Make Up a System (2.0)

Fire Alarms
1045

New System (2030- foreseeable future):

Here, I want to go over what I think could be some possibilities if the system is replaced. I’ll start with what I think is most likely, and then move onto other possibilities.

If they decide to stay with Simplex:

Panel: A 4100ES upgrade kit is installed for the 4100U, as well as the components that are necessary for IDNac devices.

Notification Appliances: The existing devices are kept, but some that need to be moved, or are not functioning properly are replaced with the equivalent Eaton Eluxa devices. The new areas receive the appropriate Simplex TrueAlertES speaker/strobes and remote strobes, with white covers that have “ALERT” lettering (for potential future use).

Pull Stations: The existing devices are kept, but the new areas (as well as any areas with faulty devices) receive Simplex 4099-9004 addressable pull stations.

Smoke Detectors: All areas (including the new areas) have Simplex 4098-9714 smoke heads on 4098-9792 addressable bases.

Annunciator: Nothing is changed, except the labels are updated to 4100ES labels.

If they decide to go with Autocall:

Panel: All of the components that need to be changed to convert to an Autocall 4100ES are replaced. The existing Simplex 4100U cabinets are reused.

Notification Appliances: The existing devices are kept, but some that need to be moved, or are not functioning properly are replaced with the equivalent Eaton Eluxa devices. The new areas receive Eaton ELSPSTW-AL and ELSPSTWC-AL speaker strobes, and ELSTW-AL and ELSTWC-AL remote strobes. They all have white covers, and “ALERT” lettering (for potential future use).

Pull Stations: All areas receive Autocall A4099-9004 addressable pull stations.

Smoke Detectors: All areas receive Autocall A4098-9714 smoke detector heads, with A4098-9792 addressable bases.

Annunciator: The necessary components are swapped out, and the labels are changed to Autocall 4100ES labels.

If they decide to go with Siemens:

Panel: The existing 4100U is fully replaced with a Siemens Cerberus PRO Modular system with voice evac. It receives XDLC SLC cards, and XNLC addressable notification circuit cards.

Notification Appliances: All areas receive Siemens SA-SS-WW-F and SA-SS-CW-F addressable speaker strobes, and SA-ST-WW-F and SA-ST-CW-F addressable remote strobes. Because their lettering can easily be swapped later, “ALERT” lettering is not needed.

Pull Stations: All areas receive Siemens XMS-S pull stations, with STI Stoppers (without alarms). This helps prevent accidental activation from touching the front of the pull station, which is a common issue with these devices.

Smoke Detectors: All areas receive Siemens OP921 addressable smoke detectors, with DB-11 bases.

Annunciator: The 4100U “Remote Command Center” is replaced with a Siemens CAB3 annunciator cabinet, with an SSD-C-REM annunciator, and an SCM-8 switch control module and an LVM remote microphone for voice evacuation control. All other bays are taken up by blank plates. This size of a cabinet is completely unnecessary, but it was selected because it would most easily fit the spot in the wall of the previous 4100U equipment.

If they decide to go with Potter:

Panel: Potter AFC-1000V

Notification Appliances: The NACs are set to Wheelock sync. The existing devices are kept, but some that need to be moved, or are not functioning properly are replaced with the equivalent Eaton Eluxa devices. The new areas receive Eaton ELSPSTW-AL and ELSPSTWC-AL speaker strobes, and ELSTW-AL and ELSTWC-AL remote strobes. They all have white covers, and “ALERT” lettering (for potential future use).

Pull Stations: All areas receive Potter PAD100-PSSA addressable pull stations

Smoke Detectors: All areas receive Potter PAD300-PD addressable smoke detectors, with PAD300-6DB bases.

Annunciator: Potter GTSA-7 color touchscreen annunciatior with voice evac controls in a cabinet

If they decide to go with Gamewell-FCI:

Panel: Gamewell-FCI GFP series panel with voice evac

Notification Appliances: All areas receive System Sensor SPSWLED and SPSCWLED speaker/strobes, and SWLED and SCWLED remote strobes

Pull Stations: All areas receive Gamewell-FCI MS-7ASF single-action addressable pull stations

Smoke Detectors: All areas receive Gamewell-FCI ASD-PL3 addressable smoke detectors on System Sensor B300-6 detector bases

1046

This system is for a 9 bedroom (although 8 + an office would simplify things), 2 story + walkout basement SFR being remodeled into a transitional-living group home (R-4/small board&care, being treated as Condition 2 although Condition 1 may be justifiable, permitting a 13D system). Gas service is provided for fireplaces in the basement family room and main floor living room as well as mechanical equipment, and the walkout basement leads to a patio sheltered by a deck accessible from the main floor. There is also a 2-car attached garage, and an unfinished, presumably vented attic.

