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Real-World Solutions for Improved Communication in High-Rises
By John M. Stofa ©2014


In the months following a deadly Hell’s Kitchen high-rise apartment fire, calls have steadily increased for improved fire safety legislation in New York City’s towering residential buildings. The horrible death of one man, and the hospitalization of his partner, seems to have mobilized an entire city to action; however, what is the best way to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again?

The beauty of modern technology is that there are countless solutions available to building owners that could help first responders better communicate with residents during an emergency. The key will be identifying the systems that are best-suited for this all-important task.

This is a huge problem for people living in high-rise buildings. It is counter intuitive to decide to stay in a building that is on fire, but often times that is the safest place for the tenants of a non-combustible high-rise. People have died and been seriously injured simply because there is a lack of regulation around residential high-rises communication systems. In many emergencies, residents don’t know what to do: shelter in their apartment? Evacuate via a stairwell? Depending on the nature of the fire (or, other emergency, such as a tornado or terrorist threat), the best course of action may vary. That’s why first responders must have a way to effectively communicate with everyone in a building — and I do mean everyone. Tenants, delivery people, visitors, etc. We can’t just leave it up to the public to decided “go or no go” without giving them real time information to base their decision on.

Strong notification systems are especially necessary for communicating to the most vulnerable members of our society, including young children, the elderly and those who with limited mobility. Some of these individuals may have very limited resources and, in many situations, aren’t able to save themselves. The more information we can give these populations to help themselves during emergencies, the better.

If new legislation does get passed requiring building owners to install an emergency communication system, there will be a lot of businesses touting their solution as the best option. So, let’s take a closer look at how some of the technology available might perform in a high-rise, residential setting:

Paging system: One-way or two-way paging is a good first step. This will enable, for example, fire fighters to notify residents about the location of a fire and advise them to stay in their apartments. However, your average PA system contains no redundant qualities for back-up, so when the system’s communication backbone is damaged, the system simply doesn’t work.

Digital signage: There are many options on the market for wall-mounted communication devices, many of which feature speakers, digital text and flashing strobes. These displays could be useful on the lobby of each floor and/or by stairwell entrances, to quickly tell residents (and other people in the building) what to do in an emergency. Strobes and other visual communication are especially helpful for deaf residents.

Social media integration: A building’s communication technology could be integrated with social media sites, like Twitter and Facebook, to provide emergency updates in real-time. While this is a useful tool in some cases, it shouldn’t be a primary means of communicating with people in the event of an emergency. However, social media integration provides fantastic redundancy in cases where other systems, such as one-way paging systems or phone lines, fail.

Fire alarm system with voice capabilities: In my experience, a fire alarm system with voice capabilities is going to be a building owner’s best bet for emergency communication. This technology is built to survive a fire and to operate in intense heat. With this type of system, residents could be notified of a fire or other emergency with an audible alarm and strobes; then, first responders could communicate with them using speakers installed in each apartment, the hallways or floor lobby.

To fully solve the problem facing New York’s and other cities’ high-rise residences, first responders need not one, not two, but three or four or more effective ways to “talk to” people inside a building. A winning solution would bring all of these technology pieces together. Of course, there is a cost involved. And, if new legislation requires the installation of communication technology in every high-rise residence, the building owner will be responsible. Consider the average cost of a system, and divide that by the number of residents in a given building, which might be into the hundreds. Then the price per person is very small. So is that the cost of a life? It’s a matter of a couple dollars a day.

I think this legislation is timely and very important. I urge those advocating for the new legislation, as well as any legislators who get involved, to do their research on the available technology. Together, we can find the right system that will work effectively to make sure tragic incidents like the fire death in Hell’s Kitchen never happen again and maybe influence other cities to do the same.

Change – Is it already happening? By John M. Stofa ©2014

It has been often said that change never seems to happen in the fire alarm industry and that we just plod along from one year to the next without keeping pace with other adjacent technologies. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is evidenced by the very fact that when one educates Fire Responders on the technology changes and product introductions that we’ve seen just in the last 10 years, they are quite simply amazed and even skeptical.

