Add as a preferred source on Google

Is it possible to both integrate and segment communications?

  • By Fred Bezat
  • 04/01/17

Yes! This is an exciting development in school communication platforms.

Integrators are physically wired to fire panels, lockdown switches or any electrical “normally open switch” for reliability and fast response. The number of switch inputs that can be monitored depends on your platform configuration.

When integrators detect changes in a switch’s physical status (e.g., a fire alarm is pulled), emergency alerts on the displays of your communications platform are instantly triggered. Detailed instructions can accompany visual displays and automated notifications to authorities may be texted or emailed.

Messages are delivered to displays in either “all-call” or “zoned” deployment. For all-call, a single emergency switch is monitored by one integrator, and a single message is created when the switch’s status changes. Your entire campus receives the same message; for instance, “Tornado warning, take shelter!”

For zoned configuration, multiple integrators are wired to monitor a single switch and the platform triggers different messages when the switch’s status changes. Integrators are assigned to groups of displays, allowing messages to be tailored for particular groups (zones) even if the alerts are triggered by the same alarm. For example, during a fire, all alerts might display “Fire emergency!” but the instructions may be “Exit Door A” for one zone and “Exit Door B” for another.

For routine messaging, communications platforms can deliver tailored daily messages.

Zoned messaging delivers more relevant communications, especially in emergencies. Schools are rightfully giving more thought to granular evacuation protocols, and clear and instant communications are at their core.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Fred Bezat is product manager at American Time, a manufacturer of integrated, custom timekeeping and notification systems. Contact him at [email protected] or 877/666-1208.

Featured

  • Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

    The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • restroom sinks

    CSU Dominguez Hills Standardizes Plumbing to Improve Restroom Maintenance and Efficiency

    At California State University, Dominguez Hills, facilities leaders have taken steps to standardize restroom fixtures as part of a broader effort to improve maintenance efficiency and control long-term costs.

  • Los Angeles City College Breaks Ground on New Administration, Workforce Building

    Los Angeles City College (LACC) in Los Angeles, Calif., recently broke ground on a new $72-million administrative facility, according to a news release. The Cesar Chavez Administration and Workforce Building will stand four stories, cover 67,230 square feet, and play home to a wide variety of the school’s educational and administrative services.

Digital Edition