Rooms are as follows:

  • 2 basement bedrooms
  • 2 basement storage rooms and a mechanical room
  • A family room, bathroom, & kitchen in the basement
  • 2 full bedrooms and a closetless bedroom (the latter probably better off being an office) on the main floor
  • Main floor living, dining, multipurpose/family, & kitchen spaces
  • 1.5 bathrooms on the main floor
  • and 4 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms on the 2nd floor

Life Safety

Passive Measures

The door from the basement stair to the basement storerooms is retrofitted with a Tell 12641 PA AL closer, as it is required to be self-closing to meet NFPA 101.

Suppression

It is presumed for the purposes of this post that retrofitting a NFPA 13R system is required as per IBC R-4 Condition 2 sprinkler requirements. (IBC R-4 Condition 1 and NFPA 101 would permit a 13D system for this instead.) Local requirements for backflow prevention also mean that an electrically supervised system is all but required (instead of using inherent supervision).

The garage is large enough that insulating and at least partially conditioning it is the only practical sprinkler retrofit solution short of resorting to an anti-freeze or dry-pipe loop, although the closet abutting it is left unconditioned, with a Reliable DH56 covering that space amply. This obviously isn’t practical for the covered patio, though, but fortunately, a single Reliable DH80 dry-sidewall sprinkler can cover that space, and is permitted to as per IBC 903.3.1.2.1. Both kitchens are also retrofit with Guardian-SSI 1384B mechanical UL300A wet chemical suppression systems in their kitchen hoods, monitored by the alarm panel.

Control

The alarm control panel for this system is a Napco Firewolf GEMC-FW32CNVKIT with the internal relay in line with the audible NAC for reset purposes, one of the programmable outputs also set up for reset to provide resettable power to non-audible detectors, and a GEMC-EZM8 at the panel for expansion. One of the telco lines is connected to the internet/telephone gateway, while the other telco line from the panel is connected to a Honeywell HW-AV-LTE-M-2 cellular dialer, with a relay module used to interface the dialer’s trouble output to a zone. Standby power for the system is supplied by a pair of 12Ah batteries.

Initiation

All living and sleeping spaces have 4WTA-B smoke detectors in them for a total of 4 detectors in the basement and 5 on each main floor, with these detectors all wired to the audible NAC to sound alongside the system horns. The panel location (2nd floor closet or mechanical room) gets a 4WT-B for self-protection, powered from aux resettable power, and there are Macurco CM-E1 CO alarms and GD-2B gas alarms on each floor, in addition to an additional GD-2B in the basement storeroom adjacent to the gas service entrance.

A single Napco FWC-CNV-PULLK pull station is present at the water service entrance or another suitable location, and the vented attic has 7 Thermotech 302-ET-194 stick heats in it in lieu of extending the sprinkler system into the attic.

Notification

The notification system consists of Eluxa ELMTSTs set for continuous tone in the kitchens and basement storage rooms along with Eluxa ELST strobes in the main corridors and all common spaces not otherwise covered, for a total of 16 15cd strobes and 1 30cd strobe (in the basement family room). The waterflow alarm is a Gentex GB6-120.

Security

Video

A Hanwha ARN-810S NVR with a few TB of WD Purple fitted into it provides recording capability for any IP cameras the place may wish. (It’s small enough and has active enough residents that doorphone security isn’t really called for.)

Panic

The GEMC-FK1 on the panel is set up for two-key panic or manual fire operation.

Communication

A Cortelco 121100TP227S analog telephone in a staff space is connected to Line 1 of the ISP-supplied MFVN gateway, which is fitted with a 24h battery. Line 2 is connected to the alarm dialer, and other phone services, such as a cordless phone, are connected via the dialer’s phone connection.

1047

For a change of pace, this system is for a single-story branch location for a local credit union that is presumed to have a sprinkler system in addition to the obligatory security and access control measures. It also has an ITM in a drive-through lane with a canopy overhead.

Life Safety

The alarm system has two zones reserved for sprinkler monitoring, as it is presumed that this building is sprinklered due to being commercial new construction. The building is small enough to not have significant life safety needs otherwise, although there is an Exitronix S900C-SM-R exit sign/emergency light combo to direct folks to the auxiliary exit door and illuminate the corridor leading that way in case of a power outage.

