How to Maintain Fire Alarm Resolution in a High-Security Facility

In a perfect world, major infrastructure moves are planned down to the last detail. That means:

• Fire alarm cables are traced
• Panel connections are labeled
• All critical monitoring paths are accounted for.

But you know the reality if you've spent time in facilities or emergency systems management: things get missed.

That's exactly what happened during a recent transition project for a long-established military installation in the Northeast. The site was preparing to move its fire dispatch operations to a brand-new fire station on the property - a long-overdue upgrade. However, it wasn't until construction was well underway that someone asked a crucial question:

"How are we going to monitor all the existing fire alarms from the new location?!"

This was a mission-critical gap. The existing dispatch center had full visibility into dozens of buildings and systems through a tightly integrated fire alarm infrastructure. Without a solid plan to maintain that visibility, lives and property could be at risk. The client turned to Digitize for fast help.

Moving a Dispatch Center Without Losing Alarm Visibility

The facility in question resembles installations like the various arsenals throughout the United States: sprawling, secure, and full of diverse infrastructure. For decades, fire alarms had been collected and monitored from a central dispatch room that tied into multiple Fire Alarm Control Panels (FACPs) and various fire system components.

Despite being a major upgrade in amenities and operations, the move to a new fire department building didn't account for how to carry over that alarm visibility.

As meetings began to evaluate the scope of the problem, it became clear that this wasn't a trivial technical hiccup. It was a full-blown integration and architecture challenge with five major constraints:

1. The client could not use their existing LAN/WAN to transmit fire alarm signals (due to network security restrictions).
2. Moving the entire system - including panels, interface hardware, and cabling - was cost-prohibitive.
3. The building's existing FACPs only provided basic location info (building-level), not detailed alarm data.
4. The facility needed to retain alarm monitoring across the entire site with no degradation in resolution or clarity.
5. Bids for the fire station move were going out soon. Any proposed solution had to be designed quickly and fit into an extremely tight project schedule.

From a systems-integration standpoint, this situation was a perfect storm: high stakes, high complexity, and a rapidly closing window of opportunity.

Multiple Options Were Ruled Out

It's tempting to think this problem could be solved by standard IT tools. Set up a remote desktop, poll alarm data over the network, and install a wireless bridge.

But this wasn't some simple office move. It was a mission-critical public safety infrastructure transition involving dozens of legacy systems and hardwired circuits that had evolved over decades.

There were several common options that were ruled out:

Option 1: Use the network (LAN/WAN)

This would've been the simplest approach. Just transmit the alarm signals to the new building over the facility's existing network.

The problem with this approach is this site, like many secure government or military installations, has strict cybersecurity rules. Fire system data could not ride on the main LAN/WAN. That wasn't even open for discussion.

Option 2: Re-cable the entire system

The client briefly considered re-running alarm cables from all existing buildings to the new fire department location.

This doesn't work because it comes at an extremely high cost. Pulling new cable through hardened infrastructure - some of it underground or routed through classified areas - would require construction permits, environmental reviews, and significant labor. The price tag would be enormous, and it would also blow past the project timeline.

Option 3: Rely on the FACP

The existing FACP in place was strong and had been working reliably for years. So why not just monitor alarms from there?

The issue was that this FACP could only display which building had a single "summary" alarm - not what zone, what type, or what condition triggered it. In other words, dispatchers wouldn't know what was wrong, only where. In emergency response, that lack of specificity is unacceptable.

It became clear that the solution had to come from a different direction - one that respected the constraints, preserved alarm resolution, and worked with what was already in place.

Get Detailed Alarm Monitoring With Zero Infrastructure Disruption

The vision started to come into focus: What if the existing fire alarm data could simply be mirrored at the new location? Not moved. Not translated. Just replicated - with full resolution and clarity.

This would mean:

• The original fire panels and DACTs stay exactly where they are.
• No disruption to existing alarm paths or building wiring.
• Full alarm detail - zone, condition, timestamp - replicated at the new dispatch center.
• The whole solution would ride on existing fiber infrastructure.

That last point proved to be the most important.

