Page 53 - College Planning & Management, July/August 2017

Safety & Security PREPARE AND BE AWARE
Technology Enhances Fire Security
Today’s integrated fire detection, alarm and sprinkler systems are being designed into facilities as an integral part of improved occupant safety.
BY MARK ROWH
IS ANYTHING MORE DEVASTATING THAN FIRE? Campus leaders everywhere understand the dangers that fire can pose to people and facilities, and they have taken a
variety of preventive measures. But as technology advances, new capabilities offer the potential for even greater levels of security. David Hall, emergency preparedness manager at Missouri
State University, foresees tremendous capabilities being integrated into fire detection and alarm systems. He says these systems can
enhance any institution’s capabilities for relaying appropriate and timely information to every person on campus.
“While mass notification systems can get a message out through text and email, fire alarm systems can ensure that mass notifications are received by everyone within a building, not just those associated with the campus,” he says. “In addition, fire alarm systems can allow for messages specific to the particular building to be provided.”
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