Audio announcements integrated with fire and safety systems are also referred to as voice evacuation systems, and greatly assist with orderly evacuation when needed. Voice announcement evacuations are required in high-rise buildings, and places of assembly such as college campuses. Share It!
The importance of regular fire alarm testing and inspections to verify an “All Systems Normal” condition cannot be underestimated. Maintaining a clearly ready to use fire alarm system saves lives, prevents disasters, and is dependent upon several factors: Share It!
Properly functioning fire detection and alarm systems are essential life protection elements of high-rise buildings. These are designed to work in harmony to identify potential emergencies, alert the occupants, and direct an orderly evacuation. Simultaneously, emergency first responders should be alerted to the problem in order to arrive at the …
Why Are Addressable Alarm Systems Better than Conventional Systems? The key to rapid response in a fire emergency situation is time. Without timely identification of a problem and immediate emergency notification, lives may be jeopardized and more property lost. Addressable fire alarm systems are designed to detect problems instantly, and …
I am often asked, “When is a building in Chicago required or non-required?” There are a couple of Chicago Building Code Chapters to be familiar with,13-76*, 15-16-110. Though there are other chapters to be considered, these are the primaries. Type of Occupancies: “Required” Status High Rise Building, any Building or …
Imagine a multi-story building or a sprawling hospital campus with hundreds of independent smoke detection devices and fire alarms. When a fire starts and begins to spread, a single alarm goes off. Soon the smoke spreads, a second alarm activates, and more alarms are sounding. By the time the firefighting …
There are a few code documents that discuss this question. NFPA101, International Building Code (IBC), and American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA). Firstly, it is clear that visual strobes should be installed in public areas anticipated to be used by hearing impaired individuals such as restrooms, hallways and building lobbies. Furthering …
There is no doubt that multifamily residential construction is in boom. This type of housing provides terrific living options for both the young, the elderly and all in between. When constructing these types of occupancies, the building may fall within code descriptors such as Residential Multi Family R1, R2, R3 …
We often receive phone calls shortly after a new installation that the fire alarm system is malfunctioning. And, it is often determined that the complaint is a result of dirty smoke detectors. Share It!
There is no greater priority in maintaining a building than ensuring the facility’s fire detection and notification systems are in top condition. Too many lives are lost and billions of dollars in property disappear because of potentially avoidable fire situations. The major reasons for these losses is the inadequacy or …
