Fire alarm sirens in stairwells

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MikeB4

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#1534987 18-Apr-2016 14:23

Incindre: I've been a fire warden at several different buildings and I've never seen the point of hardcore sirens in the stairwells; make it dangerous IMO.

My reasoning is, people are only in the stair wells because they're evacuating anyway, and the last thing you want is loud noise impairing people's ability to think rationally in an already stressful situation.

Also, single file down the stairs people! Often the Firewardens have to get back up those very stairs you're clogging 3 abreast.

Lots of folks use the stairs for exercise or for moving between a few floors quickly, I know when I was able bodied I used the stairs in preference to elevators.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

mclean

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#1534994 18-Apr-2016 14:29

Geektastic: Do they also have flashing lights for deaf people?

No. Visual alerting devices are only required in very noisy environments or where people routinely wear ear protection. It used to be a building code requirement in buildings where people with disabilities were employed but that requirement was removed in 2012, I'm guessing because the definition of "disabilities" was too wide.

But you can have them if you like, and the fire alarm standard describes how to do it.

MikeB4

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#1535000 18-Apr-2016 14:34

Geektastic:

Do they also have flashing lights for deaf people?

They should be on the list of disabled persons that the Wardens need to check and assist., they should also have a buddy paired to them.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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#1535020 18-Apr-2016 15:11

MikeB4:

Geektastic:

Do they also have flashing lights for deaf people?

They should be an the list of disabled persons that the Wardens need to check and assist., they should also have a buddy paired to them.

I agree. However, I think we all know that in the event of a real life enactment of Towering Inferno, with real flames and smoke rather than a fire practice with tea and bikkies afterwards, the system is going out the window in the name of self-preservation..!

MikeB4

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#1535028 18-Apr-2016 15:18

Geektastic:

MikeB4:

Geektastic:

Do they also have flashing lights for deaf people?

They should be an the list of disabled persons that the Wardens need to check and assist., they should also have a buddy paired to them.

I agree. However, I think we all know that in the event of a real life enactment of Towering Inferno, with real flames and smoke rather than a fire practice with tea and bikkies afterwards, the system is going out the window in the name of self-preservation..!

That is plan B :P

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

MikeAqua

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#1535430 19-Apr-2016 11:08

Not really because it's a different sound cycle. A siren peaks at up to 100dB but spends much of it's cycle at a lower sound level.

timmmay:

mclean:

It has to be between 65 dBA and 100 dBA.

"100 decibels, equivalent to a chain saw, pneumatic drill, printing plant, jackhammer, speeding express train, some car horns at five meters, farm tractor, riveting machine, some noisy subways [about 20 feet]."

Mike

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#1535431 19-Apr-2016 11:10

Tea and bikkies? Luxury! We just get second hand smoke.

Geektastic:

I agree. However, I think we all know that in the event of a real life enactment of Towering Inferno, with real flames and smoke rather than a fire practice with tea and bikkies afterwards, the system is going out the window in the name of self-preservation..!

Mike

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#1535438 19-Apr-2016 11:16

MikeAqua:

Tea and bikkies? Luxury! We just get second hand smoke.

Geektastic:

I agree. However, I think we all know that in the event of a real life enactment of Towering Inferno, with real flames and smoke rather than a fire practice with tea and bikkies afterwards, the system is going out the window in the name of self-preservation..!

Ha! When I was a wee lad at boarding school, we used to have a night fire practice every term. Around 11pm, when we had been abed for a good couple of hours and were sound asleep, the alarms would ring and we had to get up, don dressing gown and slippers and head down the metal external fire escapes to congregate on the front lawn for roll call.

The plus side of this interruption was cocoa and biscuits in the gym before we returned to the dorms for what remained of our sleep!

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