CHAPTER 1 January 1, 1997 ALARM TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION...1 1.1 BARS (Box Alarm Readout Systems) ALARM BOXES...1 1.2 ERS (Emergency Reporting System) ALARM BOXES...2 1.3 TELEPHONE ALARMS...3 1.4 CLASS 3/SPECIAL BUILDING ALARM SYSTEMS...3 1.5 PRE-RECORDED TELEPHONE ALARMS...4 1.6 VERBAL ALARMS...4 1.7 OUT-OF-SERVICE ALARM BOXES...4
1.0 INTRODUCTION This chapter describes the various methods by which a fire or other emergency can be reported to FDNY. Contact may be made via: BARS alarm boxes ERS alarm boxes Telephone Special building alarms Verbal 1.1 BARS (Box Alarm Readout System) ALARM BOXES There are still some of the traditional BARS alarm boxes in use. 1.1.1 Description of the BARS Alarm Box A BARS alarm box is an electromechanical device which, when activated, will send a coded signal to a Borough Communications Office. These boxes are non-interfering which means that several boxes can be pulled on the same circuit simultaneously without interfering with each other's signals. 1.1.2 Operation of the BARS Alarm Box To operate the BARS alarm box, lift the guard and pull the handle. The alarm is transmitted to the Borough Communications Office. 1.1.3 Resetting BARS Alarm Boxes A. The officer responsible for transmitting a 10-84 shall be responsible for rewinding and resetting the alarm box. Other boxes shall be rewound and reset as directed by the dispatcher. B. Boxes shall be rewound after each transmission. In addition, door mechanism of spade handle boxes shall be reset, and the bell mechanism (if so equipped) rewound. C. The dispatcher shall be notified as soon as possible via radio when each box has been rewound and reset. D. If the mechanism of a box is activated and a signal is unintentionally transmitted when rewinding, the dispatcher shall immediately be notified by radio. After the mechanism ceases, the box shall be rewound. 1-4
1.2 ERS (Emergency Reporting System) ALARM BOXES The ERS alarm box allows the caller to establish direct voice contact with the Fire or Police Department to report a fire or other emergency. 1.2.1 Description of the ERS Alarm Box Each ERS alarm box contains two channels identified by the words "Fire" and "Police" on the outside of the alarm box. Depressing the push button beneath the appropriate handle will activate the system. 1.2.2 Operation of the ERS Alarm Box A. Select Proper Voice Channel The ERS alarm box has both police and fire channels. For matters relating to the Fire Department, use the Fire channel. B. Lift Handle and Push Button to Activate To report a fire, the fire handle must be raised and button pushed to activate the system. No further activation of the box is possible until the box is restored to an idle condition by a dispatcher. C. Wait for Voice After the push button is depressed, a series of beeps or ring-backs is audible for approximately 20 feet from the alarm box. This ring-back is a signal that the caller should "stand by" for the dispatcher's voice. If the call is immediately connected to the Borough Communications Office the caller will hear the voice of the fire dispatcher. Once the call box is connected to the Borough Communications Office, the dispatcher has complete control of the two-way conversation. If the call is not immediately connected to a dispatcher (due to unavailability of equipment), the caller will continue to hear a ringback tone until the dispatcher answers. D. Transmit Message The caller should stand approximately one foot from the speaking grid and speak slowly and clearly. 1-5
1.2.3 Situations in which the Wrong Channel is Used A. If callers try to reach the police on the fire channel, the fire dispatcher will relay the message to police communications. B. If callers try to report a fire on the police channel, the police dispatcher will relay the message to the Borough Communications Office. 1.3 TELEPHONE ALARMS A civilian may transmit an alarm by telephone by dialing either the seven-digit number of the Borough Communications Office, 911 or 0. The first alternative is preferred. It is important to know that the alarm was transmitted by telephone since statistically these are more likely to represent legitimate alarms. 1.4 CLASS 3/SPECIAL BUILDING ALARM SYSTEMS Special building alarm systems are located in buildings and tunnels and on bridges, highways and on Randalls and Wards Islands. These alarm systems are installed, maintained and monitored by either the Fire Department or by private fire alarm companies. They are referred to collectively as Class 3 alarms because 3 was the preliminary telegraph signal used to announce such alarms. 1.4.1 FDNY Special Building Alarm Systems Like street alarm boxes, the FDNY special building alarm systems are either manual or ERS-type. They are assigned to specific addresses or locations and are connected directly to a Borough Communications Office. 1.4.2 Private Special Building Alarm Systems Private fire alarm companies maintain both manual and automatic special building alarm systems. Automatic alarm systems include smoke and heat detector alarms and valve alarms such as those connected to sprinklers, standpipes, etc. All private special alarm systems are connected to offices of the private fire alarm company responsible. The company receives, records and relays the alarm to the Borough Communications Office of FDNY. 1-6
