dogging) retrofitted with SDC LR100ARK ELR kits to permit the future installation of low energy power operators. All doors with electrified or integrally monitored hardware have Cal-Royal DLC-40 concealed-type power transfers.

There is also a set of RS-485 to fiber converters that pass either ICT proprietary bus or OSDP communcations to the gate actuators for the parking lot, if it is desired that the gates be on this building’s PACS instead of being on an independent system.

Emergency Communication

The elevator video communicator is a K-Tech Connect with a James Monroe Cat6 traveler running to it. This obviates the need for 10BaseT1L or proprietary Ethernet-twisted pair converters. Power to this communicator is supplied by an AL175ULX, set for 12V and fitted with a 7Ah battery, that powers via a dedicated spare pair a MeanWell SD-15A-5 DC/DC converter mounted at the cab to supply 5V to the K-Tech Connect.

The AOR system, though, consists of a Rath/Janus/Avire 2100-VOIP2CS supplying a FXS port to a Talkaphone system consisting of an AOR-5 master at the main desk, an AOR-5-10-PSU 24V supply, and 4 AOR-CSE-FM stations: one at the 2nd floor elevator lobby, one at the 3rd floor elevator lobby, and one at each of the covered balconies on the third floor.

This system is for a previously partially sprinklered former office building that is being renovated into two tenants: one a 7k sf E/I-4 (infant-preK) daycare and the other a 20kft2 aggregate event venue containing 2 event halls. The daycare has an occupancy just shy of 100 and the event halls total up to 900-odd occupants.

Event Venue

Panels

The event venue has a Kidde FX-5R mounted in the main atrium as its fire alarm system, with a SigCom VECP-25 next to it for the NFPA 101 required voice evacuation system, and a Kidde KC2-OSH for self-protection. One of the event halls has its own vestibule, with a DVS-RM/B remote microphone and FSRSI/FSRZI-SA annunciator pair located there.

Intrusion for the space is handled by a DMP XT30 with 7060 keypads at both vestibules, sharing a DualComNF communicator with the fire alarm system. The DualComNF is powered from a diode-OR of fire and burglary power, and and is driven from the relays on the FX-5 on zones 1 and 2 while dial capturing the XT30. There’s also a DMP 866 NAC card at the DualComNF that handles providing an auxiliary NAC to the SigCom for fuel gas triggering; it is triggered by a spare output on the DualComNF that’s programmed for follower service.

The FX-5R is fitted with 12Ah batteries, while the VECP-25 has the standard 7Ah batteries fitted. The XT30 also has a 7Ah battery fitted.

Initiation

The panel zones are connected as follows:

  • Zone 1 is a combination sprinkler monitor/supervisory zone
  • Zone 2 monitors the UL300A hood system in the assembly area’s galley (and can also be programmed as a waterflow/supervisory zone to provide duct detector supervision for the lobby, if needed)
  • Zone 3 is connected to the KC2-OSH self-protection smoke detector at the panel, any pull stations in the common lobby/entry area, and the trouble outputs from the DualComNF and 866.
  • Zones 4 and 5 are connected to any pull stations in the event spaces (and also can be programmed to provide supervisories for any duct smokes desired there)
  • and Input 3 on the DualComNF is connected to a Macurco GD-2B in the mechanical room, powered from FA resettable power.

The pull stations themselves are Napco FWC-CNV-PULLKs.

The intrusion panel has:

  • A zone input for each of the two vestibules
  • a zone input for the exterior exits from each space
  • a zone input for the main interior doors from the lobby into each event hall.
  • and a zone input for the doors from the north wing into the patio there.

All the intrusion contacts are concealed-type GRI Magnaspheres.

Notification

All indoor life safety notification is handled via the voice evac system, with TOA PC-580RU speakers in the ceiling and Edwards V1GWF or V1GWN strobes on the walls. The VECP-25’s primary NAC is connected to a NAC on the panel, with the panel’s other NAC used for strobe drive. The secondary NAC on the VECP-25 is connected to to the “NAC” from the 866 card, and is used to trigger an evacuation should fuel gas be detected.

There’s also a SASH-120 near the main entrance for waterflow alarming, connected directly to mains power via the waterflow switch for the bay. Intrusion notification consists of a Potter FSS-26T located outside the galley area.

Daycare

Panel

The daycare bay, on the other hand, handles everything using a Vista-32FB in the main office. This panel is equipped with a 4208U V-Plex extender located at the panel, with its tamper switch serving as the panel’s tamper detection facility. There is also a 6160CR-2 keypad located at the entry vestibule and a LTE-CFA communicator providing the sole path to the monitoring station. Finally, a 5881ENHC receiver module rounds out the system with support for wireless panic devices.

