Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2014 Product of the Year finalists: Mass notification, emergency communication

Read about the 8 finalists in the Mass Notification, Emergency Communication category for the Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2014 Product of the Year program.

By Chris Vavra April 15, 2014

IP-based mass notification systems

The ALERiTY line of Internet Protocol (IP) network-based mass notification systems (MNS) from Eaton’s Cooper Notification business offers WAVES over IP (WoIP) for emergency communications. ALERiTY offers full-featured, bi-directional interoperability, integrating with other systems, software, and devices for enhanced situational awareness. Examples include fire alarm control panels, chemical sensors, detection systems, and paging systems. The WoIP mass notification network comprises a collection of secure, robust, and reliable Ethernet communication devices, called IP Communicators (IPC). This enterprise system solution allows organizations to leverage their local area network (LAN) or use the IPC private network to send audible, visual, and data messages.

Eaton’s Cooper Notification
www.eaton.com


LED speakers, strobes

The Wheelock Exceder LED speakers and speaker strobes from Eaton’s Cooper Notification business produces high-fidelity sound output in a low-profile design for indoor wall-mount applications, where intelligible voice is required. With a frequency response range of 300 to 8,000 Hz, the Exceder LED speakers and speaker strobes feature leading intelligibility with crisp, clear voice messages and tone signaling ideal for emergency communications, mass notification, and voice evacuation. The wider frequency response range allows the speaker to reproduce frequencies closer to the original sound, improving the clarity and comprehension of the intended message. The patented LED technology also provides the industry’s lowest current draw, allowing for energy savings of up to 52%.

Eaton’s Cooper Notification
www.eaton.com


Mass notification system

Fire-Lite Alarms’ Emergency Command Center (ECC) is a mass notification system capable of integrating with virtually every brand of fire alarm to serve as a fully supervised system for delivering critical messages. The ECC is able to seamlessly interface with other life safety systems while carrying forward its consistent qualities of easy installation, maintenance, and operation. The ECC has a variety of interchangeable components that make it easy for installers to meet a broad range of emergency communication needs. The ECC can support up to eight operator consoles, which can be placed throughout a building to offer authorized users easy access to send emergency notifications.

Fire-Lite Alarms
www.firelite-ecc.com


Fire alarm communications panel

The IPGSM-4G by Honeywell Power is compatible with virtually any brand of fire alarm control panel and connects to both ports on the panel’s digital alarm communications transmitter (DACT). It can operate over 2G, 3G, or 4G networks, automatically choosing the best available cellular signal in the area. No additional fire alarm panel configuration is needed after installation. An installer can configure this product for Internet Protocol (IP) or Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) as the sole communication path or, for maximum reliability, IP as primary with GSM as backup. The IPGSM-4G seamlessly connects to the dialer of any Contact-ID fire alarm control panel.

Honeywell Power
www.honeywellpower.com


Emergency communications system

The FirstCommand emergency communications system (ECS) by NOTIFIER is designed to seamlessly interface with virtually any commercial fire alarm to provide a system for broadcasting live and pre-recorded general messages and emergency alerts. FirstCommand’s scalable design allows the system to be tailored to fit the needs of a single building, with ample capacity for future expansions. Every FirstCommand system can support a combination of up to eight remote control panels and microphone consoles, which can be installed at easy access points throughout a facility. As many as 14 pre-recorded messages can be customized for a facility to use for emergency alerts, as well as day-to-day notifications.

NOTIFIER by Honeywell
www.notifier.com


Fire alarm, emergency voice system

The IntelliKnight 5820XL-EVS by Silent Knight is a system that combines addressable fire alarm and emergency voice systems in one package. In addition to Silent Knight’s fire protection, the 5820XL-EVS offers a powerful platform for sending real-time emergency communications. This system’s hardware and programming options remain the same as the IntelliKnight 5820XL fire alarm control panel. To enable the emergency voice system (EVS) capabilities, installers have modules and a variety of new programming options to tailor this system to their emergency communication needs. It also meets NFPA 72 and UL 2572 standards.

Silent Knight by Honeywell
www.silentknight.com


Intelligent notification appliances

The Simplex TrueAlert ES is a family of intelligent notification appliances that have been designed to provide better protection, maximum ease of use, and lower operating costs. Each TrueAlert ES device is electronically supervised and built with the intelligence to continuously report its status to a Simplex 4100ES fire alarm control panel. Other features include self-testing capability and device information and test history being stored into a database for AHJs and other code compliance officials. TrueAlert ES devices also provide specific warning alerts for faster troubleshooting and maintenance
.

SimplexGrinnell by Tyco
www.simplexgrinnell.com


Low-frequency sounders, strobes

System Sensor’s SpectrAlert Advance low-frequency sounders and sounder strobes meet NFPA 72 requirements for all commercial sleeping spaces. These notification appliances integrate directly with fire alarm control panels and feature a plug-in and an onboard shorting spring designed to simplify installation and reduce ground faults. Other features include a universal mounting plate for wall units and a rotary switch for low-frequency sounder tone. Installers can also adapt the devices to a wide range of application requirements using candela settings.

System Sensor
www.systemsensor.com


> > Vote for the 2014 Product of the Year


Author Bio: Chris Vavra is senior editor for WTWH Media LLC.