The Genesis Of An Emergency System

May 1, 2008 12:00 PM

“The end result of this upgrade project is a truly unique, state-of-the-art melding of comprehensive, campus-wide communications capability with our Simplex fire alarm system,” says Bernard L. Buckner, CPP, executive director of the department of public safety. “By tying directly into the NFPA code-driven fire system, we now have a way of notifying students, staff and faculty using a secure communications channel that is protected against malfunction and always ready when needed.”

Diane Leone, the university's director of risk management, echoes Buckner's sentiments about the value of the emergency communications system. “I've always been a zealot for life safety,” Leone says. “I feel so much better about that now than I did when I first came here six years ago.”

Survivability during emergencies

In Buckner's eyes, the integrity and capability of the fiber network helps to differentiate the CSU emergency communications system from other campus notification solutions. The system also benefits from the reliability inherent in the fire alarm system's adherence to applicable NFPA codes and standards — and the survivability that SimplexGrinnell has built into the system.

Simplex fire alarm systems use distributed, peer-to-peer technology to offer a high degree of survivability for fire detection, notification and information management functions. If a fault occurs anywhere on the system — causing one or more panels to go down — the remaining network panels can continue to operate. Buckner characterizes the system's survivability as a “self-healing” feature. The fire alarm and emergency communications systems are also equipped with battery-powered back-up in case the power goes down.

“Most universities feel comfortable with a traditional emergency communications system that relies on public phone lines and Internet hookups,” Buckner says. “Typically, these systems are unregulated, not benchmarked, and not driven by codes or government mandates.”

Because cell towers can be overwhelmed during an emergency, power supplies can be disrupted and other public links can go down, Buckner says their system has the advantage. “CSU wanted a system that operated on a secured network… always available, self-evaluating and maintained on a regular basis. Linking to our new fiber-optic fire alarm network is innovative and the perfect solution.”

Targeted message capabilities

As a result of the ongoing multi-year upgrade project, CSU now has a networked Simplex fire alarm system that provides addressable detection and notification. The upgraded fire alarm system includes 22 Simplex control panels covering nine individual buildings (more are being added), and two redundant voice command centers with touch-screen graphical user interfaces. One command center is located in the campus police dispatch center. A completely redundant command center is located in the fire prevention and security office.

From either command center location, an authorized operator can view what is happening on the network and quickly and efficiently disseminate emergency messages. CSU safety officials say the messages are “crystal clear” — the system delivers digital audio sound that is high quality and free from background noise.

The emergency communications system can play pre-recorded audio messages, or be used manually to provide live voice instructions to the entire campus, to specific buildings or even to individual floors within a building. Under the system design, audible-visual devices have been laid out in a way to help provide an adequate decibel level for messages to be heard. In addition to the indoor emergency communications capabilities, nine campus buildings are equipped with external speakers. Other buildings are being added to the emergency communications system as the fire alarm upgrade project continues.

CSU is also partnering with 3n (National Notification Network), a provider of mass notification solutions based in Glendale, Calif., for voice and text messaging subscription services that complement the emergency communications system. The 3n services enable Cleveland State to communicate with students and staff via cell phones, personal digital assistants, handheld computers and other electronic devices. The text messaging system enables the university to inform faculty and students who are off campus — and out of reach of the voice system — to stay away from an emergency.

Other important life-safety measures

With 22 full-time, uniformed police and 37 part-time security assistants, CSU offers a high level of overall campus protection for its university population. Security patrols are conducted on a regular basis. Recently, lighting has been improved in key areas.

In the area of electronic security, access control systems have been added to older campus buildings and installed in new construction. Specific floor or building emergency lockdowns can be executed from the command center's PC workstation. The number of video cameras on campus has increased from eight to 450 in the last five years. Biometric door access has been installed in the physical education building, the main data center and the daycare facility.

The university also uses Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, or CPTED. This concept involves the use of design techniques related to the built environment to reduce the fear and incidence of crime. Cleveland State applies CPTED in virtually every aspect of its campus construction and renovation program, including landscaping, walking paths, fencing and spatial relationships.

The overall life-safety commitment

The vision that led to the implementation of the emergency communications system began to take shape when Schwartz became CSU president six years ago. Since that time, Cleveland State has developed a strong administrative structure dedicated to evaluating risk and finding ways to maximize campus safety. As a team, the focus has been on creating a level of life safety and campus security that helps keep people safe and gives the university added power to recruit students and reassure parents. Along with “quality of education” and “affordability,” “safety” is the third leg of the evaluative triangle that has helped put CSU in a leadership position.

“Security and campus protection is an all-encompassing issue here at Cleveland State,” Buckner says. “Working with SimplexGrinnell, the mission is to achieve the ideal system that enables us to better protect and notify our university population and help make CSU not only an academic success, but a comfortable and secure environment for learning.”

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