Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Attaching Fire Alarm System

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 05-27-2016, 10:06 AM:

ChristieSolariaOne, Christie ACT automation. Single Screen

With our remodel we've had to put in a fire alarm system. As we are adding this on to the pre-existing projection system, there was not fire alarm system when the projection system was set up.

What is the best way to connect the alarm system to the projection system? Do we input to the ACT and have that send a signal to the projector to run the FIRE ALARM macro?

Do we connect the alarm to the dimmer and have the dimmer signal the ACT and have the ACT signal the projector?

I've contacted Christie and so far the answer have been Everyone does it different.

The Fire Marshall is coming to test it Weds and it seems it should be an easy and standard thing, but not finding much in the manuals.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-27-2016, 11:36 AM:

I would use the automation (ACT, in this case) as the central point. This way you can have it satisfy the whims of the fire marshal. That is, we normally have it kill the lamp, mute the audio and bring the lights up to their highest setting as fast as possible (different dimmers have different options).

Fire Marshals generally want everything to stop when the alarm goes off so people immediately seek the exit out.

Posted by Manny Montes (Member # 5639) on 05-27-2016, 01:20 PM:

Definitely use the automation, my FD only requires sound muted and lights up, we lamp off just in case however the FD only requires no image on screen so I guess you could just send a douser close command. However I've heard horror stories of one particularly fun department that made them turn the lamp off, lights up, sound muted and have a slide projector turn on that had a slide a diagram of where the exits were in that auditorium.

If your auditorium has the magnetic door catchers it may depend on your department on if they want them to hold open or release. I've seen both with varying explanations, one said that since the doors are fire doors they should release to prevent the spread of fire and one said they should hold open to allow easier egress of people.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-27-2016, 01:24 PM:

Exactly, having it on the automation gives you the most flexibility to satisfy what they want.

I turn the lamp off (and stop the show) to ensure that the lamp isn't left running for an undetermined period of time, possibly without exhaust. Better to suffer a restrike for the rare fire alarm than to damage the equipment needlessly.