This is an interesting thread to read. Many good points about the laws and procedures of fire alarms. What I don't understand though is why so many posts about everyone's thoughts on what should have been done, what happened , or conjecture. Just thinking that why all along the OP or someone criticizing the process hasnt CALLED the owner or the fire department and get the actual facts what did happen and finalize this. Usually there is a good follow up done including if and why they were off and what truly occurred. Was it a test, an alarm, and were the alarms turned off. I would hope the owner would not lie about what happened, but if so, I doubt the fire department would lie. Should be public record?
What I did find odd though, is that no one on the second floor could here the alarms. i know if the second floor was turned off for what ever reason, it may be more "quiet"! But alarms are pretty loud. That must be one heck of a sound proof system! IMHO lol

I believe there actually is a follow-up being done by contact with the fire department, and the facts will be reported as soon as they are received.

I did hear back from the Public Safety Dept about the fire alarm at Tuscany Day Spa on Sat., 5/11.

Two fire alarms were triggered at the spa that day due to a faulty smoke detector. The first one was at about 6 am and the 2nd around the 10 am timeframe. The Fire Dept responded to both of them.

When the fire alarm is sounded, both floors should hear it and there should be very visible strobe lighting. The elevator automatically returns to the first floor, locks from use, and a elevator alarm sounds.

If I understood the explanation correctly, the reason the alarm didn't sound on the 2nd floor when we were there (for the 2nd alarm) is because it was in the "resetting" process. The landlord and Public Safety Dept have investigated and confirmed all is working ok.

One thing the Public Safety Dept was going to do is review with the Staff how they should know the whereabouts of each of their clients - before exiting the bldg themselves.

So, that is it. Guess I'll have to trust what the Public Safety Dept says, even though I still don't quite understand it totally about the alarm being in reset mode 4 hours after the first alarm.

Actually it might. For a number of years I worked in a building that was being rehabbed. It was an old bank building of many stories and the building owners were building in office suites to suit the new tenants. Over the years time after time after time our fire alarms went off when some electrician or other worker crossed a wire while installing something. Since we were the tallest building in town the FD would roll the biggest engines and ladder trucks and time after time it was unneeded because there was no fire. In fact we got to the point that whenever the thing went off we just kept working because we knew there was no fire. Just another worker with 5 thumbs.

If I was TRULY concerned about what happened I would first contact the manager and discuss my concerns..not come here to TOTV to gripe. Now, no matter what the actual answer was the business has gotten a smear that they may very well have NOT deserved. Maybe they do deserve it..BUT..nobody knows since the OP decided that the best answer to her question will come from other people who know nothing about it here on TOTV and not from having a personal talk with the person in charge.

The OP did not "gripe", contacted the appropriate resources to investigate, and posted the results of their findings on the forum. As you'll notice, there were 2 other individuals who had similar experiences on the same day. There WAS a problem, it was identified, and fixed.

BTW, TOTV is supposed to be an open forum ... last time I checked the dictionary, a forum was a "discussion of questions of public interest."

I can't get over how critical posters have been on this thread considering your own safety could have been jeopardized. I felt as though mine was, it definitely was that day. Had there been an actual fire at this business that morning around 10am, lives would have been in jeopardy - of those who were on the 2nd floor of the bldg.

I agree with you on all points. There is/was reason to be concerned, and you took appropriate steps afterward. Even if there was no gripe, this forum is a place to air grievances and opinions as well as to share information.

The criticisms seem unwarranted. It's not like you were leaving dog poop on the sidewalk...