West Edmonton Mall

If you're looking for the hotel across from West Edmonton Mall, see West Edmonton Mall Inn.

System Specifications

FACP: Simplex 4100ES (Retrofitted from 4100U) FACP Location: Network (Multiple Control Units) System Type: Conventional (4100ES - Addressable) System Line Voltage: 120VAC NAC Voltage: 24VDC System Coding: 20BPM (alert) Continuous (alarm) Strobes Synchronized: Yes, Wheelock (4100ES & Phase IV) Date of last known Upgrade: 2022 Year Opened: 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1999

West Edmonton Mall (aka West Ed or WEM), is the largest shopping mall in North America (by total stores). It is located at 8882 170 St NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It consists of a three-story mall with four phases, and a 12-story hotel known as Fantasyland Hotel (11700 87 Ave NW).

The mall had its first phase completed in 1981, the second in 1983, and the third in 1985. The hotel and Galaxyland were completed in 1986, and the last phase (Phase IV) was completed in 1999. The first two phases were upgraded in 1986, while the third phase is partially original. Galaxyland and the hotel and Phase IV are mostly original, with parts replaced as deficiencies occur.

Since this is a large mall, some tenants have their own fire alarm system, and may or may not be wired as a zone to the 4100U.

Despite WEM being the largest mall in North America, the system surprisingly does not have voice-evac capabilities.

System Specifications (1981-present)

NOTE: Due to the size of this building, and the wide variety and amount of notification appliances, staff are currently redoing the page and collecting and verifying information, as well as confirming all devices. Please check back once this page is complete.

FACP

The building is protected by a Simplex 4100U conventional fire alarm system. There are many panels as part of a network, most are located at entrances, and equipped with the InfoAlarm Command Center.

There is also a Simplex 4100ES panel in Galaxyland, also equipped with InfoAlarm Command Center, networked to the 4100U system; this one is addressable and runs Simplex's IDNet addressable protocol.

The system is configured for two-stage operation. Alert signal coding is 20BPM, followed by continuous for the evacuation signal.

Panels have been found in the following locations:

Security Office (main node)
Entrance in Phase I, number TBA
Entrance 6 (BRBN St. entrance)
Entrance 24
Entrance 50
Entrance 56
Galaxyland Customer Service Desk (4100ES, installed 2022)
Fantasyland Hotel entrance vestibule

The 4100U network was installed between 2005 and 2007, replacing a Simplex 4100+ network when Phase IV was added, which in turn replaced a Simplex 2120 that was installed during Phase III.

Notification Appliances

Due to the size of the mall, the age, deficiency replacements and remodeled areas, there is a HUGE variety of bells.

Phase I (1981)

Most notification appliances are Simplex 2901-9329 vibrating bells (10" gong), along with Simplex 2901-9724 motor bells (10" gong), installed with the 4100U to reduce current draw. The 2901-9329 bells were installed in 1986.

here are some original Sentron-rebranded Faraday 3560 vibrating bells (6" gong) scattered in this phase.

The food court in this phase has Simplex 2901-9712 vibrating bells (10" gong, Canadian label) installed in the mid 1990s.

Along one strip, there are Potter MBA-10-24 motor bells (10" gong) that were installed sometime between 2019 and 2022.

Deficiency replacements include:

A Mirtone 74303 vibrating bell (6" gong, newer) in an entrance vestibule (number TBA)
A Cerberus Pyrotronics BDC-624C vibrating bell (6" gong) near Hudson's Bay.

Phase II (1983)

Most notification appliances are Simplex 2901-9329 vibrating bells (10" gong), as well as Simplex 2901-9724 motor bells (10" gong), installed with the 4100U to reduce current draw; the 2901-9724 bells can also be found as deficiency replacements.

There are a few Simplex 2901-9322 vibrating bells (10" gong) scattered.

Deficiency replacements include

A Wheelock Series 46 vibrating bell (10" gong) near Dragon's Tale,
A Notifier KMS-10-24A motor bell (10" gong) installed around 2015,
An Edwards 439D-10AWC vibrating bell (10" gong) in the men's washroom near Entrance 48, installed in the mid-90s.

Phase III (1985)

Most notification appliances are mainly Simplex 2901-9329 vibrating bells (10" gong), along with Simplex 2901-9724 motor bells (10" gong) installed with the 4100U to reduce current draw.

There are also Simplex 4080-5 vibrating bells (10" gong) in some areas throughout the phase and in Sea Life Caverns; these are original.

There are Edwards 439D-10AWC vibrating bells (10" gong) along one strip that was redone in the mid-90s.

The hallway to Ed's Bowling has Simplex 2901-9723 motor bells (6" gong).

