Building annunciation test to take place June 13

A project is under way at Western Washington University to connect much of the campus to an emergency mass notification system that works with the existing fire annunciation systems. Final testing of the new notification system, which is part of Western Alert, starts on Monday, June 13.

During the test, Western will broadcast voice messages through the campus fire alarm systems. All academic buildings on campus and some residence halls will be affected by the testing.

These are test messages only. Only building annunciation will be tested. Test Western Alert emails and text messages will not be sent during this testing.

At the beginning and ending of each test period, a voice announcement will broadcast through the fire alarm system speakers to inform occupants that "this is a test." Strobe lights will flash in most academic and administrative building corridors and restrooms to alert the hearing impaired, and fire alarms will be activated. Fire alarms are very noisy and occupants may wish to leave during the testing. The test message will be very specific that it is a test. If an actual emergency occurs during the testing period, an emergency message will broadcast and occupants must leave immediately.

Contact Jeff Maurer, project manager, at (360) 650-3260 for questions about installation and testing. Contact Gayle Shipley, director of Environmental Health and Safety, at (360) 650-6512 for questions about emergency planning or how this system fits into the Western Alert notification.

Departments with hearing impaired employees should contact Mika Greathouse in Human Resources at (360) 650-3771 for assistance.