Mass Notification Systems
Corpus sync: neutrality remakes, note hygiene, datasheet relocation, transformer-split cross-refs
Showing changes from Rev 5
to Rev 6
in Mass Notification Systems.
---
title: Mass Notification Systems
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### The selected hazards determine the message set, the coverage architecture, and the prioritization logic that the rest of the design implements. {note}
+### The risk analysis shall identify the specific emergencies the system is required to address.
+
```datasheet
label: Emergencies Addressed by the MNS
…10 unchanged lines
```
−### The risk analysis shall identify the specific emergencies the system is required to address.
−
## System Architecture Selected {toc}
### The risk analysis and the areas requiring notification determine which of the three MNS architectures, or which combination, the project requires. {note}
### A campus, for example, frequently requires all three: an in-building system for occupants of each building, a wide-area system for people outdoors, and a distributed-recipient system to reach individuals who are mobile or off-site. {note}
+### The mass notification system architectures provided shall be specified, selected to reach building occupants, outdoor occupants, and mobile or off-site individuals as the project requires.
+
```datasheet
label: MNS Architecture
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### The ACU is the single authority for the notification appliance network it serves. {note}
+### The mass notification system shall be controlled by an autonomous control unit (ACU) that originates, schedules, prioritizes, and monitors all emergency messages and that supervises the notification network in accordance with NFPA 72 Chapter 24.
+
```datasheet
label: ACU Type
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```
−### The mass notification system shall be controlled by an autonomous control unit (ACU) that originates, schedules, prioritizes, and monitors all emergency messages and that supervises the notification network in accordance with NFPA 72 Chapter 24.
−
### Unless the emergency response plan directs otherwise, actions taken at the ACU shall take precedence over actions taken at any remote location, including a local operating console or an input from a wide-area MNS.
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### A local operating console (LOC) is the interface from which authorized personnel select and initiate pre-recorded messages and deliver live voice messages to selected zones or to the entire system. {note}
+### An LOC shall be provided at each location required by the emergency response plan and the AHJ — commonly at a constantly attended location, a security or command center, and the fire command center where one is required.
+
```datasheet
label: Local Operating Consoles Provided
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```
−### An LOC shall be provided at each location required by the emergency response plan and the AHJ — commonly at a constantly attended location, a security or command center, and the fire command center where one is required.
−
### The LOC shall provide a microphone for live voice paging, controls to select message and zone, and a visual indication of system status and of which messages are active.
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### The fire alarm system continues to perform fire detection and to transmit alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals to the supervising station; the mass notification system controls occupant messaging and, for emergency messages, takes priority over the fire alarm evacuation signal as established by the prioritization matrix. {note}
+### The mass notification system shall integrate with the fire alarm system covered by [[sync/fire-alarm-systems]].
+
```datasheet
label: Fire Alarm Integration Method
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```
−### The mass notification system shall integrate with the fire alarm system covered by [[sync/fire-alarm-systems]].
−
### The interface shall be supervised so that a fault in the interface generates a trouble signal.
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### High-ceiling, hard-surfaced, and reverberant spaces require careful tap selection and speaker spacing to achieve intelligibility, not merely audibility. {note}
+### Emergency voice speakers shall be listed to UL 1480 and shall be selected and located to achieve the required sound pressure level and intelligibility in each space.
+
```datasheet
label: Speaker Type
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```
+### The speaker tap setting (power) shall be selected for the acoustic conditions of the space.
+
```datasheet
label: Speaker Tap Setting
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```
−### Emergency voice speakers shall be listed to UL 1480 and shall be selected and located to achieve the required sound pressure level and intelligibility in each space.
−
−### The speaker tap setting (power) shall be selected for the acoustic conditions of the space.
−
### Speaker spacing and tap settings shall be shown on the floor plans and supported by the intelligibility design analysis.
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### Audibility is necessary but not sufficient — a message that is loud but unintelligible does not communicate the instruction. {note}
+### Emergency voice messages shall be audible above ambient sound, producing a sound pressure level at least 15 dB above the average ambient sound pressure level or 5 dB above the maximum ambient level, whichever is greater, in accordance with NFPA 72.
