What alarm do you have at work/school

Fire Alarm General Discussion
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bed shakers are (somewhat) common in ADA dorm rooms, usually it’s just a fire alarm relay activating them though. it’s kind of odd a NAC extender is powering it, must have not came with it’s own power supply.

every once in a great while you’ll find them in hotel rooms too. i’ve interfaced with these harc systems before if you want to do a little reading: http://www.roomvalet.com/

system detectors with sounder bases are usually powered by 24vdc, usually off of a dedicated supervised NAC circuit. the new codes requiring 520hz has them in the sounder bases usually, but realistically the 520hz only came into effect on systems designed and installed after jan 1st of this year, and only if the jurisdiction has adopted the latest codes… which is doubtful. bed shakers and 520hz accomplish different things too, bed shakers are usually for people who are completely deaf.

edit: actually the sounder bases are powered off of altronix power supplies. that’s really odd, i’m guessing its not a UL system.

643

System Sensor | Honeywell Building Technologies According to System Sensor, it’s a requirement for all new residential installations. I’d imagine then that the message includes a low-frequency tone, similar to what Andrew used in one of his system tests.

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3 requirements have to be met for that statement to hold true: all new residential. in areas where they’ve adopted the 2010 or 2013 code. built after jan 1st 2014. anything before that won’t have the 520 requirement.

not many places you run into will have been built after jan 1st 2014. even fewer will be in places where the latest codes have been adopted.

it’s NOT uncommon at all to run into a city that is still on 2002 or earlier of NFPA. a large city near me just adopted the 2007 version of the nfpa within the past year, upgrading from the 99…

federal are the only ones good about adopting the latest codes, military bases are the only places i’ve run into the 520hz thing at all.

645

At the Seretean Center for Performing Arts, a 4100ES replaced an old (Notifier?) system. The signals are Wheelock speakers and Gentex GX-90S mini horn-strobes. I’m not quite sure what the pull station model number is, but I remember someone here saying that it was a Notifier one, meant for high-rise buildings. And what could the annunciator be?

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646

My college had some updates to the Student Union building. As I said before, they originally had a Standard fire alarm system with Standard 450 horns on the old light plates, and round Standard 200177 pulls.
Two portions of the ground level were completely renovated and done over, and had all the fire alarm equipment in those sections replaced. The alarm signals are now SpectrAlert Advance horn/strobes installed everywhere, and there are Notifier FSP-851 smoke detectors on the newer-style bases (previously the building only had heat sensors, outside of the elevator recall FSP-851s installed in 2008.) The pull stations are NBG-12LXs, and at least one of them has a Stopper II cover over it.
I’m not surprised they used those, as the college usually uses Notifier equipment these days, and the building already had a Notifier AFP-200 panel (installed in the late 90s/early 2000s). This all replaced a Standard horn/light, some Standard horns with 90s-style Faraday strobes installed on the light plates, and two U-MMT horn/strobes, along with a couple of Standard pulls and some Faraday F1G Chevrons.
The rest of the building is the same; five Standard/Faraday horn/strobes are still left, along with three U-HN horn/strobes, and even a Simplex 2903+2901-9833 horn/light is still intact! Everything else on the campus is still the same since I’ve last been there.

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I still want to know what that old pull station is!

648

I’m going into the high school at my school! (I go to a private school) and the alarms there are:
Fire alarm: Wheelock AS
Pull: Faraday Chevron
Smoke: Idk yet
School bell: 4" Edwards Adaptabel

649

I’ve just started college this weekend in my city, and I am enrolled in a new fire alarm systems program. So far there’s only 5 people in my class total, and our professors all work for a fire alarm/sprinkler company. I think one works for Siemens, one for Honeywell, and another for a sprinkler company. It’s really interesting so far, and we are going to be working on some of the FA systems they have set up in our lab. There is 2 Honeywell/Notifier panels, think they are the ONYX series, which we will be testing/troubleshooting/ all that fun stuff. Upstairs, we will be working with a Simplex 4100 (wiring up devices), and the Simplex 4005 (testing, hooking it up to a sprinkler system).

So, all in all, I’m looking very forward to this program! Plus we will probably get to have some sneak peaks at the college fire alarm system, and see the inner workings of that system.

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Panel: Notifier AFP 200
Pull stations: Notifier addressable BG-10s (i think) and BG-12s
Smoke detectors: not sure
Alarms: Wheelock NS’s in the hallways and some bathrooms, and RSS strobes in some classrooms and bathrooms. They are synchronized.
Duct dectors: unknown

651

My school’s system is long and complex.
My school is comprised of 3 buildings with separate systems. The main building(math, english, fine arts, and science classes), The language and religion building, and the history building.

The coding is Code 3 for all buildings, except for the MA/SS’s, which are set on continuous in swept frequency.

-------MAIN BUILDING

The main building was built in the late 1950s, with a recent addition finished in 2003. The english, math, and fine arts classes, as well as the cafeteria are housed in the old wing, while the science, gymnasium, and media center/library are housed in the new wing. There is also a modular trailer housing the finance and admissions staff, built in 2008. The main building is all on one level.

