Implementing a Campus Wide Emergency Notification System in a Cost Effective Manner Shannon Sauer-Becker Facilities Management Department Western Michigan University MIAPPA 2010 Conference July 28, 2010 SimplexGrinnell Demonstration Emergency Notification

Why are we talking about mass notification?

Western Michigan University 25,000 Students 4,500 faculty and staff Carnegie Foundation “Research” Classified Main Campus: 390 acres 90 Buildings/5.7 M GSF Houses 5,700 Students Combined heat and power plant

Typical Campus Infrastructure Characteristics Older campus grew with different building systems and manufactures Fire Alarm Legacy Systems Building life safety codes have changed over the years Construction Boom (1960s & 1990s)

Unique Characteristics at Western Michigan University Standardized Building Systems & Components Upper Management Support Campus Communication Network System

What Types of Mass Notification Tools Are Available? Phone (VOIP or Analog) E-mail Two-way Radio Website High powered Arrays Emergency Volunteer Teams Electronic Message Board Cable Personnel Notification NOAA Alert Radio Cell Phone Interior Audible PDA Exterior Audible Pager Email Visual Notification System Reverse 911

Research Our Campus Assets For Mass Notification Opportunities Existing Emergency Tools Network Infrastructure Copper Telephone Lines Fiber Cabling - Single and Multi Mode Fire Alarm Systems Newer Simplex Panels With Voice Capability Simplex Legacy System National Time and Edwards 1960’s Model Email Two Way Radio WMU Hotline WMU Website Emergency Volunteer Building Teams NOAA Portable Radio Cable TV Network Monitoring & Control Networked Alarm

Which Direction of Mass Notification Was Best For WMU? Existing Assets Upcoming Code Changes Available Mass Notification Tools Strategic Direction Use Existing Resources Real Time Communication Deploy As Many As Possible

Final Decision Of Multiple System Approaches 2-way Radio (Personnel Notification) E-mail (Personnel Notification) WMU Hotline (7-1001) WMU Website Reverse 911 (Personnel Notification) Emergency Volunteer Teams Exterior Audible Real Time Communication ENHANCED EduCABLE Interior Audible NOAA Alert Radio

Real Time Audible Mass Notification System Leverage existing fire alarm infrastructure 3,370 Indoor Speakers Covering 4.1 million SF Networked Central System Head-end, fire alarm control and monitoring system. (Two Workstations) Expand interior speakers to other buildings Add exterior speakers

Exterior Speaker Coverage 62 Exterior Speakers on 9 Buildings Covering 356 Acres

Details of the Real Time Mass Notification Systems T- Com Network Head-End System Type of exterior speaker

T-Com Network Characteristics Building Network Design Which Buildings to Connect Live Voice vs. Pre Programmed Messages Backbone Infrastructure Distance and Routing Copper – 2,500 feet Fiber Multimode – 5,000 feet Fiber Single Mode – 20 miles Battery Backup/ Emergency Generator

Head-End System Characteristics Central Monitoring/Control Station Two Head-End Workstations Graphical Floor Plans Voice Command Log History Alarm Status, Type of Problem identified (Trouble Supervisor, Fire) UPS & Battery Backup Complies With NFPA 72 Code

Exterior Speaker Characteristics Array vs. Single Units 15 Watt Exterior Speaker UL Fire Alarm Listed – ATLAS 70 DB Up to 360 feet

Lessons Learned What we did right What we would have done differently Single Source Equipment Implement Latest Technology Networked Fire Alarm System to Central Monitoring Station Utilized Existing Infrastructure What we would have done differently Used Fiber Infrastructure Earlier Understood Live Voice Infrastructure Needs

Thank You for your Attention Enter name of section-Fire, Security. Mass Notification SimplexGrinnell – Emergency Notification Demonstration