I have a request to install a panic button in a receptionists area that would signal a combination of strobes and possibly an audible alarm in an adjacent room. There is no engineering/or plan yet, just a saftey coordinator that will ok the plan I come up with. Anybody done similar intalls, any good reccomended products, Thanks in advance.
I would recommend the switch, contact or 'button' be connected to a UL recognized Burglar Alarm, Holdup Alarm, or Access Control System that provides logging, monitoring, latch-till-cleared, and independent testing of inputs and annunciator functions. I would recommend the 'button' be connected to an input of such system that uses a current loop monitor that can detect circuit tamper and circuit open/short fault conditions. I would 'recommend' that the alarm outputs of a UL recognized Burglar Alarm, Holdup Alarm, or Access Control System be used to actuate the annunciators such as strobes and alarms. I would 'recommend' that the alarm outputs of such a system would have an alarm bypass and test capabilities. I would recommend that the system have a logged auto-dialer function programmed to call , in order, building security, the facility manager and then local law enforcement. I would recommend that your contract include the delivery to and the acknowledgement of receipt by the customer of a manual for the said system along with the instructions that the customer is to monthly test such system. I would be extremely leery should your customer's 'safety coordinator' not require UL standard 681 for such system.
I am being pedantic here because I worry about your customer providing their receptionist with an illusion of safety without actually providing a legally recognized or functionally certified form of safety and then you, the installer, being blamed after an incident.
UL 681 Standard for Installation and Classification of Burglar and Holdup Alarm Systems
UL 1076 Proprietary Burglar Alarm
Systems
UL 294 Access Control Systems