The main building has a unique system. The main panel is a Honeywell/Ademco 5110XM-9 Fire Alarm Control Panel with an older red Ademco alphanumeric keypad located at the main entrance.

OLD WING
The pulls are Fire-Lite BG-10s (regular w/hex reset) in the older section of the building (math, english and fine arts section) with Fire-Lite BG-12s (hex reset) replacing older BG-10s that broke down

Smoke / Heat Detectors are a jumble of different models. In the classrooms of the old wing are Chemtronics Series 600 Heat Detectors, with Edwards Heat detectors replacing older Chemtronics ones. In the hallways of the old wing are a mix of System Sensor i3’s and System Sensor 2400 smokes.

Alarms consist of White Spectralert Advance Ceiling Mounts(low-volume) in the hallways and a non-ADA MA/SS in the cafeteria and in the hallway separating the old wing from the new wing. There are no alarms in the classrooms or bathrooms.

NEW WING
The pulls are Fire-Lite BG-12s (hex reset) all around)

The smokes consist of System Sensor 2112s all around. Duct Detectors are unknown.

The alarms consist of Spectralert Classic Wall-Mount Horn/Strobes in the Hallways and Bathrooms, Media Center/Library, Locker Rooms, and Gymnasium. There are some Classic Remote Strobes mixed in with the Horn Strobes. There is one lone Classic Ceiling Mount H/S in the hallway where the MA/SS is located (mentioned before- the MA/SS is on one end and the Ceiling Mount is on the other). There is also another MA/SS located in one of the locker rooms.

MODULAR TRAILER
The pulls are the same BG-12s (hex reset).

The smokes are newer conventional System Sensor 2151s/

The alarms are white wall mount Spectralert Advance Wall Mount Remote Strobes.

---------LANGUAGE AND RELIGION BUILDING

The language building is the oldest building on campus, having been built in 1939. However, it’s fire alarm system is the newest out of all the buildings. It has three levels.

Panel: Silent Knight IFP-1000 with an annunciator at the main entrance

Smokes- Addressable System Sensor 2151’s (rebranded by Silent Knight - don’t know the model number)

Pulls- Addressable Fire-Lite BG-12LX’s (rebranded by SIlent Knight- don’t know the model number)

Alarms- White Spectralert Advance Wall-Mount Horn Strobes scattered throughout. There are two ceiling mounts on the third floor.

---------HISTORY BUILDING

The history building is the newest building on campus, having been completed in 1989.

The panel is a newer Honeywell/Ademco 5110XM-9 Fire Alarm Control Panel with a newer Red Ademco alphanumeric keypad at the front entrance.

The Smokes consist of System Sensor 2400 series detectors, with i3’s replacing broken down 2400s.

The Pulls consist of Fire-Lite BG-10’s. As of now no pulls have been replaced.

The alarms consist of System Sensor MA/SS’s set on swept frequency with a Spectralert Classic set on code 3 replacing a broken down MA/SS.
There are some parts of that building that I haven’t explored yet, so some newer parts of the system may be lurking around.

Congratulations if you got this far, and thanks for reading all about my high school’s system!

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Any updates on that class? In all honesty, I would love it if you could create a thread or sometime sharing some of things you learn. I find it super interesting.

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Oh yeah! Things are going awesome! In sprinklers, we are learning about obstructions, and we set off a couple heads in the lab. In Life safety, we have been doing digital electronics and simulating fire alarm systems with the IC chips. With the other 2 classes, we are basically learning about the code and howtos of fire alarm systems, which is really dry. One fun thing I learned though that is in Canada, we cannot use Fire alarm systems with speakers as a music/PA system. But in the states, it’s acceptable, which is why some stores in the states use the FA system as a PA system.

Never thought about making a topic because I thought no one was really interested.

654

I’m surprised I didn’t post anything here yet, even after snapping a bit a long time ago (sorry about that). Anyways, I’m a bit on the older side and haven’t been to school in years but here’s a run down of what I had to deal with.

Preschool-Kindergarten:
one lone 10" bell hooked to a push button and not connected to the FD. no smokes

Elementary 1-2:
Simplex 4030-2s set to continuous and Simplex Chevrons. Never saw the panel (that I recall). no smokes that I was aware of

Elementary 2-1/2 of 4th:

FCI 450s+VALS strobe plates set to continious with FCI MS-2s under stoppers, and these type of smokes

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in one 1/2 of the building, Edwards Adaptahorns on red light plates (looked like the kind you’d see outside of a public restroom but red) I assume also set to continious, 270-SPOs under stoppers, with Chemtronics heats (no smokes) in the other 1/2. Never saw the panel.

Elementry 2rd 1/2 of 4th-5th:
892-2Bs set to continious, 270s, Edwards ionization smokes. Never saw panel.

Middle:
dealt with 2 systems
old system:
6th grade-part of 7th: The famous Faraday Type 2s and a lone 7002 in the basement set to continuous with non coded Gamewell Ms.
New system:
Part of 7th-8th
MT4s set to continuous in the bulk of the school, 892 speaker/strobes in the auditorium set to slow whoop/message, 270s. Both systems used the same smokes: 2 Edwards ionization’s at each fire door (one on each side), and simplex 4259-36s at each elevator entry. I did see the panel but can’t remember what it was.

