Norris recently pulled out all the IP stops and helped modernize life-safety, security, and communications at Mount Abraham Unified School District in Bristol, Vermont.
The project was lead by Norris Systems Integrator Dame Diette and shepherded on the school district side by Facilities Director Joel Fitzgerald.
The large, integrated IP system, was completed October 1, consists of a 6-school paging/intercom system and a new district-wide IP CCTV system, as well.
Further, the system is a first of its kind in Vermont.
What sorts of complexities and considerations are involved in doing IP-based life-safety, security and communications systems that large?
According to Norris Systems Integrator for Vermont Diette it was an intricate process.
“The E-series by Telecor is a unique ethernet-based pa/intercom system that runs on a facility’s LAN,” Diette said. “Each school required us to plug into multiple POE switches to power and connect the system.”
Diette noted that the system he designed for MAUSD differed from a more traditional system in several ways.
How does it differ from more traditional single-site systems?
“The E-series is a de-centralized intercom system that is powered and connects to audio through POE, vs traditional speaker cable,” He said. “Each classroom with one cable drop is set for call buttons, two-way communication and later can even be updated for digital signage and clocks.”
MAUSD Facilities Director Fitzgerald said that the Norris Vermont team, including Diette, Norris Manager of Training and Development Glenn Gurney and lead Technician Scott Lee were extremely valuable assets.
“Norris has been very responsive. They have been honest and accountable and have worked really hard to make sure things happen on time. Everyone’s demeanor is top-notch,” Fitzgerald said, noting that Norris’ ability to ramp up quickly and get a lot done in a short time. “We have done an awful lot of work in a small amount of time. Everything happened very quickly. Most projects like this are out a year or more. They got this together in 3 months.”
Further, Fitzgerald said that Norris ability to explain the intricate workings of complex IP-based systems was very much appreciated.
“I have been a facilities director for 20 years and this isn’t my language. My language is plumbing and grounds and the like,” Fitgerald said. “Norris has been really good about translating all of this IP stuff to something I can understand.”
Diette said that there were lots of functionality that this sort of large, overarching IP system provided.
“The Telecor Visual Console for eSeries is a Windows-based application that provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the eSeries System,” Diette explained. “The easy-to-use GUI simplifies a number of routine operations such as call processing from stations, paging, audio distribution, activating scripts, and emergency operations by organizing thematically similar graphical element icons onto dedicated pages. Facility floor plans along with eSeries functions can be displayed on the PC screen providing a visual overview of the facility at a glance. Emergency communications can be quickly activated through intuitive on-screen icons, ensuring unerring operation.”
Diette said Norris, inc. installed the system on the school district’s existing LAN and explained that that’s part of the primary benefit of school’s choosing the E-series, which saves in labor cost. Diette noted the system will streamline communication between the school district and the schools, as well as individual school administrators, staff and students.
Of the new system, Fitzgerald said he liked what he has seen so far.
“The imagery looks really, really good. They’re working and getting this stuff licensed and online,” he said. “We have an existing camera system and they’re working to integrate that with the new infrastructure.” Fitzgerald also said that while the system would undoubtedly have a learning curve, he felt certain it would make life easier on all faculty and staff.
Call a life-safety, security and communications expert from Norris today to find out how we can help you keep your people, students, and visitors safe.
What is Norris all about?
Norris, Inc.—a Saco, Maine-based life-safety and security systems integrator with satellite offices in Bangor, Maine; Lee, New Hampshire; and Burlington, Vermont—was founded nearly 40 years ago by two brothers, Brad and Harty Norris.
On February 28, 2020 Norris Inc was acquired by Minuteman Security Technologies Inc. Minuteman Security Technologies Inc. (Minuteman), headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts and founded in 1998, is a leading provider of enterprise security technology solutions. Minuteman security systems are used by a wide range of organizations throughout the United States. Customers include law enforcement, energy companies, mass transit, large retail chains, academic institutions, public safety agencies, and community hospitals with regional offices from Maine to Illinois.
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