Fairmont Banff Springs

System Specifications
FACP: Simplex 4100ES System Type: Addressable (Networked, Two-Stage) System Line Voltage: 120VAC NAC Voltage:25VRMS/70.7VRMS (audible) 24VDC (visual) Date of last known Upgrade: 2018 Year Opened: 1887, 1911, 1988, 1991

The Fairmont Banff Springs aka Banff Springs Hotel is a luxury and historical hotel in Banff, AB. The hotel was originally built in 1887, but was expanded in 1911. There was three more wings to be added, the Conference Center in 1991, and the Stanley Thompson Wing from 1997-99 which was renovated as Gatehouse in 2018. There were renovations in 2018, and the fire alarm system is from 2018 in the main building and Gatehouse. The conference center's system is original from 1991. The main building has 9 floors, the top floor having some 2-story suites, and the Gatehouse wing has 5 floors, making it a "15 story hotel". The conference center only has 2 floors.

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System Specifications (Gatehouse and Main Hotel)

FACP

The Gatehouse and the Main Hotel are protected by a HUGE two-stage networked Simplex 4100ES addressable fire alarm system. The fire alarm panels were installed in 2018, after renovations in the Vermilion Room, as well as the Gatehouse (formerly Stanley Thompson Wing) that year. There are about 12 alarm panels, and most are in the former Simplex 4100+ cabinets, due to the easy replacement of the control units. They replaced Simplex 4100+ fire alarm panels, which were installed 1997-99 when the Gatehouse was built. Most FACPs are not visible, but there is one at the Gatehouse entrance. The 4100ES does the chime in first stage, aka "Pre-alarm Signal" in the directory, but it is said as "Slow Ringing Tones" as the fire alarm sound. For "General Alarm", though the guest directory says "Fast Ringing Tones", it does the whoop tone, and possibly the default Simplex voice evac message because it says "Follow directions given on hotel speaker system." The general alarm stage comes on after the first stage alarm sounds for a while, according to the directory. The tones were confirmed by an employee here. The 4100ES currently has no troubles.
The former Simplex 4100+ did the default chime in 20BPM for the first stage (Slow Ringing Tones), and the chime in 120BPM march time for general alarm (Fast Ringing Tones), hence the outdated Guest Directory.

Annunciators

There is are Simplex 4603-9101 annunciators at a few front desks. These were kept from the previous 4100+ system due to being compatible with the 4100ES.

Notification Appliances

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

Main Hotel and Spa

Lobby

The main lobby has Wheelock ET-1070-LSM-24-VFW speaker/strobes from the late 1990s. There are also a lot of Wheelock ET-1090-LS-24-CFW or E-9070-LS-24-CFW speaker/strobes in the main building, seen in hallways from 1997, the shops, a few restaurants, and the front registration at the Vermilion Room. Some are on the wall with fake wall orientation FIRE labels with Gentex font, and some were replaced with Wheelock E90-24MCC-FW speaker/strobes The main hotel hallways, restrooms, and stairwells have Simplex 2902-9316 8" square speakers. Quite a few of these speakers have been painted over. Some 2902-9316 speakers, such as in the conservatory and in two hallways have Simplex 4904-9101 strobes next to or near them on the ceiling, but Conservatory ones are on the wall. The Cascade Ballroom, Alberta Room, a few hallways, Mount Stephen Hall, the Riverview Lounge, and the New Brunswick, Oak, and Norquay rooms have Simplex 2902-9734 "LifeAlarm" speakers, and some with Simplex 4904-9101 strobes near them. Some 4904-9101 strobes are on the ceiling in one hallway, but the one that makes the weirdest installation is a 4904-9101 installed sideways right beside a 2902-9734 by the stairway after the Cascade Ballroom. The fitness center, pool and spa areas were added in 1991, and they have Simplex 2902-9314 8" ceiling speakers and Wheelock WS1T-24 strobes. Some 2902-9314 speakers in the pool are rusty, however, all are on the wall in the pool. Oddly enough, the exit stairwell in that area has no audible appliances, but two Wheelock WS1T strobes. In the main buildings' hotel rooms, there are Simplex 2902-9734 speakers. 381 has a Simplex 2902-9310 4" round ceiling speaker for a replacement . Some rooms, such as Gold Two Bedroom Suite, have three Simplex 2902-9734 speakers. The Gallery and Signature Suites have two 2902-9734 speakers, one at the entrance ceiling, the other in the hallway to the bathroom in the bedroom. The Festive Santa and Snow Castle Santa Suites have Simplex 2901-9836 mini-horns by the entrances. The renovated parts of the Vermillion Room have Wheelock E70-24MCW (red) speaker/strobes from 2018.