If you want proof for yourself, schedule a lecture with your local fire department and spend an hour providing them with a technology update. Talk about products like Video Smoke Detection/Verification that utilize ordinary security cameras as smoke detectors. Or maybe discuss Multi-Criteria Smoke Detectors that “learn” the room they are in and effectively reduce nuisance alarms. Or how about Aspiration Smoke Detectors that can sense the byproducts of combustion before we as humans can see or smell them, often detecting a hotspot before a fire breaks out. And last but certainly not least discuss the evolution of the low frequency evacuation tone and when and where it is more effective than a traditional evacuation device. More often than not when I discuss these products, they perceive them as science fiction rather than fact because they simply haven’t been exposed to them. However, they are always appreciative of your knowledge and your desire to share it with them to make their jobs safer and easier.

But now let’s think back to some of the changes that we have witnessed in the fire alarm industry and then forecast what is around the corner. We saw the xenon strobe become the industry standard in visual notification back in the 90s, and of course this kick started the remote NAC panel industry that was nonexistent before then. We watched conventional zoned FACP sales be converted almost entirely to addressable FACP systems because of the superior information they provide. We also witnessed the Liquid Crystal Display become the choice of manufacturers rather than populating FACPs with numerous LEDs that offer limited information.

So what does the future bring? Plenty. Just the topic of communications/alarm transmission itself will be a future blog subject. We will also see our entire industry shift from simply being considered a Fire Alarm System to now a Life Safety System. Of course this has already started to happen with the advent of ECS/MNS, but the difference is the acceptance of the system being considered a Life Safety System will be widespread rather than selective, based on the type of end-user or subject to the whim of the AHJ.

What are some of the other changes that we’ll see? Well, if you have 20 more years left in this industry before your retirement you will see the day that the last xenon strobe is sold, whereas all strobes will be LED because of their flexibility, foot print and life span. You will see the last horn device placed on a CAD shop drawing because soon speakers will be the gold standard as Voice FACPs continue to get smaller, more powerful and more economical. And finally, you will no longer see the radioactive symbol on the underside of a smoke detector because ionization detectors will be long gone from our offerings; replaced entirely by more effective photoelectric smokes or better yet multi-criteria smoke detectors.

What other technologies will be developed further and become more readily available within our offerings?

Fiber Optic SLCs
Cellular & Satellite Communications
VOIP & VOLTE Communications
More Robust Wireless Devices & Networks
Advanced Human Interfaces
Artificial Intelligence within Devices

But these are just a few of the changes that we will see. Every day as technology advances, our engineering teams will continue to work on how that technology can be embedded into Life Safety Systems to make us safer. So if you think that our industry never seems to catch up to the times, just look around. We’re more cutting edge than you think!

Fiber Optic Cable & Fire Alarms – Light Years Away from Trouble Free?

By John M. Stofa ©2013

One of the challenges that sophisticated modern fire alarm systems face is the possibility of damage or performance issues caused by lightning, interference due to localized “noise” in the area, or the introduction of water into network cable conductors.  Any one of these conditions could cause the system to operate erratically or perhaps not at all. The best way to overcome all of these problems is the use of Fiber Optic Cables (FOC) for the alarm system backbone or fire alarm network.  But this has also brought with it new challenges that are caused by the very people installing the system; a lack of training resulting in poor installation. 

There are many factors to think about when working with FOC, and this blog will discuss just a few of the heavy hitters.  It is my hope that this discussion will compel one to seek more education and training on how to properly install FOC.

Electricians and installers since the beginning of the modern fire alarm system have been installing copper cables for the fire alarm system with great success.  After the install, the low voltage alarm company is typically responsible for terminating the panels or connecting the wires and then “turning the system on” as it were.  For the most part with some exceptions, the pulling or installing of the copper wire has been a fairly straightforward process.  The difference between copper wire and FOC however is the quality of the end connection or termination, and the ability to send light or communication data down the FOC without it being compromised or degraded to the point where it is useless. 

When pulling copper wire, deep bends in the conductor are not really a problem and poor connections can usually be overcome or easily dealt with.  This is not necessarily the case with FOC.  Deep bends in a FOC can cause performance issues that could present as system “troubles” throughout the network.  See example Photo 1.  Note the grey fiber strand and the deep bends being forced by the copper conductor lying on top of it.

Photo 1

This is a very poor installation and one that should be dealt with immediately.  The grey strand needs to be reconnected and allowed to bend gently as seen with the green strand next to it. 

The next photo is another example of an installation that was perhaps done by an electrician that was more familiar and comfortable using copper than FOC.  Photo 2 shows what happens when the FOC is too long and rather than making it the right length and properly terminating the strands, the installer just loops the extra FOC between the patch panel and the fire alarm panel on a 4” module resulting in deep bends which could cause back scattering of the light, and again possibly putting the system in “trouble”.

