West Edmonton Mall

If you are looking for the hotel in the mall, see Fantasyland Hotel.

System Specifications

FACP: Simplex 4100ES
FACP Location: 4120 Network (Multiple Control Units, see FACP)
System Type: Two Stage Hybrid-Addressable
System Line Voltage: 120VAC
NAC Voltage: 24VDC (bells & strobes)
25VRMS (Galaxyland speakers)
System Coding: 20BPM (alert)
Continuous (alarm)
Strobes Synchronized: Yes, Wheelock (Phase IV)
Date of last known Upgrade: 2024
Most Recent Known Modification: 2024 (New smoke detectors & replacement bells)
Years 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.

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 1985-1986, while the third phase is partially original. Galaxyland and Phase IV are mostly original. Parts have been replaced as deficiencies occur or if areas are renovated. The fire alarm panels were upgraded in 2006, and were completely upgraded in 2022.

Some tenant spaces have separate fire alarm systems; click here for a list of tenant systems.

System Specifications (1981-present)

FACP

The building is protected by a Simplex 4120-networked hybrid-addressable fire alarm system. All nodes are Simplex 4100ES panels, equipped with FUI displays.

Most of the mall is hybrid-addressable (mostly conventional), while Phase 4 is fully addressable. The system runs Simplex's MAPNET II protocol in Phase 4 and Simplex's IDNet addressable protocol in the rest of the mall. The system is configured for two-stage operation. Alert signal coding is 20BPM, followed by continuous for the evacuation signal. The Galaxyland node is also equipped with voice-evacuation, but does not play any messages.

Panels have been found in the following locations. Most 4100ES panels are in the existing 4100U cabinets.

Security Office (main node)
Entrance 6 (BRBN St. entrance)
Entrance 24
Entrance 32
Entrance 44 (Node 19)
Entrance 50
Entrance 56 (installed 2023)
Entrance 58 (solid node)
Scotiabank Theatre Entrance Vestibule (installed 2023, 2x40 display)
Galaxyland DRIVE Desk (installed 2022)

The 4100ES panels were slowly installed from 2022-2023, replacing a 4100U network that was installed between 2005-2006. The 4100U network in turn replaced a Simplex 4100+ network when Phase IV was added in 1999, which in turn replaced a Simplex 2120 that was installed during the 1985-1986 Phase 3 expansion.

Booster Panels

There are many Simplex 4009 booster power supplies on the system.

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)

Unless otherwise specified, all notification appliances are Potter MBA-10-24 motor bells (10" gong).
There are Simplex 2901-9724 motor bells (10" gong) in addition to the Potter bells.
The following bells are installed in addition to the aforementioned bells:

Sentron 306 vibrating bells (6" gong) in several areas, original to the phase
Potter MBA-6-24 motor bell (6" gong) near Hudson's Bay (summer 2024 deficiency replacement for Cerberus BDC-624C vibrating bell, 6" gong)
Simplex 2901-9723 motor bell (6" gong) by CHARM
Wheelock 46 vibrating bell (6" gong) outside Entrance 40 Sprinkler Room
Notifier KMS-6-24VDC/P motor bell (6" gong) by Entrance 32

Phase II (1983)

Most notification appliances are Potter MBA-10-24 motor bells (10" gong) installed between 2019 and 2022 as well as Simplex 2901-9724 motor bells (10" gong), installed with the 4100U to reduce current draw.

Deficiency replacements are as follows:

A Sentron vibrating bell (10" gong, model TBA) near Entrance 8
Notifier KMS-10-24A motor bells (10" gong) installed around 2015, one near Entrance 8 and the other by Starlight Casino
An Edwards 439D-10AWC vibrating bell (10" gong) in the men's washroom near Entrance 48, installed in the mid-1990s.

There is a Wheelock MT-24MCW multi-tone horn/strobe (red, wall-mount, set to bell/15cd) in Guest Services.

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; newer variants can be found as deficiency replacements.

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 on the second level that was redone around 1995.

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

Other bells and deficiency replacements include:

A Sentron vibrating bell (10" gong) on the second floor view of World Waterpark (original)
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 2014-2016.
Edwards 439D-10AWC vibrating bells (10" gong) by Starbucks, in Europa Boulevard (x1) and in Entrance 1 Vestibule,
A Mirtone 74306 vibrating bell (10" gong) in Five & Dine
A Mirtone 74303 vibrating bell (6" gong) at Entrance 2

BRBN St. has two Simplex 2901-9724 (10" gong) motor bells, and an Edwards 439D-10AWC vibrating bell (10" gong).