The facility already had fiber links and media converters running between key buildings, including the old and new fire stations. This unused capacity presented a unique opportunity.

By leveraging existing fiber to carry alarm data - and avoiding the LAN/WAN entirely - the team could bridge the old and new dispatch locations without triggering a massive cabling project or violating network policies.

The next question to address was: What interface could tap into the alarm data and send it over fiber with full resolution?

Remote Annunciator Replication + Fiber-Based Connectivity

Digitize recommended using the existing D-LAN output to the Remote Annunciator, which provides detailed zone-by-zone alarm data. Remote annunciators are designed to display specific alarm conditions with precise, real-time visibility - ideal for dispatch environments.

Instead of viewing this output as a terminal device (as it normally would be), the team repurposed it as a signal source. With the right interface and media converters, the D-LAN data stream could be transmitted over the facility's fiber network to the new fire station.

Here's how the architecture came together:

• The D-LAN output from the legacy fire system was split or mirrored.
• Media converters converted the signal into a fiber-compatible format.
• The signal traveled over existing dark fiber between the buildings.
• A receiving interface at the new fire station reinterpreted the D-LAN data to drive a new Remote Annunciator display. This gave full alarm detail to the dispatchers, transparently. For most workers, it would be as if nothing had changed.

This solution hit all the key targets:

• Cost-effective: No new trenching, cabling, or major equipment purchases.
• Non-intrusive: No modification to the existing FACP or wiring paths.
• High-resolution: All original alarm details preserved and displayed.
• Compliant: No use of prohibited network infrastructure.
• Fast-track ready: Could be specified and bid as a standalone package.

Design for Now, Prepare for the Future

Another hidden benefit of this architecture is its future scalability. While the current implementation uses a Remote Annunciator output to maintain visibility, this same interface path could later be integrated into a Prism LX system.

The Prism LX is Digitize's flagship fire alarm monitoring platform, offering:

• Centralized monitoring of hundreds of alarm inputs
• High-resolution event logs with timestamps and zone detail
• Automated reports and user-defined notification rules
• Integration options for security, water flow, HVAC, and more
• Full support for NFPA 72-compliant monitoring

With the Remote Annunciator architecture in place, the site now has a pathway to migrate from basic display panels to advanced digital alarm management (whenever the time is right).

That kind of future consideration turns a short-term fix into a long-term foundation.

What You Can Learn From This Project

Not every facility is a high-security military site, but your campus, municipality, or industrial properties can face similar challenges:

• Aging or legacy alarm systems still in use
• New buildings or dispatch centers being added
• Cost or regulatory barriers to re-cabling
• A growing need for detailed alarm visibility

If that sounds familiar, take these lessons from this project:

1. Map your monitoring infrastructure before making moves

Alarm systems are often overlooked during building transitions. Don't wait until your team is halfway out the door to ask how you'll maintain alarm visibility.

2. Look beyond the panel

Most FACPs can't deliver the kind of alarm data you need for modern dispatch operations. Relying on the default display limits your response capabilities.

3. Use what you already have

Many facilities have underused fiber, existing media converters, or Remote Annunciator outputs that can be repurposed (as long as you work with a company that knows how to design the integration).

4. Build for now, design for later

Choosing a modular, expandable solution like the Remote Annunciator allows you to meet today's needs while setting the stage for smarter alarm monitoring in the future.

Start the Conversation Now

If you're planning a dispatch move, building expansion, or just wrestling with aging fire alarm infrastructure, the worst thing you can do is assume your systems will "just work" in the new setup.

Even seemingly small transitions can uncover critical gaps - and those gaps can cost you time, money, and risk to life and property.

Digitize helps facilities like yours bridge those gaps with smarter fire alarm monitoring solutions - whether it's repurposing Remote Annunciator outputs, implementing a Prism LX monitoring system, or designing a hybrid approach that works with your budget and timeline.

Don't let alarm visibility fall through the cracks. Reach out to Digitize today to start your project conversation. Whether you're working with legacy gear, new construction, or something in between, we'll help you build a solution that's both practical and future-ready.