The E.W.I.S.

Emergency Warning Intercommunications System

The majority of our multi-story buildings have a device called an EWIS installed. The EWIS is used to warn the building occupants of an emergency and then advise them to evacuate It is usually located on the ground floor near the FIP. Not all buildings have the same EWIS system. The following information is accurate to most of them.

In an alarm it makes a very loud ``beep'' sound. Some time later it makes a ``whoop whoop'' sound. The siren first sounds only on the floor on which the alarm occurred, and then on the remaining floors after short delay in minutes (some buildings do not use a staged evacuation approach). In most EWIS systems a recorded evacuation message is used to instruct occupants to evacuate.

The EWIS system has two components: the public address system, which also generates the evacuation signals; and the warden intercom phones.

Public Address System

To operate the system move the keyswitch to the manual position. In normal operation, the keyswitch should be in the automatic position, and should be returned to this position when you have finished testing. The isolate position allows the same functions as the manual position, except that the audio output is disabled.

In an emergency, it is recommended that the PA system is left in automatic. It automatically generates the ``whoop whoop'' evacuation signal on the floor where the alarm occurred, and on the remaining floors after a specified time delay. This is adequate for a normal evacuation of the building, and interrupting this sequence could lead to confusion. The PA system should only be used to communicate a change from the normal evacuation procedure.

To operate the PA system in manual mode:

1. Enter the zone. The translation from floor number to zone is written on the panel.
2. Enter the function you wish to perform.
3. Press OK to perform the function, or CANCEL if you typed incorrectly.

The ALERT function generates the ``beep beep'' sound. The EVAC function generates the ``whoop whoop'' sound. The PA function enables the microphone for the operator to broadcast a voice message. The RESET function turns off any of the above functions which have been previously enabled.

Warden Intercom Phones (W.I.P.)

The WIP phones are red intercom phones. They are located throughout a building and designed to be used by Wardens or trapped building occupants. The WIP phones are connected to the EWIS and can be used to communicate between floors or zones. You cannot make an outgoing PABX or exchange call using these phones!

The main point of note when operating the warden intercom phone (WIP) system at the EWIS panel is that, unlike a normal phone, hanging up the handset doesn't close the connection. Rather, all calls are initiated and closed by commands on the keypad.

To call a particular WIP from the EWIS panel:

1. Pick up the red handset.
2. Enter the zone number for the floor you wish to contact. The translation from floor to zone number is usually written on the panel.
3. Press the CALL key.
4. Press the OK key.

This will cause the WIP to ring on the floor which you entered.

When someone picks up a WIP on another floor, the WIP at the EWIS panel rings. To answer this call, determine from the indicator panel which WIP is calling, and then follow the above sequence. Repeat the same sequence to end the call. Note that the WIP will start to ring again until the other handset is hung up.

In some EWIS systems the BEC has the ability to talk to multiple WIP at the same time like a conference call. Many of the EWIS in the University all for up to five WIP to be included in the conference call.

Staged Evacuation

The EWIS can be configured to evacuate floors in a particular order or to evacuate everyone at once. Evacuating the entire building at once may be practical for some buildings but not others. In buildings with many floors, the EWIS is usually configured to evacuate a few floors above and below the affected floor first, then slowly evacuate the other floors above and below those ones and so on.

This works well for very large buildings because the evacuation stairs do not get too crowded and the evacuation is more controlled. For smaller buildings, this is impractable as most occupants can hear or see the others evacuating below or above them and self evacuate anyway. The delay between floors evacuating is a difficult mix of waiting long enough to give people a chance to escape versus taking too long.

Evacuation Status Buttons

On more advanced EWIS systems the BEC and Emergency Services have the ability to press status buttons emulating a floor by floor evacuation checklist. Pressing the status buttons will turn on a light representing a "floor evacuated". This can be very useful and saves the BEC from carrying paperwork.

If your EWIS does not have this feature, we have a number of checklist you can use instead. See the publications section for more information.

Maintenance and Testing

The E.W.I.S. is usually serviced by our Maintenance Section within the Property and Campus Services Department. Please check the front of the device for a sticker indicating who to call for maintenance or testing.