By Alan M. Petrillo
Horns, sirens, and other audible warning devices are about as old as motorized fire trucks. While the basic function of these devices to warn others about approaching fire apparatus continues, the devices themselves have evolved into effective and audibly penetrative warning devices that easily attract attention as well as electronic intersection products that control traffic lights and alert motorists to emergency traffic.
Preston Tischer, product manager for Whelen Engineering Company Inc., says Whelen makes CenCom Core®, a full vehicle control system it created to enhance first responder safety with advanced automation and remote connectivity. “Through our newest CAN-based communication system, WeCanX™, the all-new design provides true system synchronization, greater speed capabilities, expanded peripheral add-ons, and full support of diagnostics,” Tischer says.
1 Whelen Engineering makes CenCom Core, a full vehicle control system with advanced automation and remote connectivity. (Photos 1-3 courtesy of Whelen Engineering Co. Inc.)
2 The 295SL Series is a full function siren with radio repeat and public address.
3 The Whelen Howler provides deep tones to penetrate other vehicles more effectively.
He points out that CenCom Core can provide higher frequency warnings through the siren speaker and low frequency warnings through Whelen’s Howler™, which gives deep tones to penetrate other vehicles, alerting drivers and pedestrians of the vehicle’s approach. CenCom Core also supports vehicle-to-vehicle synchronizing lights and tones on multiple vehicles and controls Dynamic Variable Intensity™ patterns that gradually increase or decrease the output intensity for nighttime emergency scenes.
“We have added digital voice message capabilities to our systems,” Tischer observes, “where audible warnings such as ‘stand clear’ or ‘evacuation’ notices can be broadcast through the siren speaker and the Howler. The system can also play a prerecorded message that replays itself when approaching an intersection and allows the fire department to record their own custom messages.”
Tischer points out that the Whelen Cloud Platform® has integrated with Miovison’s Opticom Cloud Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) solution. He says that Opticom mitigates risk and expedites emergency response time by clearing intersections and giving responders the green light to respond to emergencies safely.
Whelen also offers Responder-to-Vehicle (R2V®) digital alerts from HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud® service through the Whelen Vehicle Safety Gateway® and its Cloud Platform. Tischer notes that Safety Cloud protects responders by enabling them to deliver advance-warning digital alerts to drivers, notifying them when emergency vehicles are ahead. Safety Cloud alerts are received through navigation apps and vehicle infotainment systems up to 30 seconds in advance.
Tischer adds that Whelen continues to offer a number of siren models for first responders, including the 295SL Series, a full function siren with radio repeat and public address; the SA315 Series that features compact speakers; the Alpha™ Siren Series with multiple warning tones and horn ring override capabilities; and the Beta™ Siren Series with warning, public address, and radio repeat capabilities.
Gabe Casucci, national manager of fire and EMS for SoundOff Signal, says his company makes the bluePRINT® 500 Series Control System, which can control the warning systems on a vehicle such as lightbars; secondary lights; siren; speakers; and accessories like cameras, radios, and radar. Casucci points out the bluePRINT 500 system has matrix programming; vehicle-to-vehicle communication to allow synchronization with bluePRINT Sync®; scalable architecture that allows the addition of up to 50 discrete inputs, 24 OBD inputs, and 68 outputs; as well as control of two light bars without the need for an external breakout box.
4 The bluePRINT 500 Series Control System made by SoundOff Signal can control all the electronics on a vehicle. (Photos 4-6 courtesy of SoundOff Signal.)
5 The SoundOff Signal FR100 model is the company’s most popular siren for large fire vehicles.
6 bluePRINT Sync® allows departments to unify the lighting functions of an entire fleet of emergency vehicles and equipment.
Casucci says that new features of the system include bluePRINT Announce, which allows for playback of a prerecorded message; internal alerts and commands in the vehicle’s cab and outside for messages like “shelter in place” and “leave the area”; and new mechanical siren tones.
He adds that with bluePRINT’s mobile application, SoundOff Central®, you can configure your complete system, name and assign input/output relationships, create logic functions, and prioritize system actions with the click of a mouse. The app also allows real-time diagnostics and firmware updates.
SoundOff Signal’s most popular siren for large fire vehicles is the FR100 Series Siren, Casucci points out. “It has large buttons to accommodate firefighters wearing gloves and is easier to see at night, giving better visibility,” he says. “The FR100 is an electronic siren with 24 selectable tones, including a mechanical tone, and has a momentary button that can use a foot pedal. With its compact design and at 200 W, it’s the perfect siren for heavy duty fire apparatus.”
SoundOff Signal also makes the nERGY® 400 Series Remote, Handheld, and Console Sirens; the bluePRINT 200 Series Compact Siren; and the bluePRINT 400 Series Siren/Switch Module.
ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Arizona-based journalist, the author of three novels and five nonfiction books, and a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Editorial Advisory Board. He served 22 years with the Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including in the position of chief.
