Fundamentals of a Robust Mass Communication System

Layered communications and network redundancy are essential when implementing a mass notification system. Using both techniques increases the probability that all intended recipients will receive your message through at least one contact point.

The need to communicate to a large number of individuals who may or may not be collocated can be a daunting proposition. A message must be received in order to be truly effective. When faced with mass or emergency communications the people you are trying to reach may not be where you expect them.  Using layered communications offers a balanced and effective approach by building in redundancy and increasing the likelihood of the message reaching its intended recipients.

Most people have several communication points through which they can be contacted. When thinking of places the intended recipients can be reached, it can generally be described in terms of inside, outside, and at your side. Layering communications through the right infrastructure so that they reach each of these zones allows you to reach people inside buildings, in outdoor spaces and through personal communications devices such as cell phones, smart phones, and PDAs.

Premise-based and web-based-or hosted-alert networks each have their own benefits. Used together, they create redundancies and push messages through to numerous contact points, increasing the likelihood of the intended recipient receiving the message through at least one of these points. Premise-based systems effectively reach inside and outside areas. A fire alarm control panel with voice evacuation can serve as the backbone of a strong mass notification system. Voice messages can be sent through the fire alarm network to deliver clear and targeted directions within a facility or campus. By being linked to a server on premise, these messages can also be conveyed via outdoor speakers, indoor digital signage and interruptive messages to computer workstations and display monitors.

Web-based alerting reaches individuals through personal devices. The database is generally hosted, or maintained on a remote server. Web-based notification can be basic or sophisticated depending of the level of service selected. For the most reliable and effective alert capabilities, implement a system which assigns the highest level of priority to your messages. This will ensure that your messages get through when the network is stressed by the volume of users trying to access it. Another feature that is useful to have in a web based system is the ability to receive useful information back from individuals. This information can be critical for triage purposes and decision-making efforts.

The value of mass notification is its ability to reach a large number of people quickly and efficiently. Whether a natural or human-initiated event occurs, urgent situations may require differentiated messaging by person or location. Commercial infrastructures contain fire alarm panels and thus the foundation for building a full-scale mass communications network. Using complementary premise-based and web-based or hosted networks allows for the management of mass communications in a controlled and effective manner across all three contact zones. By using these systems, predefined and customized messages can be sent to large numbers of people. Leveraging the combined networks ensures that the right message reaches the right person at the right time.

Layering communications through the right infrastructure so that they reach each of these zones allows you to reach people inside buildings, in outdoor spaces and through personal communications devices such as cell phones, smart phones, and PDAs.

A fire alarm panel with voice evacuation can be the basis of a mass notification system

Using complementary communications networks reaches people in all three contact zones.