LOCKDOWN APPARATUS FOR INITIATION OF LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES AT A FACILITY DURING AN EMERGENCY

摘要

Some embodiments are directed to a lockdown apparatus for facilitating initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility. The lockdown apparatus can include a manually operated actuator disposed at the facility and configured to transmit a lockdown initiation signal upon being manually actuated. The actuator can be configured to be recognizably distinguishable from a fire alarm actuator. The lockdown apparatus can also include a lockdown communicator configured to produce a lockdown communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures to the facility occupants and individuals not disposed proximate the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the lockdown communication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication. The lockdown communicator can include an annunciator that communicates an audible annunciation to facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, and that ceases to communicate the audible annunciation subsequent to a predetermined number of alarm cycles.

主权项

1. A processor based lockdown controller for use with a lockdown system configured to facilitate implementation of lockdown procedures at a facility that is configured for occupation by facility occupants and that includes a fire alarm, the fire alarm including a fire alarm actuator and a fire alarm communicator configured to produce a fire alarm communication for communicating actuation of the fire alarm actuator, the lockdown system including a manually operated lockdown actuator disposed at the facility and configured to transmit an electronic lockdown initiation signal upon being manually actuated, the lockdown actuator being configured to be recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm actuator, the lockdown system also including a lockdown communicator configured to produce a lockdown communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures to the facility occupants and individuals not disposed proximate the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the lockdown communication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication, the lockdown communicator including an annunciator configured to communicate an audible annunciation to facility occupants that is recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication, and a visual indicator configured to communicate a visual indication to facility occupants that is recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication, the lockdown system further including a manually operated override actuator configured to transmit a manually initiated override signal, the lockdown controller being operated by software so as to be capable of performing the following operations:
receiving the lockdown initiation signal transmitted by the manually operated lockdown actuator; upon receipt of the lockdown initiation signal, instructing the annunciator to communicate the audible annunciation, and instructing the visual indicator to communicate the visual indication; instructing the annunciator to cease communicating the audible annunciation after the audible annunciation has been communicated for a predetermined number of alarm cycles; receiving the manually initiated override signal transmitted by the override actuator; and instructing the visual indicator to cease communicating the visual indication upon receipt of the manually initiated override signal.