Autocall Building System Information Unit (BSIU) White Paper

White Paper Alarm System Finally Gets User Friendly the BSIU will change your life for the better can all use more simplicity and convenience in our lives the right technology can deliver it After all what road wants to fumble around with paper maps when a GPS guide them perfectly to almost any destination And who to wait in a long supermarket checkout line when we can an intuitive self checkout stand and do it faster ourselves the idea behind a new feature added to NFPA 72 in 2019 Building Systems Information Unit BSIU A BSIU is a fire operator console that provides you with more less costly options for annunciating events on your alarm systems important it brings greater simplicity convenience intuitiveness to the operation of even very complex fire systems a BSIU and what new about it 72 defines a BSIU as computer based electronic that is intended to display building information and system control functions including fire system display and control In other words it a software workstation that controls the fire alarm system a BSIU 2019 NFPA 72 supported similar operator console and software but with a big difference the computer to be UL 864 listed when used for system control Because 864 listed computers are very costly especially if multiple were needed operator consoles were unaffordable for facilities With the advent of the BSIU operators at facilities all sizes can now reap the benefits of a powerful and intuitive system An elementary or high school can simplify the process of fire drills A manufacturing facility can give operators explicit instructions servicing the variety of specialized equipment in their fire system environment Operators of fire alarm systems in large distribution facilities can pinpoint the exact location of an affected device in emergency and respond more efficiently fine print NFPA 72 BSIU has opened the door to more intuitive alarm system operation there are a few requirements to code compliance The BSIU must be located in the same room or space as system fire alarm control unit which can be either a full unit a Network Display Unit NDU or a transponder BSIU control operations are limited to the same ones that can performed by the nearby control unit The BSIU and the control unit have to be independent and must keep working if the other fails are also limits to a BSIU functionality It cannot act as a receiver for digital alarm transmitters It cannot act as a smoke control annunciator requiring those capabilities will need to implement more robust UL 864 listed system steps talk to your vendor and AHJ a BSIU sounds like a solution you could use talk to your fire system provider to learn more At Johnson Controls we our new TrueSite Workstation BSIU software All customers to do is purchase the software from us and supply their computers you at it talk to your Authority Having Jurisdiction AHJ most likely a representative of your state fire marshal Be aware might not be completely familiar with this type of solution BSIUs are fairly new technologies supported by graphical user interfaces have greater ease convenience productivity and efficiency many of life tasks With BSIUs those same benefits are now to anyone operating a fire alarm system in a facility of size And that means greater safety for everyone Johnson Controls Johnson Controls we transform the environments where people live work learn and play From optimizing building performance to improving safety enhancing comfort we drive the outcomes that matter most We deliver our promise in industries such as healthcare education data centers and With a global team of over 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries and over 130 years of innovation experience we are the power our customers mission Our leading portfolio of building technology and solutions includes some of the most trusted names in the industry such Tyco YORK Metasys Ruskin Titus Frick PENN Sabroe Simplex and Grinnell more information visit www johnsoncontrols com or follow johnsoncontrols on Twitter 2021 Johnson Controls All rights reserved