Photo 2

The FOC end termination or connector is a delicate part of the puzzle that could result in a poorly operating system.  Often the connector and couplings could be of such poor quality or installed improperly that the overall dB loss for the fiber run could exceed

the allowable limits. They could also have too many couplings installed which also adds to the overall dB loss budget.   In this case the fiber run must be tuned and excessive or poor quality connectors and couplings must be replaced.  This should be dealt with early on in the process before the equipment is even turned on. 

Having the fiber runs measured and certified from end-to-end is critical to creating a fiber network that will perform flawlessly.  This certification is often not performed and the installer simply attempts the plug ‘n play method of let’s see if this works.  Compounded by the fact that most low voltage installers are not qualified to terminate fiber ends and you see installations like Photo 3.  This installer may have an acceptable fiber run from end-to-end, that being patch panel-to-patch panel, but the orange patch cord is now adding extra length and deep bends that could decrease the fiber’s performance and possibly fracture the fiber stand itself.

   

Photo 3

The fact is, FOC is going to be much more prevalent in the next 2 years as the Telcom Industry sunsets copper phone networks in favor of FOC.  This will ultimately force the fire alarm industry to also acquiesce or be left behind.  If you think your lack of knowledge in FOC is going to be a hurdle for your team to overcome, then you must start now in building upon their education and experience rather than face an uphill battle in the months to come.

Letter from Senator Warren

Dear John,

Thank you for contacting me about school safety. 

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has observed that "no school can be a great school until it is a safe school first."  I agree with Secretary Duncan.  Schools need the resources to assess and respond to their security needs and to provide personnel with the training they need to keep classrooms, hallways, and playgrounds safe.  Improving physical security, staff and student safety awareness, and coordination with local law enforcement are important steps that will make our schools safer. 

Creating safer environments for students must also involve creating school communities that are welcoming and supportive.  Unfortunately, a recent study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that around 28% of students ages 12 through 18 reported being bullied in school at least once in the year prior to the sudy.  Students who are bullied demonstrate lower academic achievement, are more likely to miss school, have increased anxiety levels, and are at greater risk of experiencing depression.  If students are to excel, we must make sure that schools are places where all young people -- regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or race -- can feel confident and respected. 

For these and other reasons, I believe that improvements to physical security should be accompanied by efforts to make school environments more welcoming and supportive.  I believe that government can help promote safe schools by providing resources to improve physical security, keeping students safe and expanding access to mental health services for students.  Government can also take action by prohibiting discrimination against students based on personal characteristics and by requiring local education agencies to establish guidelines, both for students and school personnel, that address bullying. 

I will be sure to keep your comments in mind as I work with my colleagues on these issues. 

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Warren
United States Senator

Washington, DC Russell Senate Office Building 2 Russell Courtyard Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202-224-4543

Boston, MA 2400 JFK Federal Building 15 New Sudbury Street Boston, MA 02203 Phone: 617-565-3170

Springfield, MA 1550 Main Street Suite 406 Springfield, MA 01103 Phone: 413-788-2690

It’s Alarming…

By John M. Stofa ©2013

 

We have all seen it, the “button” that is inside and outside an elevator cab that looks like a firefighter’s helmet.  But what does it do?  Many people are under the false impression that it is a button that you can use to call the fire department in the event that you get stuck inside the cab and need help.  Many have no idea what it is.  What is alarming to me is the amount of firefighters who have no idea what that button does, when they are the very people that it was designed for!

Actually, it is not a button at all. It is an indicator light that is meant to show the fire department that the elevator is in recall mode or fire service mode.  What does that mean? Simply put:

Fire Recall Mode – This means that a smoke detector mounted in front of the elevator doors on each level that the elevator serves has gone into alarm.  Because the smoke or fire may be very close to the elevator cab, the elevator goes into “Recall” mode and automatically returns the cab to the Ground Floor (Primary Recall Floor) and the elevator doors open and stay open.  Once they open, the elevator is “parked” and it may not be used until it is released from Recall Mode with a key.  If the Ground Floor smoke detector is the one that went into alarm, then the elevator cab would stop at the next logical floor such as the Basement or Second Floor, thus not opening the doors to the elevator on the floor that may contain smoke.  This is called the “Alternate Floor” or “Secondary Recall Floor”.  During this mode, the “Fire Hat” symbol will be lit solid as an indication of Fire Recall Mode.