High 9-part of 10th:

4040s behind Federal FG plates set to coded 4s (4-4 code), coded Gamewell Ms. This system was in the process of being upgraded when I left to Wheelock ETs and Fire-lite BG-8s. no smokes, but I’m sure they installed some. Never saw the panel.

High part of 10th-12th

MT-WMs in the main school and older portable classrooms, MT-LSMs in the newer portables and the new library all set to continuous, System Sensor 2400s in the halls and in each classroom, and a lone NBG-10 in the office (I’m sure there was others out of student view). Panel was a large Notifier of some type, mounted very high up on the wall at the main enterance (they needed a step ladder to access it).

And onto work:

classic ceiling mount Spectra horn/strobes in the main store, wall mount classic Spectra horn/strobes in the back all set to code-3, wall mount classic Spectra strobes in the bathrooms and manager’s office (use to be the children’s play center), synced. BG-12s scattered around the store, i3s in the computer room, and in the back, unknown duct detectors covering the rest of the store. I believe this is an Ademco system as I have found no panel, just an annunicator in the foyer, and a few keypads with conduits running to a few BG-12s in the back. I’ll try to take some pics on my next overnight shift.

I believe that covers it.

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655

I believe you are talking about the Edwards 891D fire alarm plate.

That but with an Adaptahorn on it and this lamp.

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656

Yes that’s it, except the lamps didn’t have “fire” on them. I never got to hear them as I was always in the 1/2 of the building with the FCI 450+VALS’ when they decided to conduct fire drills. I’m assuming they were AC, and probably long gone by now (this was in the late 80’s).

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If they were red Adaptahorns, they were probably DC and thus had different pitches to them. The AC horns were grey but never used as alarms.

And I know some plates exist but I have never saw them ever online. At one point, there was a plate with an 892 horn only on it somewhere, but I can’t track down the picture.

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Panel(s): Notifier NFW2-100 and a Notifier NFC-50/100 Voice Evacuation Panel
Notification Appliances: System Sensor SPSCW Speaker/Strobes and System Sensor SCW Remote Strobes
Pulls: Notifier NOT-BG-12LX (Addressable BG-12s) under STI 1100 Stopper (with horns)
Smokes: Notifier NP-100 Addressable Photoelectric Smoke Detectors
Annunciator: N-ANN-80 Remote Annunciator

659

At school we have the loudest things on earth we have only the dreaded specta alert advanced ceiling mounts. And some of the classrooms had the walls chopped off so their are usually more that one sounding one in each room sometimes up to four soundin gin the same room. These things are so loud that i can stand like 40 feet away from the building with my ears plugged and i can still aer them I even have to plug my ears and i am the kind of person who dosent wear ear protection when im standing right next to an aca alertor 125 or a planer. but these things are just loud they are also in code three so its even more annoying and we have boring bg12 pull stations and their is this one that it like pulled almost alll the way and im scared that of somebody accidently bumps it it would set it off and i thinkt hat it will happn one day because it is right next to the entrance of our gym and in between the door and theirs a drinking fountain right next to the door and the ppull station inbetween its madness. We also have no fire sprinkelrs and no fire surpression. all we have are fire extenguishers. I assum that they work because they where inspected by the state last year and they will be prably newly inspected when i come back from iwnter break. So now you know what i have and also im wondering if bells are louder that those spectra alerts.

660

In one wing of my school (High School Math and History), also has spectra alert advance celing mount horn/strobes, In my wing of the school (Middle School, High School Science, and the Art Room) has spectra alert advance speaker/strobes, which are honestly the quietest alarms that I have ever heard in my life, besides at a hospital with Wheelock CH-70 Chime Strobes, when I went to visit my newborn baby cousin (back in 2010). Both wings have the same panels, Notifier FireWarden 100-2 panels (Notifier NFW2-100) (a rebrand of the Fire-Lite MS-9200UDLS), and my wing has a Notifier NFC-50/100 Voice-Evacuation Panel. Pulls are Notifier Adressable BG-12s (under Stoppers). Smokes are Notifier Adressable Photoelectric Detectors. My school has an interesting mix of Horn/strobes and speaker/strobes.

661

My school has an interesting system. At my school (this is a high school by the way) we have a large campus with buildings from 3 different generations. Many of the buildings were built in the 80s, a few more were built in 2000-2001, and two were built in 2014.
In the oldest buildings, they have System Sensor MASS strobes with no horns in every room. Instead of horns, the intercom system is connected to the alarm system. The intercoms make a horn sound in interrupted continuous. In the main building, the MASS strobes were replace with SpectrAlert Advance horn/strobes. In the 2nd group of buildings, there are Gentex SHG horn/strobes in the hall and Gentex strobes in the classrooms and bathrooms. We also have the intercoms. In the newest buildings, there are SpectrAlert Advance horn/strobes in every room. Plus, the intercoms continue buzzing as well. Whenever we have fire drills while I’m in that building, my ears feel like they want to burst.