Initiation

The zones go as follows:

  • zone 1 is hooked up to a set of 2WT-Bs for corridor smoke detection
  • zone 2 is hooked up to a 2WT-B for the breakroom + the UL300A system on the daycare kitchen’s range hood
  • zone 3 is a supervisory zone for the duct detectors in the daycare’s AHU
  • zone 4 is connected to CO1224Ts in the classrooms (all 4 of them) and laundry room
  • zone 5 is connected to a GD-2B in the laundry room
  • zone 6 is the sprinkler waterflow zone
  • zone 7 is the sprinkler supervisory zone
  • zone 8 is connected to a 4WT-B for self-protection + a 270-SPO pull station in the main office
  • zone 9 (the first extender zone) is connected to the doors out to the play area
  • zone 10 is connected to the front doors
  • zone 11 is connected to the front office door
  • zone 12 is connected to the main office door
  • zone 13 is connected to the doors to the infant room
  • zones 14, 15, and 16 are reserved for future burglary updates
  • and zone 17 is connected to the monitor contacts on both playground gates (it’s on the 4101SN mentioned there)

Zones 18-24, in turn, are reserved for silent panic alarms using 5802WXT-2 panic pendants.

All the contacts in the building are flushmounted GRI Magnaspheres, while the gates are monitored by Magnasphere MSS302Ss. All the resettable power is supplied via the Vista’s onboard auxiliary output and relay, and the Vista is mounted in a VISTA-ULKT cabinet with an 18Ah battery fitted.

Notification

Fire notification consists of an AL802ULADA with 7Ah batteries in it driven by a coded NAC on the Vista and driving both coded GHLF horns (to provide RAMO) and synchronized GES3-24 strobes (the horns use output-follows-input mode, while the strobes get a continuous output with Gentex sync enabled). The other NAC on the Vista is connected to a WAVE2PD for local intrusion notification. Finally, another SASH-120 provides the waterflow alarm for this bay.

Delayed Egress

Finally, the exit gates from the playground are equipped with delayed egress panics consisting of:

  • Detex V40EEX-Ws on the gates,
  • a Detex 10-800 power supply without a standby battery back inside,
  • a PAM-SD off the Vista fire NAC for fire trigger (yes, the 10-800 is fine with a coded fire trigger input),
  • a 4101SN to permit a code on the Vista to be used to reset the delayed egress system + monitor the door position output from it,
  • an Elk SS-30 siren mounted over the playground for the delayed egress system’s local alarm,
  • and System Sensor CHWLs with plain bezels in both offices to alert staff inside to the delayed egress system being triggered.

The 10-800 is set for delayed egress mode, NFPA code, a 30s egress delay, and a 3s nuisance delay. One of the macro keys on the Vista’s keypad is programmed to manually release the delayed egress gates by “blipping” the Vista’s fire NAC; this is done by putting the Vista into drill mode then taking it right back out again in the same keypad macro.

Emergency Lighting

The emergency lights and exit signs in the building are all generic LED units. However, the lighting for the exit discharges and over the delayed egress gates consists of Atlas WSPS20LED3Ks with RAB SB500W sensors and individual Assurance Si-10-PST inverters. This avoids the need for ALCRs on the sensors, as they can be wired to the microinverter’s switched hot input, and also provides lighting that doesn’t bug the neighbors (the WSPS20LED3K has a BUG rating of 1-0-0, which is about as good as wallpacks get.)

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Montgomery County High School

Panel: Siemens Cerberus Pro Modular

PULL STATIONS = Gym: Siemens MSM-K-WP’s The school itself: Siemens XMS-D Pulls

Devices: Siemens SET-MC-CR’s, SEF-MC-R’s, SET-S17-R-WP’s and ST-MC-Rs.

Elevators: Kone EcoDisc

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Nice system! I like the ST-MC-Rs, as I’ve never actually seen them on a Siemens system, and I feel that they go a lot better with the SEF-MC-Rs than the ZR-MC-Rs that are usually paired with them.

Are you sure they aren’t SEF-MC-CRs? I feel like those would make more sense in most environments, unless it is a loud environment. Just like the difference between the Wheelock E- and ET- devices, the SE- devices’ speakers go up to a maximum of 2w, while the SET- speakers go up to 8w, and are, therefore, very loud.

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Yes, SEF-MC-R’s, the building was made in 2019 Btw.

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The Marriot Palace Hotel, Opened in 1985 from a renovation of a old office building which had 25 Floors, located in NYC.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM: Cerberus Pyrotronics System 3 with a CPV-90.

