Modernize Your Headquarters While Maintaining Your Alarm System

A lot has changed in fire alarm technology over the last three decades, but some systems have proven so reliable that departments continue using them for generations.

When a fire department decides to relocate after more than 100 years in the same building, upgrading their fire alarm monitoring system is both a technical challenge and an opportunity to modernize - but only if the transition is handled correctly.

Recently, a long-time Digitize client reached out to us with a very specific challenge. Their department was moving from an 1884 firehouse to a brand-new facility. For more than 30 years, they had relied on a Digitize system to decode incoming signals from municipal fire alarm boxes and manage critical relay operations.

As they planned their move, they came to us with a three-part question:

1. Can the old and new systems run in parallel during the transition?
2. Is it possible to replicate the nostalgic bell strike system that used to announce fire alarms?
3. What does a Digitize remote annunciator do?

These are practical questions, but they also reflect a deeper challenge. How do you upgrade your fire alarm infrastructure while keeping key features from legacy systems? And how do you still maintain full safety compliance and operational efficiency?

Let's walk through how this client tackled the transition, what problems they faced, and how the right gear offers solutions that respect both legacy systems and modern expectations.

How to Transition Out of an 1884-Era Firehouse

The original firehouse had seen more than a century of service. Inside, the department was using a Digitize unit that had been in place for over 30 years. It performed core functions like decoding municipal fire alarm boxes, managing relay outputs, and driving local alerting systems.

Now, the department was preparing to move into a purpose-built modern headquarters. Naturally, they wanted to install a brand-new Digitize system at the new site. However, they also needed to keep the existing system running during the move, potentially for weeks, until the transition was complete.

That introduced an unwelcome complication. The new building didn't include provisions for the traditional fire alarm bell that physically rang when an incoming box signal was received. Many in the department still valued that auditory signal, and they wanted to know if there was a way to replicate it using more up-to-date technology.

Their final concern was adding remote annunciators to the system to make monitoring more accessible across different areas of the new building.

They weren't just looking for new hardware. They were trying to keep decades of dependable function while preparing for a new future.

Legacy Systems Can Be Tricky to Replace

The classic municipal fire alarm system isn't something you simply unplug and replace with a laptop. Over the decades, these systems were carefully wired, often custom-configured, and interfaced with very specific hardware.

Mechanical bells, coded repeaters, ground-return circuits, and telegraph-style input systems often have little in common with today's IP-based interfaces and solid-state relays.

This creates a number of pain points:

• Supervising legacy circuits during transition can be challenging. You can't afford to lose monitoring during the switch.
• Driving old mechanical alerting systems (like code strike bells) requires relays and voltage levels that aren't common in modern systems.
• Mixing old and new hardware on the same loop can introduce incompatibilities or even signal faults.
• Remote monitoring and control expectations have grown, but the existing infrastructure may not support Ethernet or IP communications.

A straightforward "rip and replace" simply wasn't an option. This department needed a hybrid approach instead.

Transition Using Parallel Operation With Legacy Compatibility

To ensure zero downtime during the facility move, the ideal system would need to:

1. Run legacy and new monitoring equipment in parallel without disrupting alarm service.
2. Allow the legacy unit to serve as a backup or spare after the new system is online.
3. Mimic bell code strike behavior from the existing system, using modern solid-state relays.
4. Include Ethernet-based remote annunciators to expand system visibility throughout the new facility.
5. Supervise all critical signal paths and power supplies to ensure full alarm integrity.

The department had already chosen the Prism LX for their new headquarters. The Prism LX was designed with unforeseen scenarios like this in mind.

Naturally, some custom configuration was needed to match their unique requirements.

How Digitize Solved the Problem

During a technical consultation, the Digitize team explored all three of the department's main concerns:

1. Running Old and New Systems in Tandem

This request was entirely possible. The plan would involve installing the new Prism LX system at the new headquarters while leaving the existing system active at the current site. During the transition, both systems could be operated independently or used in a hot standby configuration with near-instant failover.

