The Federal Correctional Institution Memphis, TN, is a facility housing 862 low-security inmates within a secure perimeter. The current Edwards EST3 Fire Alarm System at FCI Memphis is unreliable and problematic. The system consists of 13 fire alarm panels, 1 annunciator, and 910 devices, including smoke detectors, heat detectors. pull stations, horn strobes, water flow switches, tamper alarms, magnetic fire control doors, and duct detectors. There are networking problems that prevent communication between panels. The fire alarm panels are configured in a loop/ring topology, causing system disruptions when one panel goes offline. The system experiences Class A and B network failures, multiple ground faults, fail-safe activations, data cards not synchronized with CPUs, and Rail module indicator issues.
Due to its age, the system, including LS cards and smoke heads, is outdated and cannot communicate or be repaired. Building 1 currently has a few pull stations and strobes connected to booster system. Single-mode fiber has been installed throughout the institution in a star configuration, running to the main panel in the Communication Server Room, except for Unicor Warehouse 2. The plan is to use the new fiber to connect all panels to the main pancel, with LC patch connectors linking the established fiber to the existing panels. If the system is upgraded to EST4, only the CPU and fiber card installations will be needed using the same devices.