Pull Stations: Cerberus Pyrotronics MSI-10

Hotel Devices: Wheelock ET-1080-LS-24-VFRs, and Cerberus Pyrotronics SSET70-15/75-Rs

Room Devices: Wheelock ET-1090s

2014 REPLACEMENT OH BOY

The hotel has been renovated, and all of the old cerberus stuff is gone.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM: Siemens FireFinder XLS

Pull Stations: Siemens MSI-20Bs, And Siemens MSI-10Bs in service corridors.

Hotel Devices: Siemens SEF-MC-Ws In Renovated Areas, and Original devices in semi-renovated Areas.

Rooms: Same as old Cerberus System.

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Chamisa Hills Elementary School was built in 1968. The classrooms were in two circular sections of building called “pods”. One pod was for grades K-3, and the other was for grades 4-6. The K-3 pod had sitting steps, but the 4-6 pod didn’t. There were plans to build a third pod due to an increase in enrollment, but they didn’t yet acquire the funds. So there were three portables put on to school grounds until the third pod could be built…which never happened at all. The K-3 pod became K-2, grades 3-4 were put into the portables, and grades 5-6 in the other pod. In 1994, the 3rd and 4th graders were moved into the main building and 5-6 in the portables.

  • It originally had Simplex 4050 horns; they were installed in the hallways, the gym, the pods, and outside.
  • In 1978, a new Fire-Lite system was installed, and the 4050s were replaced with Wheelock 7002s (indoor) and 34s (outdoor); now there were signals in each classroom in the pods (the K-2 pod had them in every other classroom however), as well as in the gym, library, music room, art room, and one right outside of the library’s west entrance. WS strobes were installed in the portables. There were two Federal Signal 4050-001T pull stations at the main entrances to the school building.
  • In the summer of 1983, a fire broke out in the school’s library. And repairs were made over the next couple of years.
  • Then in 1985, the 7002s and 34s were respectively replaced with 7002Ts and 34Ts (the 34Ts were rebranded by Notifier). The 4050-001T pull stations and notification signals at the main entrances were removed. The sole pull station in the office next to the NACP was a Notifier LNG-1R.
  • In 1991, Wheelock 34T-24-WS’s were installed in the portables, replacing the WS strobes.
  • In 1998, one of the classrooms in the K-2 pod was remodeled. Unorthodoxly, the 7002T in that room got replaced with a later-model 7002T.
  • In 2005, the LNG-1R pull was replaced with a Fire-Lite BG-12. Gentex Commander 3s were installed in the classrooms in the K-2 pod that previously didn’t have a signal, and were set to temporal horn. The 7002T in the office was replaced with a GEC3, another GEC3 was installed right outside of the office. And a 34T-24-WS in one of the portables was removed, and two GEC3s were installed.
  • Finally in 2016, a couple 34Ts were replaced with SpectrAlert Advances set on temporal.
  • In 2025, Chamisa Hills Elementary moved into a new building, and shortly thereafter, the original one got demolished. The new building has BG-12 pulls and System Sensor L series speaker strobes.
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My high school got pods.

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Samuelsville Central Library, Samuelsville, Ind. built in a Beaux-Arts style in 1915 with matching expansions in 1926 & ‘29; MCM ones in 1953 &’ 60; and finally a brutalist section from 1974. this building is five stories and a basement.

1. The Fire Alarm Stratigraphy

The library’s Fire Alarm system is a hybrid that prioritizes the “Acoustic Dignity” of a reading room while ensuring the safety of millions of volumes.

The 1915–1929 Core: Originally protected by Holtzer-Cabot, these sections transitioned to a unified coded system. The pull stations are the “classic” round H-C/Faraday style, but flush-mounted into the original marble and plaster to maintain the architectural lines.

The Postwar Sections (1953/1960): These wings utilize Faraday UNI-PACT hardware, along with the pre-war sections receiving the same stuff.

220-Series Chimes: These provide a soft, distinctive “ping” that alerts staff without causing a stampede in the quiet stacks—used in all common areas.

2000-Series Single Stroke Bells: Used in the mechanical rooms and basement archives to cut through the hum of the HVAC.

The 1974 Expansion: This section moves to 3400-Series bells/chimes and Couch F5-G pull stations, reflecting the more industrial aesthetic of the mid-70s. SAE V33 lamps retrofitted throughout the whole building during this time for aiding the hearing impaired.

Detection: Starting in 1953, the library became a pioneer in smoke detection, installing a Pyrotronics FIU system with F3/F5 detectors. These “early-warning” ionic sensors were essential for protecting the wood-paneled reading rooms.

2. Special Collections: The CO-TWO System

In the Local History and Special Collections department, water is as big a threat as fire.

Hardware: A CO-TWO carbon dioxide suppression system protects the rare manuscripts.

The Logic: If the Pyrotronics sensors detect a signature, the system triggers a pre-discharge alarm (a Faraday 123-U buzzer) before flooding the vault with CO2, suffocating the fire without damaging the delicate 19th-century paper.

