Frequently Asked Questions
What is RescueLogic™ ?
RescueLogic™ is software that lets you
monitor all of your fire alarms, security systems, and building controls from a
standard personal computer. RescueLogic™ displays real-time information about
all of your alarms and devices on maps, floor plans, and color-coded lists,
along with corresponding “Take Action” messages.
Will RescueLogic™ work in my facility?
Yes. RescueLogic™ is designed to work with today’s most popular
fire, security, and building control systems.
How does RescueLogic™
work? RescueLogic™ links to your
existing quipment via RS-232 connections, and interprets the ASCI text it
generates.
Who uses RescueLogic™ ? Since 1988, RescueLogic™ has
been used in office towers, hospitals, shopping centers, hotels, and other
buildings just like yours around the world. Our customers include 3M, Allergan,
Allina, Ameritech, AmSourth, AT&T, Bank of America, ComEd, Delta Airlines,
Deutsh Bank, EDS, ESPN, Fidelity Investments, Fingerhut, Goodyear, Harvard,
Hertz, Hormel, Iron Mountain, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, Kerr-McGee,
Levi Straus, Lockheed-Martin, Mayo Clinic, MCI, Monroe Shocks, Nokia,
NutraSweet, Pacific Bell, PNC Park, Port of Seattle, Seagate, Sony, Southwestern
Bell, United Airlines, Unisys, the U.S. Army, Victoria’s Secret, Verizon,
Wal-Mart, and Westinghouse.
Is RescueLogic™
difficult to set up? Not if you are
used to configuring alarm panels. RescueLogic™ reads information from the
control panels that are installed on your site, and sends that information to a
database. You tell the RescueLogic™ system how to interpret messages from the
control panels, and the software will automatically identifies individual
address numbers. Then you can simply drag and drop the new devices onto the
RescueLogic™ map or floor plan of your site.
Can you set up a
RescueLogic™ system for me? Yes. We
are happy to provide installation and setup services.
Can I use RescueLogic™ if my facility has alarms and devices from several different
manufacturers? Yes. RescueLogic™ can
monitor devices from different panel manufacturers, even when they produce
messages that are different.
Can I customize the
look of my RescueLogic™ system? Yes.
While RescueLogic™ comes pre-programmed with an intuitive red, yellow, and green
color scheme for devices in alarm, trouble, and normal status, you can choose to
use any standard Windows colors. You can also choose any Windows font you like,
and use any digital images you wish.
How does RescueLogic™ ’ color coding work? Usually,
alarms and "Take Action" messages are automatically displayed in red, trouble or
error messages are displayed in yellow, and information about devices in normal
mode are displayed in green. Some users change their color schemes to
differentiate between the types of devices on site, such as fire or security.
What information is
included in RescueLogic™ ’ emergency "Take Action" instructions?
You can customize your emergency messages to
include suggestions for evacuating a building, calling supervisors and
technicians, or dealing with hazardous materials. You can change and add text on
the fly, in a matter of seconds. You can even include information in more than
one language. In addition to providing peace of mind, RescueLogic™ is a useful
tool for standardizing emergency procedures and protocols.
Can I add alarm
sounds and audible alerts to my RescueLogic™ system?
Yes. Just associate WAV files with each device
type and device state in your system.
Will RescueLogic™
work with closed-circuit video? Yes,
when you network cameras with TCP/IP addresses.
Can I print my RescueLogic™ files? Yes, you can print RescueLogic™ maps, floor
plans, records, and reports to any printer connected to your computer.
Can I use RescueLogic™ to integrate my fire and security systems?
Yes. RescueLogic™ will combine all the alarms
in a facility or on a campus into a single, streamlined interface.
Can I monitor my HVAC
system with RescueLogic™ ? Yes. RescueLogic™ works with any device with an RS-232 port.
Can I monitor more
than one building from a single computer?
Yes. Just use terminal servers to connect your
panels to your network. RescueLogic™ can read the data as if it were coming from
a hard-wired COM port.
What kind of computer
will I need? RescueLogic™ runs on most
desktop PCs, laptops, flat-panel, and touch screen computers with Windows
operating systems.
Can I run other
programs on my RescueLogic™ computer?
Yes. Just set RescueLogic™ to come to the front when there are active alarms.
Can I network my
RescueLogic™ system? Yes. You can
install RescueLogic™ on an existing network, or use standard products to build a
dedicated local area network.
