The Rinks at Shelton Scores with Gamewell Fire Protection
The Rinks at Shelton
Shelton , CT

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The Challenge
At the new 90,000 square foot, multi-level sports complex known as The Rinks at Shelton, fire and ice definitely do not mix. The management has made sure of this by protecting patrons at this state-of-the-art ice rink in Shelton, CT, with the most advanced fire safety system available – an Identiflex (IF) 632 Analog Addressable Control Panel from Gamewell.

The Rinks at Shelton is a two-story ice rink, and the first of its kind in the nation. Completed in 2004, it’s the newest addition to SportsCenter of Connecticut, a facility that also includes a driving range, batting cages, and miniature golf course.

The Solution Due to the large number of patrons using this expansive facility on a regular basis and the uniqueness of the two-story, double-decker ice-rink, the owner of The Rinks, Howard Saffan, had a tremendous responsibility and challenge in selecting a life safety system that could provide the coverage and communication technology to keep visitors safe.

“We looked at a range of different systems, but in the end determined that the Gamewell system was a superior product that fit our facility’s needs. Plus, we were familiar with Gamewell’s excellent reputation, and appreciated that this system was endorsed by a distributor we trusted, Sarraco”

Sarracco Mechanical Services, Inc., located in Naugatuck, CT, have been experts in the field since 1975 and pride themselves on installing the best quality of products.

In the case of The Rinks, the Gamewell IF 632, ideal for mid-sized facilities, was perfect for both the size and voice evacuation needs of this new facility.

The Results
Gamewell’s IF 632 analog addressable control panel is a full-featured fire alarm control panel that can be configured to monitor and control both analog intelligent addressable devices as well as conventional hardwire zones, providing maximum application flexibility. It can be adapted easily to either a complex retrofit installation or a new installation, providing up to 1008 analog addressable points with XP-95 protocol. Utilizing Gamewell’s new SmartScan protocol, up to 1,584 analog addressable points are available.

According to Sarraco Department Manager, Ray Giordano, “One IF 632 panel was actually sufficient for covering the whole facility. It provided The Rinks with the right amount of loops and relay modules, plus it featured an additional power supply to control the system’s strobes. With the IF 632, we were able to add all the strobe circuits we needed to meet the needs of a building the size of The Rinks at Shelton.”

The IF 632’s SLC (Signal Line Circuit) loops allow the user to add and monitor any initiating devices, such as smoke detectors, while the relay modules control different functions such as door magnets and fan shut-down.

The Gamewell IF 632 also features SmartStart self-programming logic, allowing users to automatically locate, identify and configure all system modules, circuits and devices to default alarm mode. Once initiated, an entire system can be brought on line in less than a minute, saving buildings like The Rinks a great deal of time and money.

The Rinks also receives assurance that patrons and employees will be immediately notified in the event of an emergency from the IF 632’s voice evacuation system.

“The voice evacuation system is automatically activated when the panel goes into alarm,” explains Sarracco’s Ray Giordano. “Plus, the system has a universal digital communicator, or UDACT, which notifies a monitoring station, which in turn notifies the fire department. There is no wasted time or potentially dangerous delays.”

Finally, the system features a remote microphone and remote annunciator on each floor. When the fire department arrives, the annunciator display can be read to determine the fire’s location. Fire officials can then use the microphone to announce specific instructions for exiting the building.

Clearly Gamewell’s IF 632 is truly an ideal solution for a sports facility like The Rinks at Shelton. With this system in place, the building’s management can concentrate on creating an ideal environment for fun and exercise. And patrons can concentrate on staying upright on the ice and having a great time.