Once the move is complete, the legacy system could be disassembled and reinstalled at the new site as a backup or used for training purposes.

2. Replicating the Mechanical Fire Alarm Bell

Here's where things got interesting.

The client asked whether the solid-state transmitter relay in the Prism LX could trigger a mechanical fire bell to simulate the old strike-code style alerts. While this isn't a standard application, the answer was yes - with some important caveats.

The coding aspect (i.e., pulsing the relay in a way that mimics the bell strike timing) is possible through the system's software, though final confirmation would depend on specific setup details. As for supervision, the mechanical bell circuit would need to be monitored with a dedicated input using end-of-line supervision or voltage monitoring.

This was a creative solution to preserve a familiar sound - and a valuable operational cue - in the new facility.

3. Adding Remote Annunciators

Digitize offers Ethernet-based remote annunciators that integrate easily with Prism LX. These wall-mounted units allow personnel in different parts of the building to view system status and acknowledge alarms without needing direct access to the main control panel.

Technical Considerations for Supervision & Redundancy

For any mission-critical fire monitoring setup, you'll want to make sure there's constant supervision.

Digitize's relay output supervision capabilities include:

• Ground return supervision to detect line faults or open conditions.
• Repeater bus monitoring to make sure all cards in a Form 4 circuit are operating properly.
• Low-voltage detection relays to monitor power supply health.
• Charger fault detection using programmable relay contacts.

In the client's case, these features were mapped to three or four monitored inputs within the Prism LX. That provides a complete picture of system health. The client's electrical team would work with our support staff to finalize the configuration after selecting the correct relay modules.

A Purpose-Built Monitoring System Makes the Difference

This situation highlights a core advantage of working with a manufacturer like Digitize. Our systems aren't generic fire panels or off-the-shelf relay controllers. They're built from the ground up to handle the specific challenges of municipal fire alarm monitoring, especially when legacy systems and modern requirements need to coexist.

Consider the fact that:

• Generic relay panels don't support coded bell strikes or end-of-line supervision out of the box.
• Integrated fire panel "monitoring" features may not allow external annunciators or failover relay functions.
• Consumer-grade systems may have fixed programming options that can't accommodate creative signal pathways.

Digitize equipment is modular, programmable, and field-proven. Many of our customers have used the same core systems for 20 to 30 years. Plus, we continue to offer upgrade paths, relay options, and software support to match evolving needs.

What to Consider If You're Planning a Move

If your fire department, dispatch center, or facility is planning a move or renovation, ask yourself these questions:

• Do we need to keep both the old and new systems running simultaneously for a while?
• Is there any legacy equipment (bells, strobes, mechanical relays) we want to preserve?
• Will our new building support Ethernet/IP-based annunciation?
• How are we going to supervise circuits, power supplies, and ground faults?
• Do we want our vendor to offer technical consultation for configuration?

If you answer yes to even a few of these, then a general-purpose, flexible monitoring platform like the Prism LX is a strong fit.

Legacy Function Meets Modern Reliability

One of the most interesting aspects of this project is how it blends old and new. The department was open to new monitoring features and IP-based annunciation, but they also cared deeply about preserving familiar tools, like the audible fire bell.

This is a great example of how public safety organizations don't just "buy equipment." They build systems that reflect their workflows, their communities, and sometimes even their history.

Digitize is proud to support those transitions. Whether it's replicating the function of a decades-old bell or configuring a Prism LX system for a brand-new headquarters, we work with departments at every step - from planning and quoting to technical support and installation.

Ready to Upgrade Without Starting From Scratch?

If your team is planning a facility upgrade, fire alarm system overhaul, or just wants to maintain operational continuity during a transition, Digitize can help.

Our systems support:

• Parallel operation during moves
• Legacy hardware integration
• Relay and annunciator customization
• Redundant supervision of all signal paths

Give us a call or email today to speak with a technical expert. We'll help you build a plan that respects your department's legacy and sets you up for the next 30 years of service.

Contact Digitize Today
Phone: (973) 663-1011
Email: info@digitize-inc.com