Can I use RescueLogic™ for facility maintenance? Yes.
You can use RescueLogic™ to keep written and photographic records of device
types, model numbers, replacement parts, paint colors, and service providers.
You can also print RescueLogic™ maps and floor plans and add notes for your
maintenance team.
Can I use RescueLogic™ to show "as built" installations of wiring, alarms, and devices, even if
they deviate from the architect’s design?
Yes, RescueLogic™ is perfect for "as built"
diagrams, because it’s so easy to drag and drop devices into their correct
location on a floor plan.
Can I use RescueLogic™ as a sales tool for bids and estimates?
Yes. RescueLogic™ maps and floor plans are a
great way to show buyers what their alarm systems will include. RescueLogic™ is
also a simple way to combine and streamline systems with an array of devices
from multiple manufacturers.
Can I control my
alarm system through RescueLogic™ ?
Yes, if you use proprietary hardware that has been UL listed.
I’ve
already programmed my alarm system. Do I have to enter that data again?
No. RescueLogic™ is designed to update its database automatically whenever it
receives information from a fire alarm or security device. You won’t need to
manually enter long lists of details about every device in your system. The
first time RescueLogic™ receives a message from a device, it will add that item
to the database and automatically know which graphic image to use for that
device. Later, you can drag that image over to its proper place on the floor
plan. One of our customers automatically imported more than 4,000 devices in
about five minutes.
My panel sends unique
messages. Can RescueLogic™ handle them?
Yes. RescueLogic™ lets you assign a pseudo
point to create devices from non-standard messages. For example, you can tell
RescueLogic™ which error message refers to batteries. Then you can drop a
graphic image of a battery onto a picture to help users locate a panel with
battery problems.
Does RescueLogic™
store information about active alarms and devices?
Yes, RescueLogic™ automatically compiles
printable, second-by-second reports of alarms and events exactly as they occur.
RescueLogic™ makes it easy to reconstruct emergency events after the fact, both
to verify that the proper steps were taken and to improve future responses.
What will RescueLogic™ do if an alarm comes in from a device that hasn’t been logged by the
system? Within seconds, you will see
the alarm listed on the RescueLogic™ screen, so you can drag and drop it into
place on the floor plan. It’s a simple, automated process. After you’ve told the
RescueLogic™ system how to interpret messages from the control panels,
individual address numbers are collected automatically. A micro-processor-based
control panel reports whether your devices are missing, being tested, or
restored to normal status.
Is there a limit to
the amount of text I can include about each device in my system?
You can compose messages of up to 2,560
characters for devices that are in alarm, and separate 1,280-character messages
for those same devices when they report trouble or error messages.
Can I use RescueLogic™ to make CAD drawings? No. RescueLogic™ uses existing CAD maps and floor plans. When you set up a RescueLogic™
system, you will start by importing those files, and then you will simply drag
and drop alarms and devices onto them.
Where do I get CAD
maps and floor plans? Most architects
use CAD software to design buildings, and their CAD drawings are usually kept on
file by building owners or facility managers.
Does RescueLogic™
work with files drawn with any CAD software?
Yes, any CAD software program will create files
compatible with RescueLogic™ . Most of our customers work with files that were
created in AutoCAD.
Can you make CAD
files for me? Yes. If you don’t have
CAD files for your facility, our technicians can create them from your
blueprints and sketches.
Do RescueLogic™ image
files consist of a lot of layers? No,
RescueLogic™ images are simply a single-layer background image.
What format are
RescueLogic™ files? Most RescueLogic™
files are Windows Metafiles, or WMFs, because they show the most detail when
users zoom in. Most Windows CAD packages can create WMF files. RescueLogic™ will
also work with JPEGs and digital photos.
How do I make a CAD
file into a Windows Metafile? Most CAD
software programs will allow you to save and export files as WMFs.
Do you offer
training? Yes, we offer training for
installers, although our software is so easy to use that most customers can set
it up simply by referring to our User’s Guide. (Once the software is up and
running, it is so intuitive that end users need just a few minutes of
instruction.) Visit our training
page for details.
Do you offer
technical support? Of course. We offer
a comprehensive array of support materials on our website, as well as technical
support contracts and a toll-free hotline.
How much does RescueLogic™ cost? It
depends on how many alarms and devices you have in your system. For a quote,
call us toll-free at (612) 722-3233
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