There are Potter MBA-10-24 motor bells (10" gong) that were installed sometime between 2019 and 2022 in some areas.

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 4120, 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-FR strobe plates (red, 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.

There is an Edwards "Adaptabel" 343D vibrating bell (6" gong) outside Entrance 56.

World Waterpark (1985)

All notification appliances are Simplex 2901-9724 motor bells (10" gong). These replaced Simplex 2901-9329 vibrating bells (10" gong) sometime around 2016.

Galaxyland (1983/1986)

The fire alarm system was redone during the expansion in 1985/1986. Most notification appliances are Simplex 2901-9329 vibrating bells (10" gong).

There is one Simplex 2901-9330 vibrating bell (10" gong) present.

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.

In the DRIVE area, there is a Potter MBA-10-24 motor bell on a Wheelock RSSP-24MCW-FR strobe plate (red, set to 15cd).

There is a Potter MBA-6-24 motor bell (6" gong) in the Entrance 12 vestibule as a deficiency replacement for a Simplex 2901-9329 vibrating bell (6" gong).

The entrance from Phase 2 has a Potter MBA-10-24 motor bell (10" gong) that was installed in 2022 when the facade was redone; the original Galaxyland facade had an Edwards 439D-10AWC vibrating bell (10" gong, installed 1995).

Initiating Devices

Pull Stations

Phases I, II and III

Most pull stations in Phases I and II are Simplex 2099-9107C conventional two-stage single-action pull stations, installed with the 4100U upgrade. Newer variants can be found as deficiency replacements.

Most pull stations in Phase III and Galaxyland are Simplex 4251-50/2099-9905 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.

Some pull stations are Simplex 4251-40 conventional two-stage single-action pull stations.

There are several Sentron 304 conventional two-stage pull stations in some parts of Phase I, Entrance 28 vestibule, by Entrances 40, 44 and 48, the lower part of Ice Palace, and one in Galaxyland; these are original and were left over during the 2120 upgrade.

Deficiency replacements include:

Simplex 2099-9288C conventional two-stage single-action pull stations
Simplex 2099-9107C conventional two-stage single action pull stations
Simplex 2099-9905 conventional two-stage single action pull stations
One Simplex 2099-9905CB conventional two-stage single-action pull station (bilingual) in Phase III

Phase IV

Most pull stations in Phase IV are Simplex 2099-9123C addressable two-stage pull stations.

All pull stations by Entrance 51 are Simplex 2099-9123CB addressable two-stage single-action pull stations.

There are Simplex 4099-9004CA addressable two-stage pull stations installed as deficiency replacements.

Automatic Detection Devices

There are Simplex "TrueAlarm" 4098-9714 addressable photoelectric smoke detectors throughout Galaxyland and in the mall's elevator lobbies and fire doors, which were installed recently to control relays. These are mounted on Simplex 4098-9792 bases.

There are Simplex 4098-9716 ionization smoke detector heads mounted on Simplex 4098-9784 addressable bases in Scotiabank Theatre and at the top of the Phase IV elevator shaft.

The World Waterpark changerooms and possibly other areas have Simplex 4251-55 conventional 135°F fixed-temperature/rate-of-rise heat detectors, these were installed in 1986.

Some areas still have Simplex 4098-9601 conventional photoelectric smoke detectors, mounted on Simplex 4098-9788 bases.

Modules

There are Simplex 4090-9001 addressable monitor modules supervising the sprinkler system's tamper and flow switches in Phase IV.

There are Simplex 4090-9002 addressable relays serving various purposes, such as elevator recall, shutters and fire doors.

There are Simplex 4090-9116 addressable isolator modules on the SLCs in Phase IV and Galaxyland.

EOLs

There is a mix of Simplex 2081-9018C and Simplex 2081-9040C end-of-line resistor plates on all conventional, sprinkler and signal circuits.

Sequence of Operation

When an alarm is initiated in one phase/Galaxyland/Fantasyland Hotel, all panels will display an alarm condition, and the signaling devices in that area will sound the alert signal. All other phases remain silent, unless the activated device is near another phase, when the two phases' bells sound the alert signal. If that phase(s) go into evac, the rest of the building goes into alert. After 5 minutes, if the system is not acknowledged, the entire building goes into evac.

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