1. 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

2. Why are we talking about mass notification?

3. 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

4. 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)

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

6. What Types of Mass Notification Tools Are Available?
Phone (VOIP or Analog)
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
Visual Notification System
Reverse 911

7. 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
Two Way Radio
WMU Hotline
WMU Website
Emergency Volunteer Building Teams
NOAA Portable Radio
Cable TV Network
Monitoring & Control Networked Alarm

8. 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

9. Final Decision Of Multiple System Approaches
2-way Radio (Personnel Notification)
(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

10. 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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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

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