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Notifier introduces Onyx ExitPoint

Notifier, a manufacturer of commercial fire alarm technology and life safety systems, has announced its Onyx ExitPoint audible exit technology. This latest advancement in life safety technology improves building evacuation and can potentially reduce evacuation times up to 75% - preventing injuries and saving lives.

Onyx ExitPoint is a compact speaker that produces broadband noise that is installed near building exits or along egress routes, acting as an audible 'Exit' sign. The system is triggered by the building's fire alarm control panel, alerting building occupants to the location of the nearest exit using directional sound - a completely new technology in fire safety.

Currently all types of exit marking such as emergency lighting, signage, and photo luminescent guidance strips are visual in nature. However, visual aids can easily be obstructed by smoke and can be difficult to find in crowded areas such as airports and shopping malls. Also visual markings are passive, so people have to find them. They do nothing to actively assist evacuation.

Onyx ExitPoint offers 'interactive guidance' as it generates noise at all frequencies across the human hearing range. The source of broadband, directional sound is easily located by the human ear. The varying tones and intensities provide distinctive directional cues and do not conflict with traditional notification devices such as horns or bells. Onyx ExitPoint emits four different field selectable sound pulse patterns used to create an egress pathway out of a building and mark perimeter exits, defining an immediate escape route even when visibility is impaired. Additional pulse patterns can be added to alert building occupants that they are approaching a stairway and need to proceed either up or down.

Onyx ExitPoint goes much further than just marking exits. Onyx ExitPoint is a new technology for guided egress through Directional Sound.

Notifier is part of the Honeywell Life Safety Group, a provider commercial fire alarms, advanced detection and notification products, and home patent remote tracking.

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