QSS is awarded the Fire Alarm Replacement at Frederick Campus, Maryland School for the Deaf

The project includes the design and installation of an emergency communication system (ECS) at the MSD Campus in Frederick, MD. The intent of the ECS is to assist in the protection of life by indicating the existence of an emergency situation and communicating information necessary to facilitate an appropriate response and action.

The ECS shall consist of the replacement/upgrade of the fire alarm systems throughout the campus along with a system to interconnect the various fire alarm systems.  Additionally, the ECS will supplement the respective notification capabilities of the fire alarm (FA) systems in common, public and outdoor areas through creating one seamless fire alarm and mass notification system (FAMNS). The FAMNS will be designed to accommodate system maintenance of the entire campus through the central Support Services Building.

The new FAMNS will utilize color-coded strobe lights to enable the administration and emergency response personnel to activate the alarms, message boards and other devices to immediately convey the desired message to direct staff, faculty and students to a safe location. Strobes will be mounted on the exterior of the buildings to notify staff and students as they are walking on the campus grounds.

The FAMNS replacement will encompass all buildings as one seamless system. The FAMNS will be designed to send messages via one centralized control panel located in the Support Services Building. That centralized panel will send the necessary message(s) to the offsite monitoring company. The systems installed in the new elementary school/family education building, cafeteria building and the Ely Building will be integrated into the new design and updated as necessary.

The system will incorporate visual and audible cues for non-fire emergencies. The FAMNS will be able to communicate to hundreds of recipients through multiple delivery methods, including emails, SMS/text messages, paging, and desktop pop-up notifications.

All electrical work required to facilitate the installation of the new fire alarm/mass notification systems is included in the scope of work.

The design includes upgrades to the emergency lighting systems and exit signage within each of the buildings with the scope of work.