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How to Get the Right Duress Alarm System for Your Facility:


Corrections professionals agree that the key to a duress alarm system in a large facility is its ability to pinpoint staff accurately if an emergency occurs. "Detection and resolution are the most critical issues," says Tom Faussett, assistant physical plant manager with the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). "You must be able to detect the alarm no matter where in the facility a corrections officer is assaulted and then pinpoint location as closely as possible." The MDOC must agree: it turned out one of the most stringent location specifications to date, requiring location at 12.5 feet, when selecting a duress alarm system for its facilities.
While pinpointing an individual's location is critical at a large facility, this might be less important at a small facility, but there are many other issues to consider. Prison layout, population and existing hardware and software all impact the type of duress alarm that will provide maximum performance at the right cost.

Do You Need a Duress Alarm System that Locates Staff?

There are two major categories of duress alarm systems: those that locate personnel and those that report an alarm but do not locate the person in distress. Locating systems are more complex, require more installed equipment and cost more than non-locating systems.
One of the first issues to address when considering which type of duress alarm system is needed, is how much direct contact staff have with inmates. Do staff members directly supervise prisoners? Are medical staff, clergy or other staff members ever alone with inmates or are they always accompanied by a corrections officer? Duress alarms with locating capabilities are more critical at facilities where staff and inmates are in regular contact.
If a locating system is necessary, management must decide how closely the transmitter needs to be able to pinpoint an alarm and whether it will identify specifically the person in duress. Some duress alarms can pinpoint a person within feet of his/her location while others will locate to a certain room, wing or other area. The more accurate the location information, the less time it will take for staff to reach a person in distress.
Size and layout of the facility are also important issues. Management at small facilities that house 100 prisoners or less may decide that a non-locating duress system provides adequate security for staff. To minimize risk with a non-locating system, all personnel must follow strict procedures to ensure control center staff know their locations should an emergency arise.
Management also needs to consider which buildings will require duress alarm systems. For instance, are there administrative or maintenance buildings that are secured from prisoners at all times or are inmate cleaning crews used in these areas? Do outbuildings, basements, attics, etc. need coverage from the alarm system? Is there anywhere beyond the perimeter fence that needs monitored?
"After considering all the spaces in which staff will need to use a duress alarm, managers should select a system that meets the most stringent security needs," says Buford Goff, president of Buford Goff & Associates, a firm that specifies security and other systems for the corrections market.

What Features Should a Duress Alarm Include?

Most duress alarm transmitters offer a man-down feature. This means that if the transmitter is tilted at a certain angle for a given amount of time (both of which should be specified by facility personnel and can be user programmed in some systems) it will automatically transmit a duress signal. This feature can facilitate getting help to a staff member that has been accosted by an inmate. However, this feature also can lead to a greater incidence of false alarms, which can be triggered by a staff member sitting down or using the restroom.
A pull-pin feature is another option on most duress systems. This is a pin attached by a cord to a belt or other uniform part that automatically sends a signal if an inmate pulls the transmitter from its holster or if a user pulls the cord. Again, this feature can add to the number of false alarms reported if the pin is pulled loose for a non-emergency reason.
Some duress alarms will track staff movement automatically throughout the facility the entire time the alarm transmitter is worn. Other systems will track location only after an alarm is triggered. This tracking continues until the alarm is cleared and can be useful if a staff member is taken hostage. Some staff members have expressed concern with systems that track their movements throughout the entire workday. This concern can impact the acceptance of the system and, in some cases, has led to transmitters disappearing or becoming inoperable at an unusually high rate.

What Types of Technology Are Available and How Do They Operate?

There are three different technologies used in duress alarms: radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR) and ultrasonic (US). Some systems employ a combination of these technologies and each technology has benefits and limitations (see accompanying chart). RF technology is used exclusively in some systems, for outdoor location in others and as part of the alarm transmission in others.
"The type of technology the system uses is not as important as meeting site-specific functional requirements," says Ian Price, P. Eng., chief engineer of PriCEng, a firm of consulting engineers that specifies security systems for the corrections industry. "What's of primary importance is to make sure you have a proven reliable system because you're dealing with life and death situations where a system failure could cost an officer his life."
A duress alarm system functions by an individual's transmitter sending a signal to receivers placed throughout the facility that then relay the alarm to a central control room. Systems that use infrared locating technology require a "line of sight" between an infrared transmitter and receiver. This means infrared devices must be placed in doorways, on walls or in other locations that may be inmate accessible. With some radio frequency technologies, receivers can be placed above false ceilings, in pipe chases or in other areas not accessible to inmates.
Some systems use multiple receivers to identify and report an alarm. This creates system redundancy and minimizes the risk caused by a single receiver failure. With single-receiver systems, a failed receiver or multipath effects (interference from reflected radio signals within buildings) can leave a dead spot in coverage that could cause an emergency alarm transmission to fail.
"It's hard to find reliable technology that does the job well," says George Walter, physical plant division manager for the MDOC. "When we were looking for a duress alarm system, we asked to see vendors' systems installed and functioning so we could see how well they worked." Corrections professionals also should carefully check vendor references.
Environmental factors, including heat, humidity and ruggedness of terrain, will impact system operations. Infrared and ultrasonic technologies do not work well outdoors. In addition, clothing, human bodies and building materials can block signals from some technologies.
Another variable that can impact system performance is interference from other electrical equipment. This occurs because most duress alarms operate in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Part 15 Band, which stipulates that equipment "must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation," from other electrical equipment in this spectrum. This means that alarms, nearby communications equipment, computers, etc. can disrupt an emergency transmission.
"If everyone does their job right, interference should be minimal," says Goff. "But it is possible that other facility systems could bleed into the duress alarm signal."
A limited number of alarm manufacturers, however, produce systems that operate in the FCC Part 90 (Public Safety) Band. These systems use a licensed frequency that is free from interference. Transmitters operating in the Part 90 spectrum also can produce more power for a broader coverage area. Because compliance with the Part 90 Band is more stringent than that required for Part 15 use, these systems also generally will be more expensive.