3. Communication & Timing: Faraday & Stromberg-Carlson

The library functions on a “Faraday Pulse.”

Clock System: Every reading room features a Faraday secondary clock, synchronized to a master clock that ensures the library closes exactly on the hour.

Intercoms: The Stromberg-Carlson system is uniquely integrated. The RH-54 wall cabinets house 10 inch speakers in the pre-war sections and backrooms, but the audio is delivered in the post war sections via “round air diffuser grilles”—a clever architectural trick that hides the speakers within the ventilation hardware to keep the ceilings clean. The 1974 section uses Lowell MFG Co. STL-8A grills which match the “air diffuser” aesthetic

4. Vertical Transport: Otis & Sedgwick

The library’s vertical movement is a mix of human and “knowledge” transport.

The Main Elevators: These are Otis bottom-drive traction units. Because they are bottom-drive, the massive motor-generator sets are located in the basement, keeping the vibration away from the quiet upper-floor reading rooms. They feature the classic Otis black buttons found throughout the city. 1974 section uses “Lexan” buttons

Dumbwaiters: A series of Sedgwick “bookwaiters” are used to move heavy circulation carts between the stacks on the upper floors and the circulation desks.

5. Architectural Enclosure: Glass, Bronze, and Aluminum

The library is a masterclass in “Enclosure Science.”

The Windows: In the postwar sections, Mississippi Glass Co. Coolite glass is used. This blue-tinted, heat-absorbing glass (housed in CECO aluminum frames) protects the book spines from UV damage while providing a soft, diffused light for researchers.

The Portals: You enter through 1915 Ellison solid bronze doors, but move between the new wings through Kawneer aluminum storefront entrances, marking the transition from “Hand-Crafted” to “Industrialized” architecture.

6. Mechanical & Electrical Spine

Plumbing/HVAC: The building utilizes American-Standard vitreous china fixtures (matching the school’s heritage) boilers, chillers, and fan-coil & ”Remotaire” HVAC units. Two giant Binks cooling towers are used on the system. Yeomans pumps handle the basement drainage, keeping the sub-level archives dry. Piping is a mix of copper (supply) and cast iron (drain). Roof drains are designed by Norman Boosey MFG. Co.

Electrical: The power is distributed through GE switchgear. The lighting is exclusively Guth, known for their high-quality “low-glare” library fixtures and iconic glass-paneled exit signs. Wiring devices are exclusively Hubbell.

Doors: All doors are fitted with Corbin locksets (exit doors feature panic bars) and LCN concealed closers in the postwar wings, ensuring that heavy fire doors close silently so as not to disturb the “Library Quiet.”

additional features include a Spencer Turbine Co. central vacuum system— the “hidden lungs”. In an institution where dust was the primary enemy of both public health and paper preservation, this system represents the pinnacle of early-to-mid-20th-century maintenance engineering, obviating the need for noisy portable vacuum cleaners.

Filtration: The dust is collected in a large “Separator” tank. For a library, this was essential because it prevented the “re-circulation” of fine dust and mold spores, which are common in old book collections.

The “Library Quiet” Advantage: Because the motor and turbine are located blocks away from the reading rooms in the basement, the only sound a patron hears is a faint “hiss” of air at the inlet.

2. The Inlet Network:

Original Sections (1915-1929): The inlets are ornate brass plates, often mounted low on the mahogany baseboards or marble wainscoting.

Postwar Sections (1953-1960): The system was extended using steel tubing hidden behind the Guth lighting soffits. The inlets here are more utilitarian, finished in the same “Office Grey” as the Corbin hardware.

The 1974 Expansion: In the Brutalist wing, the Spencer system was fully integrated into the service closets, allowing custodial staff to maintain the heavy industrial carpets used in that era.

Two large Allis-Chalmers diesel emergency generators power essential systems during grid failures.

History of the public library system:

I. The Foundation: The “Lyceum” Years (1875–1914)

The system was born in 1875, catalyzed by the Samuelsville Literary & Philosophical Society.

1875: The library opened in a rented room above the First National Bank. Its collection consisted of 2,000 volumes donated by the city’s industrial elite, primarily the families who later founded the KI&S Railroad.

The Subscription Era: Originally a subscription-based model, it became a fully tax-supported public institution in 1890, reflecting the city’s commitment to the “democratization of knowledge.”

II. The Beaux-Arts Monument: The Central Library (1915)

By the turn of the century, the “bank room” was overflowing. The city commissioned a flagship that would reflect Samuelsville’s status as a regional powerhouse.

1915: The Central Library opened its Solid Bronze doors to the public. Designed in the Classical Revival style, it featured sweeping marble staircases, oak-paneled reading rooms, and a grand rotunda.

