Outdated Fire Alarm Monitoring Systems Are Putting Campus Safety at Risk

For large institutions with distributed buildings (especially universities and municipal campuses), fire alarm monitoring is a critical system. These systems can be easy to overlook though, until they fail. And when they do fail, the consequences range from “disruption” to literal disaster.

That's exactly the situation we encountered in a recent conversation with a client managing life safety systems for a large university in New England. Like many similar organizations, they're currently working with outdated equipment. Their goal is to bridge the gap between legacy systems and modern safety standards.

Here, we'll walk through the specific problems institutions face with aging fire monitoring infrastructure and explore why older solutions are no longer functional. We'll break down what a modern, scalable fire alarm monitoring setup should look like.

Your Legacy Equipment Can't Keep Up

This university client operates a centralized dispatch center that receives fire alarm signals from buildings on the main campus and additional facilities located in satellite cities. The system they're currently using is a legacy platform that was once cutting-edge. Now, this system struggles to meet modern requirements.

That system communicates over IP or Ethernet, which sounds sufficient at a glance. But in practice, several weaknesses have emerged:

• Core servers and workstations are outdated, creating compatibility, performance, and cybersecurity concerns.
• Remote buildings, especially those off the main campus, still rely on POTS lines (plain old telephone service) and analog dialers. These technologies are increasingly difficult to support and are being phased out by service providers.
• There's no standardized communication protocol across all facilities. This leads to a patchwork of systems that don't play well together.
• The existing setup lacks flexibility for expansion or integration with new technologies like cellular and radio-based alarm transmission.

As the client put it, there are "so many different options" and not enough clear guidance on how to tie everything together. And with life-safety systems, uncertainty isn't something you can afford.

Legacy Fire Alarm Monitoring Solutions Are No Longer Viable

The challenges this university is facing are far from unique. Across higher education, healthcare, and municipal sectors, many people are still relying on equipment that was installed decades ago. It was designed for the needs of a time that has long since passed.

Legacy systems are no longer viable for at least 5 key reasons:

1. Unsupported Communication Methods

POTS lines are becoming obsolete. Telecom carriers are decommissioning copper infrastructure, and the cost to maintain analog dialers is rising. When your remote facilities depend on these connections, you're gambling with reliability.

2. Security Vulnerabilities

Legacy servers and software are often incompatible with modern cybersecurity standards. Unpatched systems are an open door for network intrusions or data breaches. This is especially true when the systems are connected to the broader IT infrastructure.

3. Limited Interoperability

Older fire monitoring systems were built with proprietary protocols. This makes it difficult to integrate new sensors, panels, or third-party software without extensive custom engineering.

4. Vendor Lock-In and End-of-Life Equipment

Many legacy systems are no longer supported by their original manufacturers. Finding parts and service technicians becomes increasingly difficult (and expensive) as time goes on.

5. Inflexibility for Modern Campus Layouts

Today's campuses are dynamic. New buildings are added and leased properties come and go. Any modern fire alarm system needs to adapt, without requiring a forklift upgrade every time a facility changes.

Build the Ideal Fire Alarm Monitoring System

If you had the opportunity to design a fire alarm monitoring system from scratch - without any legacy baggage - what would it look like?

Most facility managers, campus safety officers, and IT/security professionals would want:

A Centralized Monitoring Hub

A single dispatch center can receive alarm signals from every facility. It doesn't matter whether it's across the street or in a different city.

Multi-Channel Communication

Support for IP, radio, and cellular connectivity ensures alarms get through even if one method fails.

Remote Management Capabilities

Web-based configuration and monitoring allows staff to access system data from anywhere without relying on on-site workstations.

Compatibility with Existing Systems

Compatibility grants the ability to ingest alarm data from various makes and models of fire panels, even those using proprietary formats or legacy protocols.

Scalable Design

Scalability allows for easy integration of new buildings or temporary facilities without major system redesigns.

On-Demand Engineering Support

This support gives you access to manufacturers or partners who can provide custom firmware, integrations, or specialized hardware when needed.

If this sounds like a lot to accomplish, it's because most systems weren't built with this flexibility in mind. Still, there are solutions available today that meet these standards.

