Life-Safety Solution Takes Flight in Port Canaveral
A Florida-based integrator meets stringent codes and high end-user expectations deploying an addressable fire alarm and emergency voice system for Port Canaveral’s new seven-story Exploration Tower. Find out how the solution interlinks and integrates with
Fire/EVAC Linked to Other Systems
The Exploration Tower not only needed a fire alarm system, it also required an emergency voice system to meet the stringent security standards for high-rise buildings, so JSC recommended the IntelliKnight 5820XL-EVS fire alarm and emergency voice system. “As an open system that combines an addressable fire alarm and voice evacuation system, the Intelli-Knight solution is user-friendly, reliable and easy to support,” says Fetterhoff. “We knew it would deliver the functionality needed for a building of this size.”
According to Myatt, the industry is seeing a real upswing in demand for emergency communications systems. “Facilities ranging from businesses to schools are adding emergency communications to their system requirements, but are often unable to move forward due to tight budgets,” he says. “The great thing about the IntelliKnight system is that it combines both systems in a cost-effective way, that’s easy to install and maintain.”
To meet local code, the Tower’s new system needed to be compatible with other building systems such as HVAC, and security and access control systems from Napco and Continental Access. The system also monitors sprinkler flow switches, as well as 32 Silent Knight duct, 25 smoke and six heat detectors, and one SK manual pull station.
“As an open system that combines an addressable fire alarm and voice evacuation system, the Intelli-Knight solution is user-friendly, reliable and easy to support. We knew it would deliver the functionality needed for a building of this size.” – JSC Project Manager Daryl Fetterhoff
More specifically, the fire alarm system needed to interface with the facility’s stairwell smoke pressurization control panel, elevator status control panel and a Cornell Rescue Assistance two-way communication panel.
“The biggest challenge during installation was to ensure that the stairwell smoke pressurization control panel could interface with the IntelliKnight control panel,” says Fetterhoff. To simplify system management, the Port wanted to manage the smoke control panel, which controls the speed of the smoke fans in the stairwells and elevator shafts, from the IntelliKnight control panel, but initially the two systems were incompatible.
Working closely with SK’s technical support team, JSC implemented creative programming changes and designed a solution that could meet the Port’s needs. The smoke pressurization control pan el is controlled by a separate building management system during the normal course of business. However, when the fire alarm is triggered, JSC was able to program one of the IntelliKnight control outputs to override the building management platform and allow the fire alarm to take control of the smoke fan motors. “The main building system relinquishes control, and allows the fan motors to start up and reach the necessary speed in an emergency situation,” says Fetterhoff.
Smart Design Helps Meet Deadlines
The facility also has an audio/visual (A/V) system used for its theater, private events, presentations, videos and interactive exhibits. The IntelliKnight 5820XL-EVS interfaces seamlessly with the A/V system to enable emergency alerts to take precedent over other general announcements.
According to Hammond, the fact that the IntelliKnight solution can integrate with third-party life-safety systems, like the smoke pressurization control panel, sets it apart. “The Silent Knight solution is as close to an industry standard as there is.”
Not only did the solution’s open platform enable system integration, it also helped to expedite the project’s completion. “O
nce we sorted out the initial integration issues, installation was very straightforward,” says Fetterhoff.
To meet the tight construction deadline, all building contractors were onsite at the same time, which can make for a crowded – and challenging – jobsite environment. But that didn’t slow down the project. “We were able to run the wiring in parallel and share labor and materials among contractors to help us meet our aggressive schedule,” says Hammond.
As part of the project, JSC also installed SK amplifiers on four of the seven floors to power the system’s 33 System Sensor speakers and eight strobes, and meet code-mandated audio intelligibility requirements. By eliminating the common fire alarm configuration where all speaker and strobe wire is home-run to amplifiers, the SK devices’ ability to be placed where needed greatly reduced wire runs and installation time. “JCS’ work was completed on schedule to meet the critical Tower opening deadline,” says Fetterhoff.
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