+
```datasheet
label: Audible Sound Pressure Basis
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```
−### Emergency voice messages shall be audible above ambient sound, producing a sound pressure level at least 15 dB above the average ambient sound pressure level or 5 dB above the maximum ambient level, whichever is greater, in accordance with NFPA 72.
−
### The design shall satisfy both audibility and the intelligibility requirements below.
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### NFPA 72 Chapter 24 permits text and graphic displays and supplementary visible signals to convey non-fire messages. {note}
+### Visible notification appliances shall be provided to supplement audible notification for occupants who are deaf or hard of hearing and in spaces where audible notification alone is insufficient, in accordance with NFPA 72 Chapter 18, ICC A117.1, and the ADA Standards.
+
```datasheet
label: Visible Notification for MNS
…7 unchanged lines
```
−### Visible notification appliances shall be provided to supplement audible notification for occupants who are deaf or hard of hearing and in spaces where audible notification alone is insufficient, in accordance with NFPA 72 Chapter 18, ICC A117.1, and the ADA Standards.
−
### Where a visible appliance is used for both fire and mass notification, the means of distinguishing a mass notification signal from a fire alarm signal shall be defined.
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# Wide-Area Mass Notification {toc}
−## Application {toc}
+## Wide-area MNS — sometimes called "giant voice" — uses high-power speaker arrays mounted on poles, towers, or building exteriors to deliver intelligible voice and tone signals across large outdoor areas. {note}
−### Wide-area MNS — sometimes called "giant voice" — uses high-power speaker arrays mounted on poles, towers, or building exteriors to deliver intelligible voice and tone signals across large outdoor areas. {note}
+## Where the risk analysis requires notification of people outdoors and across a site, campus, or installation, a wide-area mass notification system shall be provided.
```datasheet
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```
−### Where the risk analysis requires notification of people outdoors and across a site, campus, or installation, a wide-area mass notification system shall be provided.
+## For DoD facilities the wide-area MNS shall comply with UFC 4-021-01.
−### For DoD facilities the wide-area MNS shall comply with UFC 4-021-01.
−
## High-Power Speaker Arrays {toc}
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### Outdoor intelligibility is governed by array spacing, height, directivity, terrain, building shadowing, and ambient noise. {note}
+### The wide-area system shall achieve intelligible voice coverage over the outdoor areas defined by the risk analysis.
+
+### The design shall account for the factors governing outdoor intelligibility and shall avoid the time-delay and echo effects of overlapping coverage from distant arrays, which destroy intelligibility.
+
+### Tone-only signaling (an alert tone or siren) may be used to gain attention before a voice message but shall not substitute for the intelligible voice instruction where the risk analysis requires voice.
+
```datasheet
label: Wide-Area Signal Content
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```
−### The wide-area system shall achieve intelligible voice coverage over the outdoor areas defined by the risk analysis.
−
−### The design shall account for the factors governing outdoor intelligibility and shall avoid the time-delay and echo effects of overlapping coverage from distant arrays, which destroy intelligibility.
−
−### Tone-only signaling (an alert tone or siren) may be used to gain attention before a voice message but shall not substitute for the intelligible voice instruction where the risk analysis requires voice.
−
# Distributed-Recipient Mass Notification {toc}
−## Application {toc}
+## A DRMNS delivers a message to a list of recipients over telecommunications and data networks: text (SMS) message, email, telephone (voice) call, desktop alert, and mobile-application push notification. {note}
+## A DRMNS is a targeted, opt-in or roster-based system distinct from the broadcast public-alerting systems described below. {note}
−### A DRMNS delivers a message to a list of recipients over telecommunications and data networks: text (SMS) message, email, telephone (voice) call, desktop alert, and mobile-application push notification. {note}
−### A DRMNS is a targeted, opt-in or roster-based system distinct from the broadcast public-alerting systems described below. {note}
+## Where the risk analysis requires reaching individuals directly — including occupants who are mobile, off-site, or in areas not covered by in-building or wide-area notification — a distributed-recipient mass notification system (DRMNS) shall be provided.
```datasheet
…10 unchanged lines
```
−### Where the risk analysis requires reaching individuals directly — including occupants who are mobile, off-site, or in areas not covered by in-building or wide-area notification — a distributed-recipient mass notification system (DRMNS) shall be provided.