1.4.3 Class E Alarm Systems Under provisions of the City's high rise fire safety code, Local Law 5, all high rise buildings (occupancy group E) are required to have Class E private alarm systems installed. These systems include various types of manual and automatic alarms connected to a fire command station in the building lobby. Alarms are automatically transmitted to the private fire alarm company from the fire command station. 1.5 PRE-RECORDED TELEPHONE ALARMS These alarms are transmitted via recording or predialed machines either directly to the Fire Department or to a private fire alarm company for relay to Fire Department. 1.6 VERBAL ALARMS Verbal alarms are fires or emergencies reported to or observed by units while in or out of quarters. 1.7 OUT OF SERVICE ALARM BOXES The Alarm Assignment Unit of the Bureau of Fire Communications, creates, maintains and distributes accurate listings of all alarm boxes and there associated loop/circuit number. These listings are called ALARM BOX OUTAGE REPORTS. Each list includes alarm Box Number, Box Location, and Circuit/Loop Number. In addition, each specific list provides the following information: ALARM BOX OUTAGE REPORT TB-30 - assigned first due engine company, battalion and division. ALARM BOX OUTAGE REPORT TB-30(R) - assigned first due engine ALARM BOX OUTAGE REPORT TB-30(B) - assigned battalion ALARM BOX OUTAGE REPORT TB-30(D) - assigned division 1-7
1.7.1 Procedures for Reporting Circuit/Loop Disruptions In the event of a failure of part of the Alarm Box system, the Dispatcher will notify the Engine Company, normally assigned "First Due", to place an OUT-OF-SERVICE sign on the affected box (es). A. An ALARM BOX CIRCUIT/LOOP PRINTOUT (Form TB30R) listing the box numbers, associated circuit/loop numbers and respective locations has been provided to all engine companies identifying their "First Due" boxes. B. If the normally assigned "First Due" Engine Company is not available to post out-ofservice signs, an alternate unit will be selected to perform the task. The Dispatcher will provide the designated unit with the information concerning box and circuit/loop numbers and locations of alarm boxes to be posted. C. Engine companies will normally be assigned this duty. However, Ladder companies may be directed to replace Engine companies in the performance of the above procedure. Ladder companies may also be directed to assist Engine companies. D. When directed by the Dispatcher to post OUT-OF-SERVICE signs on inoperable alarm boxes, Company Officers shall refer to the ALARM BOX CIRCUIT/LOOP PRINTOUT (TB-30R) in order to confirm the number and locations of the boxes affected. E. A supply of OUT-OF-SERVICE signs and attachment materials will be stored at each Battalion headquarters. Company officers shall contact their administrative Battalion to request the appropriate number of signs that need to be posted. In the event that the administrative Battalion cannot be contacted, an adjacent Battalion will provide the signs. F. Company officers shall notify the Dispatcher when the posting of OUT-OF-SERVICE signs has been completed. The Dispatcher will notify the respective Battalions and Divisions concerned. G. When alarm box service has been restored, the Dispatcher shall notify the appropriate Engine companies to remove the signs from the affected alarm boxes. The Company Officer shall notify the Dispatcher when this task is completed and insure that the signs are returned to the battalion from which they were procured. H. The Dispatcher shall make all appropriate notifications when alarm box service has been restored. Rev. 3/2/99 1-8
1.7.2 Multiple Outages for more than three hours For any disruption of fire alarm service or Central Office equipment that results in more than one circuit being placed Out of Service, or in which the total number of boxes being placed Out of Service exceeds (30), and it is anticipated that service cannot be restored within three (3) hours, the Tour Supervisor in the affected borough, after having complied with the procedures outlined in Section 1.7.1, shall direct the following notifications: A. Notify the Borough Supervisor, or Deputy Director (as appropriate, based on availability and duty status), the Citywide Tour Commander, and the Fire Department Operations Center. B. Request that the Police Department broadcast an announcement to their Patrol Units in the affected area to give special attention to the fact that Fire Alarm Box service is disrupted. C. Inquire from the Telephone Company whether telephone service is also affected. If it is found that telephone service is affected, the Tour Supervisor shall ensure that all concerned are advised accordingly. 1.7.3 Should the Bureau of Fire Communications require assistance in testing alarm boxes, the supervising dispatcher shall notify the Deputy Chief in whose Division the affected boxes are located. Companies shall than be scheduled to conduct box testing as directed by the Bureau of Fire Communications. 1.7.4 Corrections to Outage Forms When it is necessary to make corrections to the outage forms because of the addition, removal or transfer of boxes, the Alarm Assignment Unit shall prepare and distribute revised copies of the Alarm Box Outage Reports to the Borough Communications Office and Units Affected. 1-9 Rev. 3/2/99