The Expansion Years (1926–1929): Rapid industrial growth led to two swift expansions. These added the massive “Closed Stacks” and the specialized Business & Industry department, serving the engineers and draftsmen of the city’s growing factory districts.

III. The Neighborhood Movement (1924–1940)

The 1920s marked the realization that a single central building could not serve a sprawling city.

1924: The Northside Branch opened, the first of the neighborhood libraries. These early branches were often designed in the “Domestic Tudor” or “Colonial” styles to blend seamlessly into residential streets.

1930s (The Depression): Library circulation skyrocketed as unemployed residents sought vocational training and free entertainment. Despite budget cuts, the “Bookmobile” program was launched in 1935 to reach the peripheral farming communities.

IV. The Post-War Modernization (1953–1965)

Following WWII, the library system embraced a “Modernist” philosophy, prioritizing light, accessibility, and new media.

1953: The first major post-war expansion of the Central Library introduced the Children’s Discovery Wing and the first dedicated A/V Department (housing vinyl records and 16mm films).

1960: The Special Collections & Local History department was formally established, becoming the city’s primary archive for genealogy and industrial records

Branch Expansion: New branches were opened on the ever-sprawling outskirts between 1948-70, featuring the first “Open Plan” layouts with Kawneer aluminum entrances and vibrant, welcoming interiors.

V. The Brutalist Peak: The 1974 Expansion

The final major structural change to the Central Library arrived in 1974.

Architecture: A massive Brutalist addition was grafted onto the original 1915 structure’s rear. This expansion doubled the library’s square footage, adding a 300-seat theater and specialized “Microfiche Vaults.”

Community Focus: The 1970s marked a shift toward social programming, with the library hosting its first English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes and community health clinics.

VI. The Digital Shift: 1980s–Present

The 1980s: The “Card Catalog” began its long retirement as the library shifted to its first computerized database.

The 1990s: The Internet Revolution saw the library become the city’s primary “Digital Equity” provider, offering free web access to residents.

The 2026 Era: Today, the Samuelsville Public Library is managed by the Gemini 3 Flash AI.

The AI Librarian: Residents can interact with the AI via the Central Library’s kiosks or through the system-wide app to get personalized reading recommendations based on the IBM-synced circulation logs.

Preservation: The AI coordinates the “Digital Shadows” of the Special Collections, 3D-scanning rare 19th-century manuscripts to ensure that the content remains accessible even if the physical paper remains locked in the CO-TWO protected vaults.

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You have an insane amount of knowledge for this older stuff that I could never hope to have. You should add some stuff to the Wiki.

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That is a fascinating system concept with the use of what’s essentially RAMO before RAMO became a thing. I wonder how many occupants the building is designed for, and what this system would be modernized to if it received an overhaul to current standards? (because the chimes wouldn’t cut it under modern Code I suspect)

I was mostly inspired by your posts, so I had to do my own version of them.

This library was designed for at least a few thousand people (population of Samuelsville was 850,000 in 1960).

Systems only have to be modernized when significant alterations occur, as was the case with the city’s union station

Why, thank you. And noted on the maximum occupancy, might have to make up a modernization for that building myself…

Ideally, it would be modernized to a voice evac system for the best protection, and for mass notification as well.

Yeah, for a new-build A-3 of that size, VE would be required. The fun part is coming up with power requirements…

Samuelsville Transit Authority Headquarters, Terminal & Central Garage; catty-cornered across the street from the Union Station complex. (Samuelsville, Ind.)

I. The Main Terminal: Art Deco & Art Moderne (1935/1948; HQ expansion in early 1950)

The terminal is a three-story vertical transit hub. The 1935 core features Mesker steel windows, while the 1948 & '50 expansions utilized reinforced concrete to bypass post-war steel shortages, finished with modern aluminum glazing frames.

1. Portals and Vertical Transport

Entry is gained through high-traffic Ellison Bronze Co. balanced doors, engineered to open with minimal effort against the wind tunnels created by departing buses. Inside, vertical movement is handled by Otis bottom-drive traction elevators. These units house the machine gear in the basement to isolate vibration from the waiting areas, featuring the tactile Classic Black Buttons synonymous with Samuelsville’s public buildings.

2. The Electrical and Lighting Grid

The terminal is a total Westinghouse environment.

Illumination: The passenger concourse uses decorative Westinghouse fixtures, while the loading bays are lit by high-intensity Holophane mercury vapor units.

Safety Signage: The exit signs are heavy-duty Kirlin Co. units from Detroit. In the loading bays, these are protected by steel wire guards to prevent damage from luggage carts or maintenance equipment.