−
## Recipient Management {toc}
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### WEA reaches capable mobile devices in the target area without prior subscription, which makes it valuable for reaching visitors and transient populations that an opt-in roster cannot. {note}
+### Where the emergency response plan requires reaching the general public in and around the facility, the system shall interface to the public-alerting infrastructure.
+
```datasheet
label: Public Alerting Interface
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```
−### Where the emergency response plan requires reaching the general public in and around the facility, the system shall interface to the public-alerting infrastructure.
−
### Initiating IPAWS/WEA/EAS alerts requires that the originating authority be a FEMA-authorized alerting authority, and the system shall be configured to send to IPAWS only under the credentials and approval workflow established by the Owner's authorized alerting authority.
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### A qualitative listening assessment is permitted by the code in lieu of quantitative measurement; however, quantitative STI/CIS measurement is the preferred and more defensible method. {note}
+### Intelligibility shall be quantified using the Speech Transmission Index (STI), per IEC 60268-16, or its representation on the Common Intelligibility Scale (CIS).
+
```datasheet
label: Intelligibility Verification Method
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```
+### Where quantitative measurement is performed, the system shall be considered acceptable in an ADS when at least 90 percent of the measurement locations within that ADS achieve an STI of not less than 0.45 (0.65 CIS) and the average of the measurement locations achieves an STI of not less than 0.50 (0.70 CIS), in accordance with NFPA 72 Chapter 24 and its annex guidance.
+
```datasheet
label: Minimum STI per Measurement Location
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```
−### Intelligibility shall be quantified using the Speech Transmission Index (STI), per IEC 60268-16, or its representation on the Common Intelligibility Scale (CIS).
−
−### Where quantitative measurement is performed, the system shall be considered acceptable in an ADS when at least 90 percent of the measurement locations within that ADS achieve an STI of not less than 0.45 (0.65 CIS) and the average of the measurement locations achieves an STI of not less than 0.50 (0.70 CIS), in accordance with NFPA 72 Chapter 24 and its annex guidance.
−
### Quantitative STI/CIS measurement shall be used where the AHJ, the Owner, or the risk analysis requires it.
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### The circuit class determines how the circuit behaves under a wiring fault. {note}
+### Mass notification circuits shall be designed and installed in accordance with the class designations of NFPA 72 Chapter 12.
+
+### The required class shall be determined by the risk analysis and the notification strategy.
+
```datasheet
label: Speaker / Notification Circuit Class
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```
−### Mass notification circuits shall be designed and installed in accordance with the class designations of NFPA 72 Chapter 12.
−
−### The required class shall be determined by the risk analysis and the notification strategy.
−
## Pathway Survivability {toc}
### Pathway survivability is the degree to which the MNS circuits maintain functional integrity during a fire or other emergency. {note}
+### The required pathway survivability level shall be determined by the risk analysis in accordance with NFPA 72 Chapter 24 and Section 12.4, considering both fire and non-fire events, rather than prescribed solely by occupancy.
+
```datasheet
label: Pathway Survivability Level
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```
−### The required pathway survivability level shall be determined by the risk analysis in accordance with NFPA 72 Chapter 24 and Section 12.4, considering both fire and non-fire events, rather than prescribed solely by occupancy.
−
### Survivability provisions shall ensure that the system can continue to deliver messages to areas not yet affected by the emergency for the time required by the emergency response plan.
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# Installation {toc}
−## General {toc}
+## The Contractor shall install the system in accordance with this standard, the approved shop drawings, NFPA 72, NEC Article 760 and Article 800, UFC 4-021-01 where applicable, and the manufacturer's instructions.
−### The Contractor shall install the system in accordance with this standard, the approved shop drawings, NFPA 72, NEC Article 760 and Article 800, UFC 4-021-01 where applicable, and the manufacturer's instructions.
+## Where these conflict, the more stringent governs.
−### Where these conflict, the more stringent governs.
+## The MNS shall be installed so that its required functions, and the required functions of any integrated fire alarm system, are not impaired by the installation of the other.
−### The MNS shall be installed so that its required functions, and the required functions of any integrated fire alarm system, are not impaired by the installation of the other.
−
## Wiring Methods {toc}
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## Intelligibility shall be re-verified after any change to the building acoustics, the speaker layout, or the message content that could affect it.