Deficiency replacements include:

A Wheelock Series 46 vibrating bell (10" gong) on the second floor view of World Waterpark,
A Notifier KMS-10-24A motor bell (10" gong) beside Kurves; this one replaced a Wheelock 46T-G10-24-WS vibrating bell/strobe (10" gong, 1.5cd) sometime between 2013-16
An Edwards 439D-10AWC vibrating bell (10" gong) by Starbucks.

BRBN St. has two Simplex 2901-9724 (10" gong) motor bells, and an Edwards 439D-10AWC vibrating bell (10" gong), and most of the restaurants have their own fire alarm system.

Before the transformation to BRBN ST., The Old Spaghetti Factory formerly had a Simplex 2901-9722 motor bell (10" gong) on a Wheelock LSP-24-HFR strobe plate (15cd) controlled by the 4100U, but after the transformation to BRBN St, it got its own system.

Phase IV (1999)

All notification appliances except one Simplex 2901-9724 motor bells (10" gong), mostly on Wheelock RSSP-2415W strobe plates (15cd). Some bells are installed remotely.

There is a Potter MBA-10-24 motor bell (10" gong) recently installed near Bubba Gump as a deficiency replacement.

Galaxyland (1986)

Most notification appliances are Simplex 2901-9329 vibrating bells (10" gong).

There are also Simplex "LifeAlarm" 2902-9711 re-entrant speakers (red, surface-mount) throughout, it is unknown what they are used for.

There is a Notifier KMS-10-24A motor bell (10" gong) installed near HAVOC as a deficiency replacement.

The Phase II entrance has a Potter MBA-10-24 motor bell (10" gong) that was installed last year when the facade was redone.

There is also a brand new Potter MBA-10-24 motor bell on a Wheelock RSSP-24MCW strobe plate (set to 15cd); this one is on the 4100ES.

The original Galaxyland facade had an Edwards 439D-10AWC vibrating bell (10" gong), which was installed in 1995 and removed in 2022.

Fantasyland Hotel (1986)

Most notification appliances are the original Simplex 2901-9329 vibrating bells (10" gong). There are three bells per floor.

There are Simplex 2901-9712 vibrating bells (10" gong) in the pedway on the 3rd floor.

Deficiency replacements include:

Simplex 2901-9724 motor bells (10" gong) on the 6th and 8th floors in the elevator lobby as well as two in the lobby
A Mirtone 74306 vibrating bell (10" gong) in the stairway across the hotel.

There are also Simplex 2902-9314 speakers (round, 8", 25V) on the floors, only used to give announcements, probably from an external mic.

Initiating Devices

Pull Stations

Most pull stations in the first three phases, Fantasyland Hotel and Galaxyland are Simplex 4251-50 two-stage, break-glass conventional pull stations; many of these have had their break-glass functions removed, some still have their hammers, and several have still their original glass intact. These were installed between 1985 and 1986.

There are a few Simplex 2099-9905 two-stage single-action pull stations scattered as deficiency replacements.

Interestingly enough, there are also two Sentron 304 two-stage pull stations in Phase I and in Galaxyland, these were left over during the 2120 upgrade.

Fantasyland Hotel also has two Simplex 2099-9925 bilingual two-stage single action pull stations.

Most pull stations in Phase IV are Simplex 2099-9107C two-stage pull stations, these can also be found as deficiency replacements throughout the building, along with a brand new one in Phase IV as a deficiency replacement.

There is also one Simplex 2099-9107CB bilingual two-stage single-action pull station in Phase IV near Stingray.

There is a Simplex 4099-9004CA addressable two-stage pull station on the 4100ES.

Automatic Detection Devices

Most smoke detectors are System Sensor "i3" C2W-BA photoelectric smoke detectors, which replaced older Simplex ionization smoke detectors.

There are also Simplex "TrueAlarm" 4098-9601 photoelectric smoke detectors, mounted on 4098-9788 bases; some of these are deficiency replacements.

There are Simplex "TrueAlarm" 4098-9714 addressable photoelectric smoke detectors near Galaxyland, mounted on 4098-9792 bases, newly installed.

There is also a sprinkler system with waterflow detection, wired as a zone. There are also numerous relays serving various purposes.

Sequence of Operation

An alarm initiated in one phase will activate the bells to the alert signal. All other phases remain silent, unless the device activated is near that phase, when two phases activate. If the phase(s) go into evac, the rest of the building starts the alert signal. After 5 minutes, if the system is not acknowledged, the entire building goes into evac, and the tenant systems will go into alarm.

When a tenant's fire alarm system goes off, the 4100U will display a supervisory condition.

Photos

One of the 4100U panels here, this one is at BRBN St. Entrance.
A Simplex 2901-9329 on the 11th floor of Fantasyland Hotel.

Videos

Fire alarm going off (alert signal), taken in Sea Life Caverns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-K1V1TFvdI
Fire alarm going off (alert signal), taken in various parts of the mall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdu7P4pvlD0