Fun With Alarms
One of the fun aspects of working security is that we also get to have fun with every type of alarm that can exist. At least, as long as that company has some system set up for said alarms. For the most part, a good number of the alarms we deal with are false alarms, most of which being set off by the weather.
When it comes to fire alarms, one of the biggest contributors is the units on top of the building and the air system, which can set off the smoke detectors when the motor burns up or eats through a belt. Of the twenty or so fire alarms I have had to deal with since starting security, 99% of those have been set off this very way.
Today was no different, though there is one interesting twist to the story.
After the fun took place, the company that is over the system came out to check the smoke detectors, as there was no fire and we’ve had a few recent issues. Though today being the only one that set off the actual fire alarm. Either way, his arrival marked the start of the twist.
The employee consulted the on-site maps of the smoke detector placements to the readout on the alarm screen and … they didn’t match. Ooops. In fact, a good number of the fire alarm system did not match the map. Ooops. Because of this, the employee was not able to find the smoke detectors in question. Ooops.
Now, I’ve been working security a long time. I’ve had to deal with my fair share of alarms. Yet, this is the first time I have seen this happen. I’m sure you can guess at this point there are some confused and not too pleased people built into this situation.
My question then becomes; if the map isn’t for our building, whose does it belong to? And, where’s ours?
In the end, it’s not too bad as it was a false alarm and the building is in good shape, even if the fire system clearly needs some work. The sudden adrenalin rush mixed four hours sleep did make a bad combination with 9 hours of the work day still ahead of me, but I rather deal with a false alarm then a real one any day.
When it comes to fire alarms, one of the biggest contributors is the units on top of the building and the air system, which can set off the smoke detectors when the motor burns up or eats through a belt. Of the twenty or so fire alarms I have had to deal with since starting security, 99% of those have been set off this very way.
Today was no different, though there is one interesting twist to the story.
After the fun took place, the company that is over the system came out to check the smoke detectors, as there was no fire and we’ve had a few recent issues. Though today being the only one that set off the actual fire alarm. Either way, his arrival marked the start of the twist.
The employee consulted the on-site maps of the smoke detector placements to the readout on the alarm screen and … they didn’t match. Ooops. In fact, a good number of the fire alarm system did not match the map. Ooops. Because of this, the employee was not able to find the smoke detectors in question. Ooops.
Now, I’ve been working security a long time. I’ve had to deal with my fair share of alarms. Yet, this is the first time I have seen this happen. I’m sure you can guess at this point there are some confused and not too pleased people built into this situation.
My question then becomes; if the map isn’t for our building, whose does it belong to? And, where’s ours?
In the end, it’s not too bad as it was a false alarm and the building is in good shape, even if the fire system clearly needs some work. The sudden adrenalin rush mixed four hours sleep did make a bad combination with 9 hours of the work day still ahead of me, but I rather deal with a false alarm then a real one any day.
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