Expanding Campus Safety Beyond Fire Protection
Following the successful implementation of Call System Technology's (CST) AlarmCall™ Pro+ wireless network and Gen2 Queue monitoring platform, the University of Sussex has continued to expand its campus-wide safety infrastructure.
Having already centralised fire alarm monitoring across the campus, the next phase of the project focused on improving accessibility, enhancing staff safety and supporting future developments.
The existing system has now been expanded to support a wider range of life safety applications across the campus.
This latest installation builds on our previous work with the University of Sussex. Read the original case study to see how CST first helped support the university’s communication needs.
Supporting Accessible Facilities Across Campus
As part of the latest phase, the University has connected Disabled (DDA) Toilet Alarm systems across 32 buildings throughout the campus.
In three of these buildings, where conventional wiring presented installation challenges, CST's lower-powered wireless transmitters were used to connect the DDA Toilet Alarms to C-TEC 800 Series Toilet Alarm Panels without the need for costly cabling.
By utilising the existing AlarmCall™ Pro+ wireless network, every alarm activation is transmitted directly to the University's Security Office, where the Gen2 Queue software immediately displays the alarm location on screen while simultaneously activating an audible alert.
This allows security teams to see assistance requests immediately and respond quickly whenever a pull cord is activated
Future-Proofing the West Slope Development
The University continues to develop the West Slope area of the campus, creating modern facilities designed for future generations of students and staff.
As part of this expansion, CST's AlarmCall™ Pro+ network is being extended into the new buildings, allowing fire alarm and fault activations to be integrated directly into the existing campus-wide monitoring platform.
Rather than creating isolated systems, the University is maintaining a single, centralised solution that allows security staff to monitor both existing and newly constructed buildings from one location.
This scalable approach reduces complexity while ensuring future developments benefit from the same high level of protection already delivered across the wider estate.
Enhancing Staff Safety at the Wellbeing Centre
One of the new buildings within the West Slope development is the University's Wellbeing Centre.
To help protect staff, the University asked CST to provide a robust wireless panic alarm system for the Wellbeing Centre. Staff carry Birdy Panic Button Pendants, allowing them to discreetly call for assistance if required, with the exact room location automatically identified.
When activated, reception display panels on both the Ground Floor and Level 2 instantly identify which room has generated the alarm, enabling staff to direct assistance without delay.
At the same time, the alarm is transmitted through the AlarmCall™ Pro+ network to the University's Security Office, where the exact alarm location is displayed on the Gen2 Queue monitoring platform, ensuring security personnel can respond rapidly and accurately.
Monitoring Critical Generator Systems
In addition to life safety systems, the University has integrated monitoring for seven standby generators across the campus using the existing AlarmCall™ Pro+ network. Previously, the Security team had no immediate indication when a generator automatically started following a mains power failure, unless it later ran out of diesel or developed a fault.
Now, generator start events are instantly transmitted via AlarmCall™ Pro+ and displayed on the Gen2 Queue platform, allowing the Security team to respond quickly to power outages and resolve issues before fuel levels become critical.
By incorporating generator monitoring into the same centralised platform, the University has further improved operational awareness and resilience across the campus.
Monitoring Critical Safety and Building Systems in One Place
By expanding the existing AlarmCall™ Pro+ infrastructure, the University of Sussex has created a centralised critical alert system that now monitors both life safety systems and essential building infrastructure from a single platform.
Today, the platform supports:
Fire Alarm & Fault Monitoring
Disabled Toilet Alarms Across 32 Buildings
Generator Alarms
Wireless Panic Alarms for Staff
Future Integration Across New Campus Developments
The flexibility of the wireless network allows new systems and buildings to be added with minimal disruption, protecting previous investment while providing a scalable solution for the University's ongoing expansion.
Continuing the Partnership
Through continued collaboration with CST, the University of Sussex has transformed its AlarmCall™ Pro+ network from a fire alarm management system into a comprehensive life safety platform.
By bringing together DDA toilet alarms, staff panic alarms and future fire alarm integrations on one monitoring platform, the University has made it easier for its Security team to respond quickly to incidents across the campus.
As new buildings continue to be developed, the AlarmCall™ Pro+ network can be expanded to meet the University's future requirements without the need for additional infrastructure.