What Maintenance is Required?

Corrections management needs to consider the factors involved in maintaining both transmitters and receivers. Many transmitters operate on standard batteries but some require special power sources. Some batteries will last a year without replacement while other transmitters need to be recharged every night. For those that require regular charging, it's important to consider the space required to charge a hundred or more transmitters every evening. In addition, some systems include notification of a low battery while others do not.
Maintenance of duress receivers will vary based on whether the system requires manual testing of each receiver or if it can perform self-tests. A system that requires manual testing and includes receivers in every room, hallway, etc. to operate can take significant staff time to maintain. Some systems, however, perform a daily self-test that will automatically transmit a signal if any component is not operating properly.

What Training Will My Staff Need?

Staff in the control room will need to be trained on how to respond to an alarm. This includes acknowledging the alarm, initiating rescue procedures and clearing the alarm as well as responding to warning messages.
Any staff member who is assigned a duress alarm transmitter will need to be trained on how to properly attach the transmitter and use each of its features. Some transmitters simply clip on to a uniform belt or lapel or slip into a pocket. Others include wires and cords that need to be attached properly. In addition, some transmitters must be worn in a specific location to make sure the transmitter can be located reliably.

What is Needed to Integrate a Duress Alarm System with Existing Systems?

If a duress alarm system is specified at the time of new construction, it will be designed to work with all other facility systems. Planning for a duress alarm system up front will reduce its overall cost. For existing jails and prisons, the time and cost required to integrate the duress alarm system will vary based on the sophistication of existing technology. For instance, many duress alarms display a graphic representation of the facility that identifies the specific location of an alarm. This visual representation often is easier for control center staff to interpret and respond to than a text alert. If existing systems can display graphics, the integration will be easier.
"Facilities need to consider how they want to handle equipment integration and functional integration," says Goff. Equipment integration occurs if a duress alarm system uses existing wiring to relay an alarm or an existing monitor to display the alarm. In many cases, this type of integration can save money and effort. Functional integration occurs when a duress alarm automatically triggers cameras to point to the incident location or automatically initiates other safety or notification actions.
"A facility of average size, housing roughly 300 inmates, could have thousands of possible incident locations and parameters," says Price. "It's critical that control center staff assess an alarm to determine the appropriate response." Corrections professionals, however, have differing views on how much of the system should be automated. According to Goff, the benefits of functional integration include minimizing the possibility of human error, speeding response time and providing an electronic record of the incident and response. As with other issues related to duress alarms, each facility must determine the best solution for its own situation.

What Does a Duress Alarm System Cost?

Many things influence the cost of a duress alarm system including the size of facility, number of transmitters required, capabilities of existing systems and alarm features. However, the most significant issue that will impact cost is how accurate the system needs to be in pinpointing staff in duress. According to Price, "The greater the locating accuracy, the more expensive the system will be."
Larger facilities will require installation of a greater quantity of equipment that will increase system cost. The quantity of equipment is influenced by the locating accuracy specified at each facility as well as the technology used. Costs will increase at older facilities that do not have CAD drawings, as the alarm manufacturer will need to produce these detailed plans in order to accurately install the alarm system. Installation of hardware is typically more expensive in these facilities as well.
Non-locating duress systems that simply send an audible alarm can be purchased and installed for as little as $10,000. Full-location duress systems start at around $25,000 but can cost several hundred thousand dollars at a large facility.

Summary

Because each facility is different in size, layout, architectural features and inmate population (just to name a few), individuals considering a duress alarm system will need to carefully think through the needs at each location before developing a request for proposal.
"The most important thing you need to do is develop a detailed specification that outlines exactly what you need," says Faussett. "Don't base the specification on what vendors say they can do, make sure it's meaningful to you." On this point, all the professionals agree. The time and effort invested in selecting the right duress alarm system is well worth it, because it can mean the difference between life and death.