Fairmont Banff Springs

System Specifications
FACP: Simplex 4100ES FACP Location: Locked Room (Main Node) System Type: Two-Stage Conventional System Line Voltage: 120VAC NAC Voltage:25VRMS (audible) 24VDC (visual) System Coding: 20BPM chime (Alert) Slow Whoop (Alarm) Strobes Synchronized: No Date of last known Upgrade: 2023 Year Opened: 1887, 1914, 1991, 1997

The Fairmont Banff Springs aka Banff Springs Hotel is a luxury and historical hotel located at 405 Spray Ave, Banff National Park, Banff, AB.

The hotel was originally built in 1887 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the oldest part of the hotel was built in 1914, with new wings in 1927. The hotel was extensively renovated in 1988, was expanded again in 1995, and finally in 1997 added the Stanley Thompson Wing which was renovated as Gatehouse in 2018. The fire alarm system was mostly installed during the 1988 renovation, and is original in the 1995 and 1997 expansions; the panels were replaced in 2018.

The conference center opened in 1991, and the fire alarm system is original, with parts replaced as deficiencies occur.

Both systems are wired to trip each other when one goes into the alarm signal.

System Specifications (Gatehouse and Main Hotel) (1983/1997-present)

NOTE: This fire alarm system is currently being upgraded to a Notifier NOTI-FIRE-NET network. This page will soon not be accurate. Stay tuned for a new system!

FACP

The building is protected by a Simplex 4100ES conventional fire alarm system. There are about 12 panels as part of a Simplex 4120 network, the main node is in a locked room, and another node was found at the Gatehouse entrance. These are mounted in Simplex 4100+ cabinets. The system is equipped with voice-evacuation, and is configured for two stage operation. The alert signal is a 20BPM chime with a custom message, followed by slow whoop as the evacuation signal and most likely the default message according to the guest directory; "Instructions will be given over the hotel speaker system/Follow instructions given on the speaker system"

The 4100ES was installed in 2018 after renovations to the Gatehouse and Vermilion Room, replacing the 4100+ network installed in the 1997 expansion. The 4100+'s alarm pattern was a 20BPM chime as the alert signal, followed by a 120BPM march time chime for the evacuation signal; the directory still says "Slow Ringing Tones" and "Fast Ringing Tones" despite the new evac tones.

Annunciators

There are Simplex 4603-9101 annunciators at a few front desks. These were installed in the late 90s and were kept on the 4100ES.

Notification Appliances

There is a mix of notification appliances in the two wings.

Main Building

Lobby Level

The main lobby has Wheelock ET-1070-LSM-24-VFW speaker/strobes (white, wall-mount, 75cd).

There are also many Wheelock E-9025-LS-24-CFW (white, ceiling-mount, 75cd) speaker/strobes on this level, and can be found in many hallways and the shops.

There are also Wheelock E90-24MCC-FW speaker/strobes (white, ceiling-mount, set to 75cd) as deficiency replacements.

Mezzanine Level 1

Most notification appliances are Simplex 2902-9316 (8", ceiling-mount, square) speakers, located throughout. Many of these have been painted over to blend in.

Some hallways have Simplex 4904-9101 remote strobes (red, 4.75cd) near the aforementioned speakers, mounted on the ceiling.

The Norquay and Oak rooms contain a Simplex "LifeAlarm" 2902-9734 speaker (beige, flush-mount).

Mt. Stephen Hall has Simplex 2902-9734 speakers with Simplex 4904-9101 remote strobes, due to higher ambient noise levels.

There are Wheelock E-9025-LS-24-CFW speaker/strobes (white, ceiling-mount, 75cd) in the Rundle Bar, and in front of the Vermillion Room.

The Vermillion room has Simplex 2902-9734 speakers on one side, and Wheelock E70-24MCW speaker/strobes (red, wall-mount, set to 15cd) installed after the renovations in 2018.

The Gold Courtyard reception has newly installed Wheelock E60-24MCC-FW speaker/strobes (white, ceiling-mount, set to 30cd).

Mezzanine Level 2

Most notification appliances are Simplex 2902-9734 speakers, mostly with Simplex 4904-9101 strobes near them, found throughout and are in all of the ballrooms and meeting spaces on that level. One strobe near the Cascade Ballroom has been installed sideways.

The Conservatory, a couple of hallways and the elevator lobby contain Simplex 2902-9316 speakers and the aforementioned strobes, however the elevator lobby has an extra 2902-9734.

The washrooms contain Simplex 2902-9316 speakers.

Fitness Centre, Pools and Fairmont Spa (1995)

All notification appliances are Simplex 2902-9314 speakers (8", ceiling-mount, round) and Wheelock WS1T-24 remote strobes (red, single-gang, 1.5cd). The restrooms have a strobe each. The exit stairwell has two of these strobes and no speakers.

Hotel Hallways and Guest Rooms

All notification appliances in the hallways are Simplex 2902-9316 speakers.

The rooms contain Simplex 2902-9734 remote speakers. Some rooms, such as the Gold Two Bedroom Suite, contain three 2902-9734 speakers. The Gallery and Signature suites contain two of these speakers.

In room 381, there is a Simplex 2902-9310 speaker (4", round, 25V) installed as a deficiency replacement.

The Terrace Suites on the main floor have two Simplex 2902-9314 speakers in each hallway and a Wheelock WS1T-24 remote strobe in the living area. (1995)

Presidential Floor (Majestic & Crown Suites)

There are three Simplex 2902-9316 speakers in one bedroom and two hallways.

There is one Simplex 2902-9734 speaker in the crown suite.