Security

Passive Measures

All glazing in the building is presumed to be of a laminated, forced-entry-resistant type. The exterior doors are also heavy-duty hollow metal units, capable of accommodating multi-point locking mechanisms and forced-entry-resistant glazing. There are also fixed mullions in the main vestibule door frames to provide secure strike points for the door latches and locks, as well as direct traffic flow.

The (small bedroom closet sized) vault is presumed to be of a modular type, as is typical in modern financial institution branch locations. The data room and workroom receive a lesser degree of fortification using expanded metal mesh in the walls to provide secure mounting and protect them from cutting attacks.

In addition, both of the building’s main data connections are laid on separate paths using galvanized rigid steel conduit to carry the fibers, with the conduit laid in wet concrete and then backfilled with another 6” of concrete cover. This prevents someone from trivially severing the data connection to the building then jamming the cellular signal to the panel’s communicators to prevent the communications failure or the jamming condition from being reported to the monitoring station.

Alarms

The primary alarm panel is a Bosch B9512G with two B444 cell modules (one for each carrier). B915 keypads in the vestibule and workroom, and a D8108A attack resistant enclosure with an ICP-EZTS tamper to house the main panel and its batteries, with the panel located in the main workroom, near the data room, due to the small size of the vault. The onboard Ethernet port is used for video verification with Bosch cameras and as the primary alarm communicator.

At this main location, in addition to the panel, there is a B208 input expander and a B520 auxiliary supply mounted on D137 brackets. The panel is connected to 2 19Ah batteries to supply 72h of standby and 30min in alarm, and the B520 is connected to a third 19Ah battery in an Altronix BC100.

The remaining three B208 cards and another B520 supply card are located in the access control enclosure. Alarm notification is supplied by a Resideo AB12M at the base of the clerestory. All the alarm power transformers use D8004 enclosure kits to protect them from inadvertent disconnection.

Initiation

Initiation for the system consists of pairs of Magnasphere HSS-L2C-101 door contacts on all doors save for the inner vestibule doors, which have both a HSS-L2C-111 and a HSS-L2C-101 on each leaf. The vault and ITM doors have HSS-L2S-817s on them, and use Bosch ISN-SM-50 seismic sensors, with another identical sensor in the D8108A.

The glazing is further protected by Resideo/Honeywell FG1625RT glassbreak sensors, save for the glazing in the breakroom window, which receives 24-hour protection from a FG1025Z directional glassbreak. Motion detection is supplied by Bosch ISC-PDL1-WA18G dual tech motion detectors with their mask trouble contacts wired as tampers, and the IP camera system is used to video verify alarms. Honeywell 268 squeeze-action holdup switches are used at all teller stations and at the cash-handling table to provide holdup alarm functionality, and Honeywell 264 bill trap clips are also present in the teller drawers.

These detectors, as well as the locks on the vault and ITM, boil down to the following zone mapping, with the first 8 zones being the panel zones, the second 8 zones being on the B208 in the panel enclosure, and the remaining zones on the B208s in the access control enclosure:

  1. the panel’s seismic sensor
  2. the vault’s seismic & heat sensors (the latter being a FDD 7050C)
  3. the vault’s contact
  4. the ITM’s seismic sensor
  5. the ITM’s contacts
  6. the ITM lock’s shunt circuit
  7. sprinkler waterflow
  8. sprinkler supervisory
  9. JamAlert
  10. bell tamper
  11. duress/holdup, combining the holdup switches at the teller stations and the cash handling desk with the duress contacts on the ITM and vault locks and a set of bill traps in the teller cash drawers
  12. workroom exterior door (back door)
  13. workroom interior door (to teller area)
  14. breakroom directional glassbreak (alarm/tamper)
  15. breakroom directional glassbreak trouble
  16. workroom/breakroom motion sensors
  17. lobby/teller area motion sensors
  18. office 1 motion sensors
  19. office 2 motion sensors
  20. office 3 motion sensors
  21. main outer door contacts
  22. main inner door contacts
  23. main outer door deadbolt monitoring strike
  24. lobby/teller area glassbreaks
  25. office 1 glassbreaks
  26. office 2 glassbreaks
  27. office 3 glassbreaks
  28. hoteling room glassbreak
  29. hoteling room motion sensors
  30. server room contacts
  31. server room motion sensors
  32. entry vestibule glassbreak
  33. side door contacts
  34. side corridor motion sensor
  35. intercom camera analytics alarms
  36. office 1 door
  37. office 2 door
  38. office 3 door
  39. hoteling room door
  40. and keyswitch (arm/disarm) control from the access control system

The outputs to the ACS consist of a relay contact on the bell output signal, an arm/disarm output relay, and a trouble relay. (None of the detectors are configured to use latching outputs or alarm memory functions.)