Gatehouse

The Gatehouse wing, also controlled by the 4100ES system, has mainly Wheelock ET-1090-LS-24-CFW/E-9070-LS-24-CFW 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, in the public areas of gatehouse, and in some rooms. Some have been replaced with Wheelock E90-24MCC-FW speaker/strobes. Some rooms may have Wheelock E70-24MCW speaker/strobes, although not confirmed. By the elevators on the 10th (ground floor) and 12th (second) floors of the gatehouse, there are Wheelock E7070-WS-24-VFW speaker/strobes, installed in the early 1990s.

Initiating Devices

Pull Stations

The main pull stations in the main building are Simplex 4251-40 two-stage single action pull stations from 1988-91. Replacement pull stations and the main pull stations in the gatehouse wing are Simplex 2099-9107 two-stage pull stations. Other replacement pull stations seen are a newly installed Simplex 4099-9004CA (addressable) in Mount Stephen Hall where there's 2902-9734 speakers and 4904-9101 strobes, as a replacement for a 4251-40 that died.

Automatic Detection Devices

The smoke detectors can range from Simplex 4098-9601 "TrueAlarm" smoke detectors, or oddly enough, System Sensor C2W-B i3 smoke detectors. The Gallery Suite has a System Sensor C2W-B in the entrance.

System Specifications
FACP: Simplex 4002 System Type: Conventional (Two-Stage) System Line Voltage: 120VAC NAC Voltage:24VDC Date of last known Upgrade: Presumably 2000s Year Opened: 1991

System Specifications (Conference Centre)

FACP

The fire alarm panel for this wing is the original two-stage 16-zone Simplex 4002 fire alarm system. It is at the bottom of the stairwell where you can enter from outside. The directory also says for this wing as "Slow Ringing Tones" for pre-alarm and "Fast Ringing Tones" for general alarm, so most likely the bells sound in 20BPM in pre-alarm (first stage) and do march time in general alarm. The 4002 is wired into the 4100ES so they can trip each other for when one goes into alarm. This system is serviced by Banff Fire & Safety.

Notification Appliances

The notification appliances, unlike the 4100ES are bells. The notification appliances that are in the entrance to the stairwell, the room floors, and the hallway from the main building to this wing are Simplex 2901-9720 motor bells with Simplex 4904-9101 strobes under them. The hallway to the main hotel has a Simplex 2901-9720 without a strobe. The main entrance, theater hallways, and the meeting rooms have Simplex 2901-9722 motor bells with Simplex 4904-9001 remote incandescent lights under them. The store, public areas, washrooms, and main hallway have Simplex 2901-9722 motor bells without a visual notification appliance. The bowling center has Simplex 2901-9711 vibrating bells, one with a Simplex 4904-9001. One end of the theater hallway has a Simplex 2901-9330 vibrating bell and a Simplex 4904-9001 remote light, the only non 2901-97** bell in the wing. All of the notification appliances are original.

Initiating Devices

Pull Stations

The pull stations are original Simplex 4251-40 two-stage single-action T-bar pull stations, but there is one Simplex 2099-9107 two-stage, single-action, T-bar pull station on the 2nd floor.

Automatic Detection Devices

The smoke detectors are System Sensor "i3" C2W-BA photoelectric smoke detectors and Simplex 4098-9601 photoelectric smoke detectors.

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.