Gatehouse (1997)

The Gatehouse wing mostly has Wheelock E-9025-LS-24-CFW (white, ceiling-mount, 75cd) speaker/strobes on the walls, and in the rooms themselves. They are mainly in the bedrooms of the rooms, but some in the living area.

Other notification appliances are Wheelock ET-1070-LSM-24-VFW speaker/strobes (white, wall-mount, 75cd), in the public areas of gatehouse, and in some rooms.

There are a few Wheelock E90-24MCC-FW (white, ceiling-mount, set to 75cd) speaker/strobes as deficiency replacements.

In the elevator lobbies on the 10th (ground floor) and 12th (second) floors of the gatehouse, there are Wheelock E7025-WS-24-VFW speaker/strobes (white, wall-mount, 1.5cd).

Initiating Devices

Pull Stations

Most pull stations in the main building are Simplex 2099-9905 two-stage single action pull stations, installed in 1988.

The main pull stations in the spa area, the gatehouse wing are Simplex 2099-9107 two-stage conventional pull stations; these can be found as deficiency replacements in the main wing.

There is a newer Simplex 2099-9107C in Mt Stephen Hall, installed in 2018 as a deficiency replacement.

Automatic Detection Devices

Most smoke detectors are System Sensor "i3" C2W-BA conventional photoelectric smoke detectors; these replaced Simplex-rebranded Fenwal CPD-7023 conventional ionization smoke detectors.

There are also some Simplex "TrueAlarm" 4098-9601 conventional photoelectric smoke detectors, mounted on 4098-9788 bases, installed as deficiency replacements prior to the new smoke detectors.

The Gallery Suite has a System Sensor C2W-BA in the entrance.

The Majestic Suite has a System Sensor 5601A conventional fixed/rate-of-rise heat detector.

System Specifications
FACP: Simplex 4002 FACP Location: Bottom of Stairwell System Type: Two-Stage Conventional System Line Voltage: 120VAC NAC Voltage:24VDC System Coding: 20BPM (Alert) 120BPM March Time (Alarm) Strobes Synchronized: No Date of last known Upgrade: 2017 Year Opened: 1991

System Specifications (Conference Centre) (1990-present)

FACP

This wing is protected by a Simplex 4002 conventional fire alarm system. The panel is located at the bottom of the stairway, and has a 16 zone capacity. The system is configured for two-stage operation. Alert signal coding is 20BPM, followed by 120BPM march time for the evacuation signal.

This panel is wired as a zone on the 4100ES in the other wing so they can trip each other when one goes into alarm.

Notification Appliances

Most notification appliances are Simplex 2901-9722 motor bells (10" gong), located throughout common areas, the store, and even public washrooms.

The theatre hallway, lobby, and all meeting rooms have the aforementioned bells with Simplex 4904-9001 remote incandescent lights (red, wall-mount) under them, due to higher ambient noise levels. The Van Horne ballroom has six of the aforementioned bells, and three of the aforementioned lights.

The end of the theatre hallway has a Simplex 2901-9330 vibrating bell (10" gong), with a 4904-9001 light under it.

The hotel hallways, the stairwell entrance and the connecting hallway to the main building have Simplex 2901-9720 motor bells (6" gong); the stairwell entrance and hotel hallways also have Simplex 4904-9101 remote strobes under the bells (red, wall-mount, 4.75cd), the connecting hallway has just a bell.

The Bowling Centre has Simplex 2901-9711 vibrating bells (6" gong), one with a 4904-9001. The room at the back of the bowling centre has a remote Simplex 2901-9722 motor bell.

The Festive Santa Suite and Snow Castle Santa Suites have Simplex 2901-9836 mini horns (red, non-silenceable).

Initiating Devices

Pull Stations

All pull stations except for one are Simplex 2099-9905 two-stage single-action pull stations.

There is a Simplex 2099-9107C two-stage single action pull station on the 2nd floor as a deficiency replacement.

Automatic Detection Devices

There are System Sensor "i3" C2W-BA photoelectric smoke detectors throughout. These were installed in 2017, replacing Simplex 2098-9201 conventional ionization smoke detectors.

There are some Simplex "TrueAlarm" 4098-9601 photoelectric smoke detectors, mounted on 4098-9788 bases, also installed as deficiency replacements prior to the i3.

List of known activations

Simplex 4100+/Simplex 4002

February 14, 2004 - tripped twice: 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM. Stayed in 1st stage for half an hour. False activation confirmed by front desk.

November 2008 - tripped twice: midnight and 1:00 AM. Stayed in alarm for 15 minutes both times. Guests panicked pacing around the halls, but activations were false as confirmed by announcement on panel mic.

December 2010 - possible test due to notes in room saying "Dear Valued Guest, there will be fire alarm sometime between 1-4pm." System eventually tripped into general alarm at 3:30 PM. Guests disturbed despite alarm being expected.

September 2011 - tripped three times: all false activations at night confirmed by hotel management. However, announcements were unable to be heard in rooms (conference centre)

September 2012 - false activation at night.

February 2013 - tripped twice: same night, at 12:30 AM and 3:30 AM. Likely false activation.

July 2014 - false activation due to system malfunction (4100+).

October 2014 - tripped three times: same night, hotel management used mic to ensure everything was OK and activations were false. Guests were disturbed.

December 2014 - false activation at 2:30 AM. Hotel management paged over 4100+ that everything was OK and no action was required. It was very cold out, so guests were satisfied.

May 2015 - activation due to system issues.

Simplex 4100ES/Simplex 4002

November 23, 2018 - intentional activation for test at 2:30 PM. Hotel employee confirmed alarm pattern. [[] [[]