Switchgear: All circuits terminate in Westinghouse panels utilizing Harvey Hubbell wiring devices, ensuring industrial-grade grounding for the massive transient load.

3. Thermal and Fluid Dynamics

HVAC: The air is tempered by B.F. Sturtevant equipment (Westinghouse’s post-war acquisition), controlled by high-precision Powers Regulator Co. pneumatic thermostats.

The Cooling Loop: The 1935 section originally relied on a Marley Co. “wooden Aquatower”, a rare Redwood-framed cooling tower. In 1948, a galvanized steel Marley unit was added to handle the increased load of the expansion.

Boiler Plant: A massive Burnham cast-iron boiler provides steam, while **Swartwout “Airjector”**roof ventilators ensure constant air exchange in the exhaust-heavy environment.

Pumping: The terminal relies on Myers Co. pumps to manage the complex’s fluid requirements through a network of copper supply and cast-iron drain lines.

II. The Central Garage: Industrial Might (1936/1949/1955)

The garage is the “Workhorse” of the STA, designed for the heavy maintenance of the “New Look” fleet. The architecture is defined by Truscon steel windows and massive Kinnear Co. roll-up doors. Originally manual, these doors were motorized during the 1949 expansion to accommodate faster fleet turnarounds.

1. Specialized Maintenance Infrastructure

Spencer Turbine “Bus-Vac”: A massive industrial-grade Spencer Central Vacuum system is the garage’s primary cleaning tool. High-suction overhead drops allow crews to “strip-clean” bus interiors in minutes. The terminal features a similar system to that of the Central Library. Another feature is a special relay which disables the system during a fire alarm activation.

L.J. Wing Heaters: To combat the constant opening of the Kinnear doors, the garage uses L.J. Wing “revolving” vertical discharge heaters. These units rotate 360 degrees, distributing a “curtain” of hot air that prevents the diesel engines from cold-soaking.

Safety: Given the presence of fuel vapors, the electrical system uses Westinghouse explosion-proof wiring devices. Throughout the service bays, Speakman Co. emergency showers stand ready for accidental chemical exposure.

2. The Office and Cafeteria Wing

Adjacent to the bays, this wing serves as the human heart of the STA. It houses the medical suite and locker rooms, featuring Kohler industrial plumbing and Powers Regulator Co. shower valves to ensure consistent water temperature for drivers coming off long shifts.

III. Integrated Life Safety and Communication

The STA is electronically tethered to Union Station, creating a unified “Transit Time Zone.”

1. The IBM/Autocall Fire Logic

The fire alarm system is an IBM coded network with a specific hierarchy of notification:

The Terminal: Uses Autocall NYSP coded pulls (semi-flush; surface in loading bays) and 10-inch single-stroke “baseball visor” bells. The visor design directs the sound downward toward the commuters.

The Garage: Uses surface-mounted IBM 4250 non-coded break-glass stations. The signals are IBM 4030-1/2 horn-lights, capable of cutting through the roar of revving engines.

Detection: The 1948 expansion introduced Fenwal “DETECT-A-FYRE” rate-compensation heat sensors, designed to trigger the alarm only when the ambient temperature exceeds a set point, preventing false alarms from bus exhaust.

Suppression: The garage was built with a Grinnell sprinkler system tied into the IBM 4200 via a Potter flow switch; also includes a “Tamper Switch” on the main O.S.&Y. (Outside Screw and Yoke) valve. If a mechanic forgets to reopen it after maintenance, the panel immediately triggers a remote “Trouble” buzzer at the HQ.

2. Timing and Pneumatics

Clock System: All clocks are slave units to the IBM Master Clock at Union Station. The garage features double-sided hallway clocks to ensure mechanics and dispatchers are perfectly synchronized.

Lamson Tubes: A Lamson pneumatic tube system connects the ticket booths in the terminal to the central counting room and the garage dispatch office, allowing for the rapid transit of paper manifests and cash bags.

3. RCA “Victor Deluxe” Audio

Communication is handled by an RCA Victor Deluxe system.

Terminal: MI-6294 wall speakers provide high-fidelity announcements in the waiting rooms.

Loading Bays: Rugged MI-4420 speakers are used to withstand the humidity and fumes.

Expansion: The 1948 & ‘50 wings use the then-modern MI-6104/6 molded plastic cabinets, a signature of post-war RCA design.

2026: The AI “Predictive Nexus”

The AI Data Center at Union Station uses the terminal and garage as its primary data inputs for city-wide logistics:

Pneumatic Monitoring: The AI monitors the “Air Pulse” of the Lamson tubes and the Spencer Turbine vacuum. If the static pressure drops, the AI identifies the leak before it affects the Burnham boiler’s efficiency.