Fire Service Mode – This is a unique operation of the elevator that allows it to be used by fire department responders.  The FD has a special key that they are able to use to gain access to the elevator so they can quickly move firefighters and equipment to the floor below the fire and set up firefighting operations. 

Once arriving at the scene, firefighters will use their key to either recall the elevators to the Lobby if they are not recalled already, or they will take over the parked elevator cabs.  Using their key inside the cab, the firefighters will place the cab into “Manual Service Mode”. This means that all functions in the cab will work, but the operator must push and hold the desired function such as closing the doors to the elevator. Simply pushing the “close door button” is not enough to activate it; it must be pushed and held until the doors are closed as an example.

The second phase of the Fire Recall Mode activates as the smoke condition worsens.  If the smoke should spread to the Elevator Machine Room or in some cases the Elevator Shaft, detectors within will activate and the Fire Hat will begin to flash.  This is the indication to the FD that it is time to abandon the elevator for its safety is compromised and unexpected or undesired actions by the elevator cab may occur.

Finally, in some areas the system could have a heat detector mounted in the Elevator Machine Room.  This heat detector is special in that if it is activated by heat from the fire, power will automatically be shut off to the elevator and the cab will stop and power down immediately wherever it is.  Therefore, it is imperative that firefighters remove themselves from the cab immediately when the fire hat symbol begins to flash to avoid entrapment. 

 

Solid-Lit Fire Helmet Elevator is in Fire Recall or Fire Service Mode Flashing Fire Helmet The Elevator Shaft or Elevator Machine Room may have smoke or fire within it.

In conclusion, elevators in the near future will be enhanced for survivability and built to withstand adverse conditions to allow them to be used as part of the building’s evacuation plan during a fire; but for now it is imperative that all emergency responders know about Fire Recall Mode and the warning indicators provided to us.

It is all about Time…

By John Stofa Copyright 2013

The recent attacks in Aurora and Newtown have proven one thing for certain; we will never be able to stop the armed gunman from attacking for no apparent reason with no advanced warning.  These evil actors walk amongst us,  they are heavily armed and not about to conduct their lives within the confines of any law.  So how do we protect ourselves and our loved ones; especially our most vulnerable and innocent young people?  There simply is no foolproof method, but we can slow down the armed intruder and make it harder for them to maneuver using technology. Technology that is already available today.  Technology that in the course of an attack could essentially help to slow down time.

There are many companies promoting their brand of products that are designed to help in extreme emergency situations like a shooting.  These systems are not designed to prevent the action, but merely to notify others during the situation and provide them with valuable information about what to do and where to go, and then update them as to when the emergency is over and it is safe to resume normal activities.  It was always believed that when activating these types of systems, we should provide discrete alarms in order to not alert the assailant.  This is probably not the right course of action for all situations.  The one thing we can learn from Newtown (and there will be much to be learned from Newtown) is the fact that the intruder “announced” himself at the front entrance with gunfire allowing the front office to alert the rest of the staff which gave them some time to react and prepare.  He was temporarily slowed down by the access control system and the exterior doors to the school before ultimately gaining access to the interior of the school.   If the intruder had simply walked in without notice without encountering resistance, the results may have been different.   This fact shows that the best practice for this type of emergency may be to broadcast (shout from the highest mountain) a simple warning message such as “intruder alert” to a highly trained staff that understands what that warning means, and how to react to it.  This early warning will allow us to basically slow down the event, provide necessary resistance and obstacles to the intruder, and give the emergency responders more time to get on-scene to end the violence.

Furthermore, in order help control these type of events in our schools, it is going to take a concerted effort from Architects and Engineers to design better and safer schools for our children. Schools that are less about the attractive finishes and award winning designs and more about safety and security.  Designs that incorporate features that we see in airport passenger terminals, prisons and police stations; but then are customized to be softer and less restrictive for public K-12 school use.  Design features such as man-traps, sally ports, or the funneling of all incoming people into “secure areas” such as an airport does.   We need to consider the idea of having trained security personnel stationed either in plain sight or discretely located at school entrances in order to stop or slow down the assailant and activate the buildings’ Emergency Communication System.  We are not ready for this brave new world, but this is the reality of where we are at today.

In conclusion, we need to help slow down time when these unthinkable events happen and allow the staff and first responders every possible second to do what they are trained to do.  No, we will not be able to stop the next attack, but we will be able to make it safer for all involved if we change the way we have done things in the past.