DoD's Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) for Mass Notification Systems Now Incorporates Specifications for Supplemental Network-Based Alerting Systems
Burlingame, Ca. (PRWEB) July 25, 2008 -- AtHoc, Inc., the pioneer and leader in network-centric emergency notification systems, today announced that its flagship product, AtHoc IWSAlerts™, is fully compliant with the recommendations for network-centric alerting systems outlined in the recently updated Department of Defense's (DoD) Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 4-021-01 entitled "Design and O&M: Mass Notification Systems." For AtHoc's extensive DoD client base, this means they are already using a system that fully supports the recommendations laid out in the new UFC.
For the first time, the UFC has incorporated a list of specifications for network-centric alerting solutions as part of the criteria for mass notification systems. While the network-centric specifications are not yet defined as mandatory, they are provided as guidance for DoD agencies as they embark on deployments of network-based alerting capabilities that supplement their giant voice and fire alarm systems.
The UFC committee sees a clear role for network-centric alerting systems as part of an overall mass notification strategy, stating in the report that, "Text notification via wireless devices and desktop computer notification are effective means for delivering mass notification messages to multiple recipient groups." The criteria later states, "Desktop notification is particularly effective when more complex information must be conveyed, and can be a cost-effective interim solution prior to installing an individual building MNS." The UFC also conveys that specifications are currently published to "stimulate development of suitable requirements and standards for DoD installations." By formalizing the recommendation and requesting feedback, the DoD has taken the first step in a process that commonly results in making a capability a mandatory standard.
"The DoD has led the adoption of network-based emergency alerting systems, beginning to deploy them as early as 2004. In fact, more than 130 DoD facilities already use AtHoc IWSAlerts to protect approximately one million people," said Guy Miasnik, president and CEO for AtHoc. "Though some of the individual military services already have regulations in place requiring network alerting functionality, the newly amended UFC raises the importance of network-centric alerting and signals maturation of the market. It also paves the way for wide adoption of this capability across the DoD."
According to William Sako, chairman of Sako & Associates, Inc. and a senior vice president of Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. a global leader in fire protection, security and media technology, "The UFC committee has done a great job adapting mass notification requirements to embrace modern IP network technologies. Their guidance will impact the DoD and other government and commercial organizations requiring emergency alerting systems. For example, the UFC impacts standards for organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the primary authority on fire prevention and public safety, which today provides guidance for mass notification systems and their relationship to fire protection systems. The NFPA is currently working on moving the network-centric alerting recommendations into mandated code for mass notification to private sector commercial projects."
Specific Recommendations
UFC 4-021-01 recommends adopting network-centric systems to supplement and manage existing alerting capabilities already deployed as part of facilities' mass notification systems. The UFC outlines the value of network-based alerting for reaching all IP-connected devices such as computers, personal digital assistants, landline phones, cell phones and email while also triggering traditional notification systems such as giant voice and outdoor warning systems. It also highlights the role network-centric solutions can play in managing the entire notification process, including:
- Unifying alert activation through a single Web-based console to deliver alerts across multiple delivery platforms such as computers, telephones, SMS/text messaging, email and giant voice/PA systems
- Targeting recipients based on location, job function, distribution lists and more
- Tracking and reporting on alert delivery and responses for each alert and recipient
- Managing users including integrating with directories such as LDAP and Active Directory
- Serving an individual facility or scaling to multi-facility, geographically-dispersed organizations such as major commands
- Interoperating with and monitoring external sensors including third-party sources of emergency events
The full UFC can be found at http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/DOD/UFC/ufc_4_021_01.pdf, and the section that references network-centric alerting systems is located on page 84 of the PDF.
About AtHoc
AtHoc is the pioneer and recognized leader in providing enterprise-class, network-centric emergency notification systems to military, government and commercial organizations for physical security, force protection and personnel accountability. Millions of end users worldwide, in organizations such as the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Hawaii State Civil Defense, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Boeing, PricewaterhouseCoopers and eBay, rely on AtHoc's unified management systems for their emergency alerting and critical communication needs. AtHoc has partnered with market leaders including Microsoft, Cisco, Harris, Siemens, Avaya, Lockheed Martin, Unisys and others to bring these notification solutions to the public and commercial markets.
For more information on AtHoc, please visit http://www.athoc.com.
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