Video Recording and Verification

A set of 15 Bosch NUV-3703-F04 dome IP cameras are present to provide the main video recording and verification functionality, set up as follows:

  • 2 cameras cover the lobby from each end of the clerestory
  • 2 cameras cover the teller area from the back wall
  • 1 camera is present in each office
  • 3 cameras cover the workroom
  • 1 covers the ITM and side door from under the canopy
  • 1 covers the area outside the front door
  • 2 cameras, 1 on the corner of the clerestory and the other on the corner of the building, cover the trash enclosure, back door, and associated breakroom glazing
  • 1 camera covers the server/data room
  • 1 camera covers the hoteling room
  • and 1 camera covers the hallway to the side door

This is supplemented by:

  • The camera in an Axis I8116-E intercom at the main inner door
  • and a Hanwha PNM-9000QB covert camera unit with SLA-T2480VA heads in the ITM and in signs at each teller station.

Recording and power functionality is provided using a Mobotix Mx-S-NVR1B-16-POE NVR with a pair of 10TB WD Purples in it for a full month of archiving and a TP-Link TL-SG1008P on the Mobotix NVR’s LAN port for extra camera ports. The NVR, in turn, is powered from an industrial 48V setup consisting of two Phoenix Contact PS-EE-2G/1AC/48DC/480W/SCs (1585287s) set for 54V and combined by a Traco TIB-REM480 FET redundancy module, backed up using a Nextys (TDK-Lambda) DCW20 DC-UPS with two cross connected strings of C&D UPS12-675PLMFs for 72.5h of battery life. The bank is protected from overcurrent by a 20A RK5 fuse in a fuseblock located on the wall next to the bank positive terminal. The NVR also monitors the Nextys’ dry contacts for power failure and low battery indications.

The two indoor supplemental cameras connect to PoE ports on the TP-Link, while the non-PoE ports connect to the intrusion panel as well as the two outdoor supplemental cameras and the NVR. Those outdoor supplemental cameras consist of:

  • an Axis P1518-LE on the side of the building, facing the driveway entrance, to provide an alarm-triggered LPR capability
  • and a Pelco SRXF3-8180-ERS to provide a wide-angle overview of the area outside the front door.

These cameras receive 12V power from a FPO75-E1 with a pair of 18Ah batteries in it, providing them with 6h of power.

Access Control

The ACS cabinet is an Altronix Trove1BL1R in the data rack. In addition to the Bosch expanders mentioned above, this cabinet contains a Mercury MP4502 control board that talks to the bank’s access control headend over a VPN tunnel, as well as a MR50-S3 that provides I/O expansion to interface to the alarm panel. An AL400ULB with a PD8ULCB and 2 12Ah batteries for 12h of runtime is used to power this all while providing room to add an additional door.

The readers for the ACS are HID Signo 20s, save for the back door, which receives a Signo 20K to permit 2FA. The intercom system is also tied into the ACS using an Axis A9210 network relay module to receive supervised door inputs and provide a remote secure relay output to unlock the door independently of the rest of the ACS “brains” – this module is powered from a PoE port on the video system’s supplemental switch.

The ACS controlled doors use Securitron CEPT power transfers with Accurate mortise locksets, consisting of:

  • a M9159ESEC-MP with AE (REX) on the back outer (workroom) door (the most vulnerable door to forced entry in the place)
  • M9159ESECs on the access controlled interior doors (to the workroom & data closet)
  • and additional M9159ESECs on the inner vestibule doors

The side door has a 9159SEC-MP on it, as it is presumed to not need access control, and the outer vestibule doors have 9122SEC-MPs with interior indicator trim on them to provide after-hours locking. Should the side door need access control, the lockset can be replaced with a M9159ESEC-MP, and there’s enough expansion capacity in the system to accommodate another MR50-S3 and an Altronix VR2T module to power a Signo 20 at that door without enlarging the power supply or batteries.

Communications

A FortiGate FG-80F, Juniper SRX300, or equivalent UL listed dual-SFP firewall appliance provides the main firewall and WAN connections for the branch, with 2 fiber links (xPON or P2P) to 2 different providers. The uplink from the NVR is connected directly to the firewall appliance’s internal LAN switch, which also accepts a copper uplink from the main switch for the branch.

