Paging Sytems: PageTek Pro - Fire paging system

“Industrial Strength” paging system designed for use with professional Fire and Security systems installed in commercial/industrial premises. The system is primarily designed to alert the hearing impaired in the event of a fire or other emergency where an audible sounder is the normal means of indication.

Main users include factories, offices, universities, schools, hospitals, hotels and public buildings.

• UHF radio link for maximum licensable protection
• Unique coding avoids neighbouring system clashes
• Self-monitoring of system health
• Rugged steel enclosure to IP65
• Backlit 2 line Text Display continuously reports system status
• Additional Visible & Audible status indicators
• Prioritised Fire Alarm inputs and Fault inputs
• Automated test calls alert pagers to loss of radio signal
• Fault notification to the host Control Equipment via monitored link
• Key locked “System Test” facility for routine confidence checking
• Over 90 hour’s backup operation with internally fitted battery
• Add on Answertek Pro receiver system for additional monitoring & reporting of radio signal integrity

Main features

The Pagetek Pro System is designed to comply with the recommendations detailed in BS5839-1: 2002 for alerting the hearing impaired to the activation of a Fire Alarm System. The system can also be used in conjunction with a security alarm panel to alert guards who might be located remote from the main premises.

The interface to the host Fire alarm system comprises of multiple prioritised Fire inputs and two further inputs to provide for fault indications from the Fire panel. For ease of installation, a monitored interface cable is provided with the system which also includes a “common fault” relay output back to the host Fire alarm panel. This will activate if the Pagetek Pro suffers a mains failure, transmitter fault, antenna mismatch, link failure, low battery or missing battery condition. When the system is used with the add-on Answertek Pro monitoring receiver, it will also activate in the event of radio signal jamming, weak signal or loss of signal. All of these conditions are also clearly indicated on the front panel display of the Pagetek Pro using simple text messages, together with a fault light and an audible sounder. These fault messages can also be transmitted to a pager or group of pagers for added integrity. Upon activation of any Fire Zone input, the Pagetek Pro system will enter the fire alert condition, prioritising and transmitting the Fire message to all pagers. The transmissions will be repeated until the fire condition is reset. Special format Scope pagers ensure that users are alerted by distinct vibrate patterns and clear text messages.

UHF radio
An alerting system is only as good as its weakest link: self monitoring systems with excellent diagnostics are all well and good, but if the radio link and system coding are not of the highest possible integrity, then the system will not achieve its purpose. Scope uses only UHF radio frequencies, which not only provide superior in-building propagation, but also offer the option of the manual frequency co-ordinated licence issued by OFCOM. This affords the highest degree of protection from interference available for radio paging systems in the UK, as acknowledged in Section 18.1 of BS 5839-1: 2002. This type of licence is not available for 49 MHz VHF systems.

Unique coding
Good practice dictates that unique coding is also vital to prevent false triggering of pagers from neighbouring systems, especially where more than one transmitter is installed on the same site (e.g. a university campus). This too, is acknowledged in Section 27.2 of BS 5839-1: 2002. All Scope systems use coding which provides a minimum of 2 million differs; this can be further increased to 16 million using the inherent features of Scope pagers.

Scope high integrity pagers
To complete the system, Scope offers both numeric and alphanumeric pagers with added features specially incorporated for the hard of hearing when used with the Pagetek Pro system. This includes distinct vibrate alerts for emergency messages, a vibrating out of range indicator which also displays “No Service” on the pager if the radio link is lost, and a vibrating low battery indicator. Certain pagers can also be pre-programmed to lock out all user menus, preventing the pagers from accidentally being switched into a tone alert mode or switched off. See separate Scope Pager brochures for full details.

Optional antennas

• A. 3/4 wave fixed antenna: will cover most commercial sites.
• B. Mini Dipole antenna: remote internally mounted antenna for larger sites or areas of difficult propagation
• C. Folded Dipole antenna: remote externally mounted antenna for maximum coverage (e.g. campuses and multi-building sites)
  

Extra peace of mind
As any professional radio designer and manufacturer will confirm, radio is not perfect. You cannot guarantee 100% coverage 100% of the time, nor can you neatly limit its coverage to the shape of a building (despite what some “radio sculptors” might claim)! Even when a manual frequency co-ordinated licence is used, this will deter but not prevent illegal interference, nor will it stop a metalclad building being erected where there was previously excellent signal propagation. Scope recognises these facts and has designed extra safeguards to alert the system user to any loss of radio signal. In addition to the system’s self-diagnostics which will recognise a transmitter fault or antenna mismatch, if any Scope pager goes out of coverage, within two minutes the pager will vibrate until acknowledged by the user, and will display a “No Service” message. The message will remain on screen until the pager is back in the service area. A reminder vibrate alert will also activate every 15 minutes until the pager is back in the coverage area.

In highly sensitive installations or areas of known heavy radio traffic, an add-on monitoring receiver system, the Answertek Pro, can be provided. This will allow the Pagetek Pro to alert the host Fire panel in the event of signal jamming, loss of test call signals and weak signal conditions. The Answertek Pro also features a 2 line display and self-monitoring characteristics in line with the Pagetek Pro.

System Kit
Pagetek Pro Fire Paging unit
Model: PTPRO

comprising, main cabinet housing all interfaces, transmitter and internal mains power supply; mounting kit and internal cabling for battery backup, external monitored interface cable, 2 off IP68 metal cable glands, 1 off rubber bulkhead sealing gland, wall mounting screw kit and installation manual. To be ordered separately:

Antenna options
Model:
LUHFDP Mini Dipole antenna
3/4UHF 3/4 wave fixed antenna
FUHFDP Folded Dipole antenna

Pager options
Model:
N8T Numeric Pager, 12 character with pre-stored text messages
GEO 40A7 Alphanumeric pager, 2 line, 40 character
GEO 84Z Alphanumeric pager, 4/8 line zoom, 80/160 character

Approvals
CE marked and compliant with the R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC.

Standards applied
EN 300 224 (On-Site Radio Paging) EN 301 489 (EMC), EN 60950 (Safety), and the additional EMC requirements of BS 5839-1:2002