Case Study: Oklahoma Blood Bank
Expandable High-Tech Life Safety
OBI facilities required a fire alarm system with the capability to expand easily while still providing a high level of protection.
“We wanted a system that satisfied our needs for voice evacuation and mass notification. Ease of use was another requirement and we wanted all locations to be networked,” says Jerry Martinez, a safety officer for OBI. (The institute’s IT department, which operates 40 T1 lines, has segmented the entire security and life safety solution onto a subnet of its existing statewide enterprise network.)
Taking into account these future growth and technology requirements, STAMPSCO went with Gamewell-FCI’s E3 Series line of emergency evacuation products. “By using the E3 line of fire alarms we can choose from a variety of panels and modules to fit the job and allow for any additions or upgrades down the road,” Stamps says.
With the vast layout of OBI’s buildings, there was a need for a system with a high degree of survivability in the event of an emergency that threatened any property or occupants. The E3 Series utilizes a distributed, not centralized, communication control with Style 7 wiring. This type of “survivable system” helps ensure all communications continue to be performed properly, regardless if one or more parts of the network are destroyed.
The system’s broadband technology provides the bandwidth to enable split-second performance with no delays, even when other system operations are in progress. When communicating between individuals, broadband delivers clear, intelligible instructions. These factors increase life safety while reducing the chances of major property loss.
The two-wire system integration, a cornerstone of the E3 Series line, was another selling point for STAMPSCO. Only two-pair of copper wires or fiber-optic cables are required for the networking of a complete E3 Series system of panels and nodes. This exclusive feature minimizes connections and makes system expansion less labor-intensive and less costly. Aside from the low impact of wiring in those facilities that required a retrofit, the E3 Series provides OBI with a facility-wide voice evacuation system that grows as they grow, Stamps says.
In addition to offering ease of expansion, the OBI life-safety system had to be compatible with a portion of its existing equipment. To remain consistent with the present buildings, STAMPSCO chose the Gamewell-FCI 7100 Series of addressable fire control panels and remote annunciators for the needed upgrades.
“The addressable systems and remote annunciators are a big improvement for our facilities. We can now pinpoint the location of a fire emergency onsite and respond more quickly if such an event occurs,” Martinez says.
The Power Behind the Solution
Powering the OBI life-safety systems are an array of power supplies manufactured by Honeywell Power Products. STAMPSCO chose the HPF24S6 6A remote power supply with built-in battery charger, primarily becaus
e of its compact size and quick installation features.
“We needed a supply that would connect seamlessly to the [fire alarm] panel as well as perform well with all accessories,” Stamps says.
The primary applications for this supply are notification appliance circuit (NAC) expansion and system strobe synchronization. (To view this project’s equipment list, click here.)
The HPMOM5 power distribution module offers a choice of two outputs, “fail safe” or “fail secure,” and a choice of two fire alarm inputs, N/O or N/C, triggered by reverse polarity from the fire alarm panel.
“We always know the integration of the whole system is going to work because these power supplies are designed and tested right alongside the same fire alarm products we install on a daily basis,” Stamps says.
To date, STAMPSCO has completed installation and acceptance tests at the Ada, Lawton, Northgate and Edmond, Okla., locations. Work is now underway at the organization’s headquarters and main donor center, which is the largest OBI facility.
“We put a lot of thought into the specific needs of each facility. With the excitement of the new systems and success of the installations, we feel confident that we’re providing OBI with the highest level of quality and protection available,” says Stamps.
A History of Saving Lives
The Oklahoma blood institute (OBI) began operations in 1977 as an “Oklahoma response to an Oklahoma need.” Prior to the Oklahoma City-based facility’s opening, surgeries in the region were routinely cancelled because there was not enough blood to meet patient needs. Today, OBI collects more than 250,000 units of blood from donors each year. With the help of nearly 700 employees, 800 volunteers and more than 2,400 donor groups, OBI supplies blood to more than 150 medical facilities throughout Oklahoma and Northern Texas.
OBI has a history of being on the cutting edge of medical advances related to blood. For instance, in 1985 it helped develop the original HIV antigen test that was eventually used throughout the U.S. when AIDS became a safety concern for the nation’s blood supply.
Ten years later, OBI successfully met the unanticipated challenges of blood needs presented by the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing. Following the 9/11 attacks, OBI was the first blood center to send tested and processed blood to New York City.
As the need for its specialized type of medical assistance grew, OBI expanded. When it opened in 1977, operations were confined to Oklahoma City and a blood donor center in Lawton. Today, OBI has 12 locations throughout the state with plans for a new four-story building next to the main facility in Oklahoma City.
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