Power to this appliance is supplied by a Samlex SEC-1215UL charger and a C&D UPS12-705PLMF battery to provide 72.5h of standby as it carries traffic from the NVR and alarm system. The shipped power supply is used to provide a redundant backup.

1048

Samuelsville Central YM/WCA; Samuelsville, Ind.

A sprawling architectural record of the city’s social and athletic evolution. Standing on the edge of downtown, it transitions from a 12-story 1920s high-rise into a series of mid-century modern mid-rise expansions. This facility has served as the city’s premier fitness and community hub through the Depression, the post-war boom, and the industrial shifts of the late twentieth century.

I. Architectural Heritage: From High-Rise to Mid-Rise

The building reflects a prestige collaboration between regional and national masters.

• 1920 & 1937 High-Rise: Designed by Samuel Hannaford & Sons of Cincinnati, these sections feature the firm’s signature neoclassical robustness. The exterior is anchored by General Bronze entrance doors and window frames.

• Post-War Expansions (1948, 1956, 1965): Designed by Perkins & Will, these mid-rise additions shifted toward the “International Style.” They extensively utilized Pittsburgh-Corning glass blocks paired with Alcoa double-hung ventilating sections featuring Thermo-Pane insulating glass for superior thermal performance.

II. Athletic & Recreational Systems

The YM/WCA became a regional powerhouse for indoor sports, housing some of the most specialized equipment of the era.

• The Bowling Alley (1948 Section): A six-lane facility featuring rare Backus semi-automatic pinsetters. In the early 1950s, these were modified with AMF controls to keep pace with modern league requirements. This joined the 1937 wing’s hybrid manual/Backus setup.

• Gymnasia & Equipment: The athletic spaces are outfitted with a mix of Porter and Recreation Equipment Corp (RECO) gear.

• The Pool: A moisture-heavy environment managed by specialized Herman Nelson dehumidifying units.

III. Electrical, Vertical Transport & Communication

• Electrical: Standardized on General Electric (GE) gear throughout. Lighting features Sunbeam and Perfectlite fixtures (including electric exit signs), while the gymnasium and pool areas utilize high-output Holophane mercury vapor fixtures. Wiring is entirely Hubbell, including outdoor-grade moisture-proof units in the natatorium.

• Elevators: The 1920s high-rise originally operated with manual Otis elevators, which were retrofitted with Autotronic automated controls in the late 1940s. The mid-rise expansions utilize basement-traction “black button” units.

• Sound: A building-wide Stromberg-Carlson system handles general paging, but the gymnasiums feature high-fidelity, independent ALTEC-Lansing systems equipped with their iconic multicellular horns for maximum acoustic coverage in cavernous spaces.

IV. Mechanical & Climate Control

The building’s mechanical plant is a heavy-duty “York” ecosystem.

• Thermal Plant: Heating is provided by York-Shipley (Y-S) boilers, while cooling and air conditioning are strictly York units.

• Air Movement: Large-scale Buffalo Forge fans drive the internal circulation. The roofline is a forest of ventilation, including Swartwout “Airlifts,” ILG PRVs, and Jenn-Air units.

• Cooling: A massive Binks cooling tower manages the facility’s heat rejection.

• Controls: The entire pneumatic and electrical control logic was provided by General Controls.

V. Life Safety & Special Systems

The YM/WCA features a particularly unique fire protection and chronometry layout.

• Fire Alarm System: A rare ACME (NYC) system serves the building. It features 10-inch single-stroke bells and semi-flush coded pull boxes. The 1956 and 1965 wings incorporate mid-century modern styling into the pulls.

• Detection: The system is a hybrid of Fenwal heat sensors, Photoswitch beam sensors (for the long corridors), and Pyrotronics F3 ionization detectors tied into an FIU panel.

• Clocks: Time synchronization throughout the twelve floors is managed by a Stromberg master clock system.

• Maintenance & Sanitation: A high-capacity Spencer Turbine Co. central vacuum system serves the entire property. The building also features dedicated rooms for trash and linen chutes, equipped with self-closing fire-grade doors and spring-hinged hardware.

• Plumbing & Hardware: Standardized on Kohler fixtures and Lockwood door hardware throughout all five phases.

VI. The 2026 Status

In 2026, the YM/WCA remains a vital “third place” for Samuelsville residents. While the 1920s Otis elevators still hum with their post-war Autotronic brains, the facility has become a point of pride for architectural historians, especially the preserved Alcoa window units and the rare ACME fire alarm signals that still protect the high-rise.