Digital signage enables rapid emergency response

These days the technology for digital signage advertising can also double as safety tools in the case of an emergency.

For companies where traditional emergency response equipment, such as smoke alarms, cameras and software systems, do not fully address this issue, they look to additional solutions. Door locking devices have been implemented to prevent intruders from gaining easy access to floors in the building but have presented a problem for emergencies. In the event of an urgent situation, the responding agencies need to enter the building and obtain an immediate appraisal and assessment of the conditions that they face. Is it smoke, fire, chemical substances or biological agents? Where is the hot zone in the building? Where are people located? Are the egress routes accessible and safe?

In-Store Merchandising Solutions has made available to the public its Signapse solution for better response in the event of a crisis. Signapse consists of four form factors for integration in-building life-safety systems and real-time information flow.

The first platform is an electronic exit sign that can display real-time information on available access to a particular staircase as well as the ability to display immediate status information on the safety of that staircase. If complemented by two-way voice communication and IP-based camera interfaces, building security gets a visual/audio perspective down to the building command center.

The second platform is to provide interactive communications that offers emergency broadcast in the designated safe area of the floor in compliance with Homeland Defense requirements. This, too, provides secure two-way communication and possible visual contact with responding personnel, who can then assess the situation and provide a strategy for employing correct equipment and tactics.

The third platform allows the installation of the emergency exit sign within the stairwells, potentially within every three stories to enable communication with people in distress or intruders who have invaded the space.

The fourth platform is to augment the fire enunciator panel with a visual display that is capable of calling up floor plans, live and taped camera feeds and life-safety equipment storage locations within the building.

For more information, visit www.instoremerchandisingsolutions.com/html/new_offerings.html.