Page 56 - Security Today, November 2017

In the meantime, 95 people who received late warning lost their lives, 92 of them being children.
The response to this disaster was rapid and sweeping. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes were revised and buildings remodeled with more exits and fire alarms that could communicate directly with fire departments. It was one of the most effective public safety efforts on record. Since 1958, there has not been a single school fire that has cost the lives of more than 10 people.
Today we face a new public safety crisis in the form of school vio- lence, including active shooter events. We have the opportunity to respond just as comprehensively. Wireless K-12 duress alarm systems have been designed to provide a similar rapid and effective response to these new challenges. This article will describe the capabilities of a wireless K-12 duress alarm system and walk through the path of a duress alarm, from event to resolution.
WHAT IS A WIRELESS K-12 DURESS ALARM SYSTEM AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Event:
Most schools train and plan for the potential of an active shooter event, however school shootings are only the most extreme and rarest examples of school violence. School violence events do include active shooters, but can also be anything else that requires the assistance from law enforcement. These types of violent events usually occur when a teacher or staff member considers themselves to be in imminent dan- ger or becomes aware of a broader emergency event.
These can mean a violent incident or the threat of violence, but also an unauthorized visitor, a disgruntled and disruptive parent, or the
discovery of a weapon on school grounds.
Alarm Activation:
There are some components of a wireless duress alarm system that can be automated. Alarms can be activated automatically by glassbreak and gunshot detectors, for instance. However, the alarm is usually human activated. The manner of activating will depend on the duress infrastructure in the school. Some schools have installed pull stations or fixed panic buttons to be pressed in the case of an emergency; others have distributed mobile panic buttons to teachers and staff to be car- ried with them at all times. In any case, it is almost always a staff mem- ber or teacher who perceives a threat and activates the alarm.
Wireless Transmission:
Once the alarm is active, it must be transmitted to the head end. In a wireless system, repeaters are located throughout the campus to route the signal to a wireless receiver which passes it to the control panel; or, in the case of an-IP enabled system, to the head-end applica- tion, which is usually a dedicated server. Because of the nature of these types of alarms, the wireless infrastructure for any duress alarm system must be able to withstand RF interference, overcome obstacles due to construction, and guarantee multiple paths from the alarm transmitter to the receiver. Typically, this means the infrastructure uses frequency- hopping, spread-spectrum technology to meet the reliability demands of a life safety network.
Primary Notification:
Once the alarm is received at the control panel or head-end applica- tion, the central monitoring station is automatically notified. Central
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