By Julie Brown, Institutional Market Leader, Johnson Controls

For any higher education institution, the health and safety of their students, faculty and visitors is a critical priority. But with the wrong technology implementation, this safety can be placed at risk.

An urban midwestern public research university found itself in this frustrating position. Their fire system was becoming increasingly unreliable, and downtime could last for up to six weeks at a time, leaving occupants vulnerable. In addition to needing dependability, the university wanted their new fire alarm system to be easier to manage, eventually becoming part of a command center that could oversee multiple campus buildings remotely. With student housing being expanded to continue to drive revenue opportunities, installing this new fire systems in these dormitories was crucial to keeping students safe and reducing potential liability, regardless of future challenges.

Implementing fire and life safety systems across campus

The head of student housing turned to Johnson Controls to secure their new upcoming eleven-story dormitory. The Simplex TrueAlert fire alarm system had a reputation for reliability and would give campus officials and students the peace of mind to focus on education. In addition, the university wanted to increase its responsiveness to any emergency on campus, leading them to implement the Simplex TrueSight workstation to its system design. This platform gave them the ability to monitor thousands of devices, allowing them to rapidly react to campus emergencies, complete with step-by-step response instructions.

Advanced monitoring for faster responses and more secure environments

The technology itself enhances the university’s emergency response; the ADA-compliant sound and light features of the alarms have helped the university create a safer environment for all students, regardless of any sight or hearing impairments.

The new fire and life safety technology implemented by Johnson Controls drastically reduced capital spent on supporting an aging system. In addition, fire alarm testing is faster and less disruptive, incorporating self-testing in the new dorms. The TrueSight workstation gives the university advanced insight into the safety of the campus by allowing security officials to monitor devices on a remote panel, ultimately resulting in faster repairs and responses to alarms. These remote abilities allow for campus safety monitoring without a security personnel ever having to step on campus. By implementing more reliable and cutting-edge technology, the university is a safer, more resilient environment for all its occupants.

As universities and colleges consider plans to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging strategic security systems can make the process smoother and safer. Learn how Johnson Controls fire and life safety solutions can make your campus more secure here.