Thermal Balancing: By cross-referencing Powers Regulator data with the L.J. Wing heater activity, the AI optimizes the steam loop between the terminal and garage, saving 15% in annual fuel costs.

Safety Coordination: The AI integrates the Fenwal heat sensors with the Kinnear door controllers. In a fire event, the AI automatically opens the bays to evacuate smoke while silencing the RCA PA to provide clear, synthesized evacuation instructions.

STA history:

I. The Streetcar Era & The Great Transition (1890–1946)

In the early 20th century, Samuelsville was a “Trolley Town.” The KI&S Railroad-backed streetcar lines formed the city’s skeletal structure, powered by a massive Westinghouse DC substation.

1935: The First Breaking Point: As the Great Depression deepened, the STA faced its first massive labor strike. Workers protested for living wages and the formal recognition of the Amalgamated Transit Union. The city was paralyzed for three weeks, leading to the construction of the 1935 Art Deco Terminal as a peace offering to the public to modernize service.

The Diesel Pivot: Recognizing the flexibility of rubber-tired vehicles, the STA began integrating buses in the mid-30s.

1946: The Final Run: Following the end of WWII and the lift of wartime fuel rationing, the streetcars were deemed obsolete. In a massive civic undertaking, the rails were ripped up and the rolling stock was melted down into scrap metal (though a a few cars made it into preservation), shipped across the Atlantic to aid in the post-war reconstruction of European rail networks, as well as the US’s own network.

II. Post-War Growth and The First Decline (1947–1972)

The 1948 terminal expansion signaled a new era of diesel dominance. However, the rise of the American automobile soon threatened the STA’s viability.

1962: The Automobile Shift: As the suburban sprawl of the 1950s took hold, ridership began a steady decline. The “Glass Box” neighborhood libraries and new shopping centers were increasingly accessed by private cars, leaving the STA to serve primarily the industrial core.

Infrastructure Aging: During this era, the Burnham boilers at the central garage and the IBMclock systems were the only things keeping the aging fleet on a reliable schedule.

III. Crisis, Resurgence, and Industrial Decay (1973–1989)

The 1970s brought a volatile “boom and bust” cycle to the STA.

1973: The Oil Resurgence: The OPEC oil embargo forced Samuelsville residents back onto the bus. Ridership spiked overnight, prompting the 1973 mall conversion at Union Station to better serve commuters.

1978: The Industrial Strike: Just as the city’s industrial base began to flicker, the STA was hit by its second massive strike. Amidst rising inflation, drivers walked out, leaving industrial and railroad workers stranded. The strike was settled, but at a high cost to the city’s dwindling tax base.

1984: The Second Wave: As the primary manufacturing plants began to close, the tax-funded subsidies for the STA evaporated. Ridership plummeted as the working-class population either moved away or could no longer afford the fare.

IV. The Modern Era: Light Rail & Digital Shifts (1990–Present)

The 1990s saw an attempt to return to the city’s roots with a move back toward rail.

1992: The Light Rail Entrance: Amidst a new wave of environmental awareness, the STA opened its first light rail line, utilizing two tracks at Union Station. This was supported by a new GE electrical backbone and integrated into the existing IBM timing network.

2008: The Great Recession: A smaller, bitter strike occurred as the STA attempted to cut routes to survive the global financial collapse.

2020: The COVID Blow: The pandemic nearly bankrupted the STA. With the Union Stationoffice tower abandoned and remote work becoming the norm, revenue fell by 70%.

2025: The Rider Safety Strike: In a fourth major labor action, operators walked out to protest “unruly riders” and a lack of security. This led to the 2026 integration of the AI Data Center at Union Station, which now uses data from onboard cameras.

The 2026 AI Oversight

Today, the Gemini 3 Flash AI at Union Station manages the recovery:

The “Safety Shield”: Following the 2025 strike, the AI uses the onboard cameras and speakers to monitor cabin stress levels, automatically alerting transit police if a conflict is detected.

Optimized Routing: To counter the post-COVID revenue loss, the AI uses IBM-synced data to run “On-Demand” shuttles during off-peak hours, keeping the Wing heaters at the garage efficient.

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Honoring being the last 900th post, and going into 1,000 in this topic, it’s time i do a good system. This is gonna be based off of my high school, if it was built earlier..

Arlington High School Built:1992

The original wing contained of a Simplex 4002. This would get replaced in a short bit.
The pulls were 4251-20’s and a rare 4251-30. (in the aux gym)
Signals were 2901-9838’s on a 2903 light plate.


2004

The student population grew fast, so the school had built 5 additional wings, and some offices. The panel was replaced with a Simplex 4005, and some Nac Boosters. The 4251’s got replaced with 2099-9754’s. The 9838’s got replaced with 4903-9219’s. These also got replaced with 4903-9237’s due to them breaking. and student vandalism.