Get Modern Monitoring with Digitize and Its Partner Network

When evaluating options, the client in our conversation considered several paths forward, including:

• Deploying radio-based fire alarm monitoring across all properties.
• Installing cellular dialers at remote buildings.
• Building a dedicated remote monitoring station for satellite campuses.

These are all viable strategies. The right choice depends on your specific layout, communication infrastructure, and response requirements. What made the difference here was finding a solution that could adapt to any of those scenarios without requiring a full system replacement.

That's where Digitize was able to help.

Prism LX: The Modern Fire Alarm Monitoring Platform

Digitize's Prism LX serves as a highly configurable fire alarm monitoring system. Prism LX collects signals from virtually any source (legacy or modern), and routes them into a centralized dispatch or supervisory location. It supports multiple communication paths (including IP, cellular, and radio) and is compatible with a wide variety of fire panels and signal types.

For institutions with a mixture of new and aging facilities, Prism LX bridges the gap without forcing a complete rip-and-replace strategy. You can upgrade in phases, starting with the highest-risk locations.

Local Support from Trusted Integrators

One of the strongest advantages in this scenario was the availability of a long-time Digitize partner: RB Allen. They're a trusted integrator with deep experience in fire alarm systems across New England.

As noted in the conversation, RB Allen has been working with Digitize systems since before 1997. They understand the nuances of local codes, regional infrastructure, and real-world deployment challenges.

Their technicians can handle installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance for university systems - and they're known for strong response times and clear communication.

Custom Engineering When You Need It

If you have special requirements, such as monitoring off-campus buildings with unique fire panels or integrating with proprietary dispatch software, Digitize's in-house engineering team can help.

Since becoming a DPS Telecom company in 2022, Digitize has expanded its R&D capabilities. This has made it easier than ever to get custom-tailored solutions for specific campus needs.

Need a unique input configuration? Looking to mediate signals between incompatible devices? Want compatibility for centralized management? These are all things Digitize has delivered before - and can do again for you.

Follow a Smarter Path Forward for Campus Fire Monitoring

It's clear that fire alarm monitoring can no longer be treated as a set-it-and-forget-it system. As communication standards evolve and buildings get added, renovated, or repurposed, your monitoring infrastructure needs to be able to evolve with them.

Remember, if you're considering an upgrade:

You Don't Have to Start Over

Solutions like Prism LX work with your existing fire alarm panels, dialers, and communication lines. You can modernize selectively, where it makes the biggest difference.

Hybrid Infrastructure Is Supported

Whether your buildings are on IP, cellular, radio, or even analog POTS lines, Digitize systems can receive alarms and centralize them in one platform.

Installation Can Be Turnkey or Collaborative

If you have internal electricians or fire alarm personnel, Digitize can provide installation guidance and technical support. If you prefer outside help, certified regional partners like RB Allen can manage the project from start to finish.

Expert Engineering Is Built In

Digitize doesn't just sell off-the-shelf boxes. They engineer systems based on real-world challenges. If your needs change, the system can change with you.

Need Help Making Sense of Your Options?

If you're in charge of fire alarm monitoring at a university, hospital, municipality, or industrial facility, chances are good that your system includes at least some legacy components.

You probably have questions like:

• Can I keep my current fire panels?
• What's the best communication method for my remote buildings?
• How do I migrate away from POTS lines without overhauling everything?
• What level of support is available, both during and after installation?

Digitize can help you answer those questions - and build a system tailored to your site, your facilities, and your team's capabilities.

The same team that helped other New England campuses modernize their monitoring can do the same for you.

Let's Talk About Your Fire Alarm Monitoring Upgrade

If you're ready to stop relying on legacy systems and start building a smarter, safer campus, we're ready to help.

Contact the Digitize team today to:

• Review your current monitoring setup
• Identify risk areas
• Evaluate options like Prism LX, cellular dialers, and radio-based signaling
• Get connected with a regional installation partner
• Customize a solution that fits your facilities, not someone else's template

Call us: 800-523-7232
Email: sales@digitize-inc.com

Your campus deserves a fire alarm monitoring system that's just as advanced as the safety expectations placed on it. Let's build one - together.