Fire Protection: How One University Did It

Designing a fire alarm system for colleges and sprawling university campuses poses many challenges consisting of protecting multiple buildings with effective detection and notification systems, covering new construction and renovations maintaining testing and inspections to ensure good working order.  In addition to all safety considerations, budgeting for fire and life safety systems with all stakeholders on board is another challenge facing safety and electrical technicians. 

Here’s how one university, the University of North Georgia, rehauled their fire alarm system throughout the entire campus, incorporated additional properties when expanding, eliminated false alarms and got all stakeholders on board.  

The Challenge of College Campus Fire Alarm Systems

The challenge facing most college campuses when designing fire alarm systems is providing a single fire alarm solution throughout multiple buildings, one that is simple to use, monitor and maintain. College campuses include dorm rooms, academic buildings, student centers, dining halls and recreational areas.  Educating administrative personnel and all stakeholders of the value an integrated fire and life safety system provides is important. 

When the University of North Georgia decided to provide one fire alarm solution, they experienced all of these challenges in addition to the disarray of the current system. Different systems were installed in different buildings, inspections, maintenance and testing had not been performed, and false alarms were a regular nuisance averaging 2 to 3 per week.

In addition to this challenge, the campus merged with Gainesville State College to create the University of North Georgia and another layer of complexity in providing fire alarm monitoring and protection. The University of Georgia faced monitoring approximately 5,000 points on their original campus and over 10,000 points after a merger in 2013. 

College Campus Fire Alarm Solution

Once the decision had been made to improve the fire and life safety systems, Fire-Lite by Honeywell was chosen as the optimum system to meet all safety and budgeted goals. A combination of fire alarm control panels, detectors, evacuation equipment and all other required equipment consisted of the following:

●       (35) 9200UDLS, 9600UD and 9050UD Fire-Lite fire alarm control panels on the main campus

●       (73) FCPS248 and FCPS246 fire alarm power supplies

●       (15) ACC-25/50 and ECC-50/100 voice evacuation panels

●       (575) H355 heat detectors

●       (90) H355 heat detectors with B501 intelligent sounder bases

●       (437) BG-12LX manual pull stations

●       (1,466) SD355 smoke detectors

●       (1082) SD355 smoke detectors with B501 intelligent sounder bases

All equipment had to be installed for functionality with the historic beauty of the buildings taken into consideration during installation.  This integrated fire alarm solution has significantly improved the emergency response time of the University and has all but eliminated false alarms.  In fact, after a major lightning strike hit a dorm damaging a fire alarm control panel and peripheral devices, the University’s electronic systems technician was able to install a new panel and upload everything to begin troubleshooting within an hour.

To learn more about designing fire alarm and life safety systems for college campuses, contact your fire and safety system specialist.

High Rise Security Systems is a leading fire and life safety system specialist protecting commercial properties, colleges and campuses in and around Chicago. We provide fire alarm system design, UL listed equipment, testing, maintenance, inspections and monitoring 24/7/365. Contact us to learn more about integrated and addressable fire alarm systems and learn which system meets your goals for campus safety.

Addressable Fire Alarm vs. Conventional Fire Alarm Systems

When choosing a fire alarm system for your commercial property, there are considerations in addition to meeting all code requirements.  Evaluating an addressable fire alarm system vs. a conventional fire alarm system can save you time and money.  Knowing the difference and which is best for your building will ensure the right system to provide protection against smoke, fire or gas with a code compliant system that  saves effort, time and money. 

The main difference between an addressable fire alarm and a conventional alarm system is that an addressable system provides the exact location of an activated device.  A conventional alarm system does not provide an exact location although zones can be set up for warnings in general locations.  This main difference is due to the wiring and installation of the devices to the control panel.

Wiring of Addressable Fire Alarm vs. Conventional Fire Alarm Systems

An addressable fire alarm system connects each device with a loop, with one wire connecting all devices and looping back into the control panel.  Each device has it’s own unique identifier to pinpoint an activated device such as smoke detectors and call points.  This allows for quick action to extinguish a fire quickly at the source.

Conventional fire alarm systems require each device to be wired directly to the main control panel with individual rather than shared wiring.  Zones may be established to identify general areas of an alarm although precise locations of a fire source are not displayed.  A conventional fire alarm system is more than adequate in smaller or simpler building layouts, although consulting with a fire alarm system specialist will help you to evaluate other factors such as system and installation cost, functionality and reliability.

Addressable vs. Conventional Fire Alarm System Cost

System and installation cost should both be evaluated, as a conventional fire alarm system may cost less for the control panel and devices, but installation to individually wire each device may cost quite a bit more depending on the complexity.  Added benefits of addressable systems should also be considered such as the ability to monitor air flow via smoke detection devices which prevents costly false alarms.  The cost to expand or add additional devices should also be considered for future business growth, building sales or renovations.

Addressable fire alarm systems can be more reliable in some cases and should be discussed with your fire alarm system specialist.  An experienced fire alarm system company will evaluate your building and operation requirements and recommend the system which provides the greatest value.  High Rise Security Systems is a proud distributor of Notifier® by Honeywell and many other fire alarm systems from the best names in the industry. 

High Rise Security Systems provides fire alarm system consulting, design, support, maintenance and monitoring 24/7/365.   We offer more than 30 years of experience in fire and security system integration to schools, hospitals, hospitality and commercial properties in and around Chicago.  Contact us to learn more about which system is right for you and the difference between addressable fire alarm vs. conventional fire alarm systems.

Invest in Fire Protection Systems for Tax Incentives

Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows for business to expense in full the cost of machinery and equipment in the year placed in service rather than depreciate over 5, 7, 15 or 39 years depending on the capital investment.  As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December of 2017, new incentives for business and property owners to expense the cost of fire detection systems, as well as other life and safety systems were provided.  

Depending on the type of fire detection system purchased and installed, these expenses may now also be fully expensed in the year placed in service.  The new law allowed for business to eliminate depreciation and capitalization of these expenses and also includes an increase in the dollar amount eligible for Section 179 expense.  Previously, business owners could deduct up to $500,000 of qualifying equipment not to exceed taxable income.  The new law raises this limit to $1 million which phases out on a dollar for dollar basis after $2.5 million of qualifying purchases and zeros out at $3.5 million. 

These incentives allow for business and property owners to deduct expenses for fire detection and life safety systems that were previously not available.  Newly allowed expenses include costs for fire detection and alarm systems including initiating devices and sensor equipment, sprinkler mains, heads and plumbing associated with sprinkler alarms.  Also included are audible and visual notification alarms, fire alarm control panels, smoke, heat, and gas detection devices and fire escapes including emergency exit equipment, fire doors and fire escapes. Additional components include monitors, motion detectors, security lighting, wiring and conduit. 

High Rise Security Systems Helps with Fire Alarm Tax Incentives

High Rise Security Systems is a leading fire alarm specialist protecting commercial property of all shapes in sizes in and around Chicago.  We offer knowledgeable fire alarm system design, UL listed equipment, system inspection, testing, maintenance and monitoring.  We will help you determine the right system for your property and show you how to evaluate the best system for your needs.

HRSS is a leading fire alarm consulting company offering in-depth expertise and knowledge with code compliant fire and life safety systems.  We help building owners to evaluate the best system for your property and operations.  Contact us to learn more about the many tax incentives available to you with fire protection system installation.