2016

The system got replaced with a Simplex 4010, pulls stayed the same and the NA’s were replaced with Simplex TrueAlerts. There is 2 QuickAlerts A new Fine Arts wing was built, containing some Simplex Speakers.


Samuelsville (Ind.) City Hall/Municipal Building, a ten-story titan that serves as a chronological roadmap of American architectural and engineering evolution. Rising from its 1926 Neoclassical roots, the structure expanded in 1939 (Art Deco), 1948 (Early Modernism), 1955 (Mid-Century Modern), and 1964 (International Style), creating a seamless yet distinct tapestry of civic pride.

I. Architectural Shell and Entryways

The building’s physical transition from the heavy masonry of the 1920s to the glass-and-aluminum lightness of the 1960s is unified by its high-quality fenestration.

Apertures: All entrance doors and window frames were fabricated by the General Bronze Company, renowned for their precision metalwork. Mississippi “Coolite” glass is used in the postwar sections

The Facade: Transitions from ornate limestone carvings in the 1926 section to the sleek, rhythmic ribbons of steel and glass in the 1964 wing.

II. Power and Illumination

The electrical backbone is a robust tribute to the industrial might of the Rust Belt and the Northeast.

Distribution: A total Westinghouse environment, from the massive switchgear in the basement to the circuit breaker panels on each floor.

Wiring Devices: High-specification Arrow-Hart & Hegeman (A-H&H) and Hubbell outlets and switches ensure durability across decades of heavy municipal use.

Lighting: The interior glow is provided by Art Metal Company of Cleveland, featuring everything from cast-bronze lanterns in the original lobby to recessed “pancake” fixtures and period-correct glass exit signs.

III. Mechanical, HVAC, and Air Handling

The climate control systems represent a “who’s who” of the mid-century American-Standard empire, showcasing the height of pneumatic and hydronic engineering.

Thermal Plant: Heating is driven by Kewanee Boilers and American Radiator components.

Cooling: A massive 1948 Binks cooling tower dominates the roof, supplemented by a secondary 1964 unit to handle the increased heat load of the final expansion.

Air Distribution: * The 1964 Wing: Utilizes a sophisticated Buensod-Stacey dual-duct high-velocity system, allowing for precise zone control.

Hardware: Anemostat and Hendrick vents are used throughout, with post-war sections featuring lightweight aluminum ductwork and acoustic silencer sections for noise-sensitive offices.

Ventilation: Burt Manufacturing Co. roof exhaust fans pull air through the core, all modulated by a Powers Regulator Co. pneumatic control system.

IV. Vertical Transportation and Plumbing

Elevators: The building is a Westinghouse showcase. The older banks feature manual-to-signal control conversions, while the post-war expansions utilize Selectomatic technology—the “brain” of mid-century high-rise efficiency.

Plumbing: Standard Sanitary (Am-Std) fixtures are universal.

Hydration: The 1948–1964 sections feature recessed, refrigerated Halsey Taylor drinking fountains.

Fluid Management: A combination of Nash Engineering vacuum pumps and Yeomans sewage ejectors keep the subterranean levels dry and operational.

V. Life Safety and Communications

The fire and communication systems are perhaps the most complex “nested” technologies in the building.

Fire Detection & Alarm:

Coded System: A massive Autocall system utilizing LPSW pulls in the 1926 wing and NYSP pulls in the later additions.

Early Detection: A 1955 Pyrotonics FIU system was integrated, featuring the iconic F3 smoke detectors (including specialized duct probes) in all high-risk mechanical and storage areas.

Audibles: The building “rings” via 10-inch “baseball visor” single-stroke bells. The later wings use semi-flush versions for a cleaner aesthetic. Four 4-inch “mini baseball cap” trouble bells provide localized system alerts.

Intercoms: A Stromberg-Carlson network connects the departments, featuring RH-24/25 wall units and Atlas Sound OEM RH-29 bi-directional hallway units. Lobbies use “round air diffuser” grilles

Timekeeping: A Standard Electric Time master clock system ensures every department, from the Mayor’s office to the water bureau, operates on the same second.

VI. Specialized Utilities

Sanitation & Mail: The building features three Cutler mail chutes and three Wilkinson waste chutes, housed in fire-rated rooms to prevent vertical fire spread.

Central Vacuum: A massive Spencer Turbine Company system provides industrial suction to every floor, with inlet valves located in the corridors. (a special relay disables the system during a fire alarm activation.)

Security: Deep in the basement lies the heart of the city’s treasury: a massive, multi-ton Diebold safe.

Hardware: A heavy-duty mix of Russwin and Yale locks, with the later sections featuring LCN concealed door closers to maintain the clean lines of the Mid-Century Modern interiors

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