Silent Knight launches combined fire alarm and ECS system

NORTHFORD, Conn.—An “all-in-one” fire alarm and emergency communications system just introduced by Silent Knight by Honeywell is easy to use and cost-effective, according to Jim Spooner, product manager for Silent Knight.

“You're installing one cabinet [instead of separate fire alarm and emergency communication systems],” he told Security Systems News. “That will reduce your labor time on the installation.”

Also, he said, wiring for one system is less expensive. “If you're wiring two different systems, your wiring costs to connect the two would be more as well,” he said. The company said the new system “runs on most wire types” so it is “a cost-effective retrofit option when existing fire alarm wire is used.”

Silent Knight, based here, announced the new integrated Farenhyt ECS line on March 8. Beth Welch, manager of public relations for Honeywell Fire Systems, Americas, told SSN that Silent Knight plans to highlight the line at the upcoming ISC West show in Las Vegas on March 27-30.

The company said the Farenhyt ECS provides “both cutting-edge fire protection and a system for broadcasting real-time communications within a facility, big or small. By integrating mass notification capabilities with its proven fire alarm technology, Silent Knight aims to offer an all-in-one system that is easy to use, cost-effective and benefits from the stringent requirements placed on fire alarm systems.”

Spooner noted the line complies with that latest NFPA 72 requirements as well as meeting the UL 2572 and Department of Defense standards.

Spooner said the system can record up to 16 pre-recorded messages—some involving emergency communications and some involving fire. “So, it's quite flexible,” he said. “I like to say, 'It's voice with choice.'”

It also has a microphone for live paging. “As many as seven Farenhyt ECS-RCUs [remote command units] can tie into a facility's Farenhyt ECS and be conveniently placed throughout a facility to provide a quick means for live paging to specific areas of a facility,” the company said.

While separate fire alarm and emergency communication systems can be made to communicate with one another, “it's not as intelligent as combining them in one control box,” Spooner told SSN. Yet, he said, the new integrated system is very easy to use. “The programming is very straightforward,” he said.

He predicts that as more jurisdictions nationwide adopt the latest edition of NFPA 72—that 2010 edition laid out for the first time the requirements for emergency communications systems—“there will be a lot of demand for this.” The new line would be ideal in schools, hospitals, government and military facilities and other places where people assemble, the company said.

Welch noted that Silent Knight will be offering free seminars in April and May to cover current fire alarm and ECS requirements. Included in the seminars will be a demonstration of the new combined fire alarm and emergency communications solution.

“We're trying to give an understanding of those codes and an integrated system like this new one,” Welch said.

More information on the New Fire & Emergency Communication Code Seminars can be found at www.farenhyt.com.