Standard for Mass Notification System Equipment and Accessories
Scope:
1 Scope
1.1 These requirements cover discrete electrical control units, communication units, transport products which manipulate the data packets, interfaces, and accessories for mass notification systems.
1.2 The products covered by this Standard are intended to be used in combination with other appliances and devices to form an emergency communication and/or mass notification system. These products are intended to communicate critical information within buildings and/or outdoor areas about emergencies including but not limited to terrorist activities, hazardous chemical releases, severe weather, fire, Amber Alert, and other situations that may endanger the safety of the occupants of an area or facility. Communication is through voice, audible, and/or visual instructions. An installation document(s) provided with the product describes the various products needed to form an emergency communication and/or mass notification system and their intended use and installation.
1.3 These requirements address emergency service personnel communication system interfaces used in the performance of their duties if that communication equipment is used to interface with or control the Emergency Communication Systems/Mass Notification Systems (ECS/MNS).
1.4 Audible Signaling Devices are to be assessed to the Standard for Audible Signaling Devices for Fire Alarm and Signaling Systems, Including Accessories, CAN/ULC-S525, and the Standard for Speakers for Fire Alarm and Signaling Systems, Including Accessories, CAN/ULC-S541. Visible Signaling Devices are to be assessed to the Standard for Visible and Textual Signaling Devices for Fire Alarm Systems, Including Accessories, CAN/ULC-S526.
1.5 Products incorporating fire and/or security signaling functions or other life safety systems shall comply with the ULC Standards, CSA Standards or other standards applicable to their intended function and application in addition to this Standard.
1.6 Mass notification system equipment and installations shall comply with Industry Canada rules and regulations, as applicable, concerning the following:
a) Electromagnetic radiation;
b) Use of radio frequencies; and
c) Connection to the public switched telephone network of telephone equipment, systems, and protection apparatus.
Project need:
The proposal is to eliminate the term and operation "imminent danger" from CAN/ULC S576 and CAN/ULC S524. The proposal has been submitted because there is a very signficant conflict between the requirements of priority of signal between CAN/ULC S576 and CAN/ULC S524. The standard has requirements only for the priority of information on the user display. No language identifying the priority of response between Imminent Danger, Fire Alarm and Mass Notification. This has the possibility of creating confusion during an emergency life safety event. The standard assumes there is a difference between a mass notification event and an imminent danger event type but provides no guidance to what that is, nor is it covered in the scope of the standard. This proposal has also been submitted because it supports harmonization between the US and Canadian mass notification requirements.
Note: The information provided above was obtained by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and is provided as part of a centralized, transparent notification system for new standards development. The system allows SCC-accredited Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), and members of the public, to be informed of new work in Canadian standards development, and allows SCC-accredited SDOs to identify and resolve potential duplication of standards and effort.
Individual SDOs are responsible for the content and accuracy of the information presented here. The text is presented in the language in which it was provided to SCC.