[KathieI]

Originally Posted by DougB

Ok, I know I am going to upset a few, but I do not see this as a problem. It is not like the OP was in a 20 story building and no way to notify her to evacuate. Apparently They had a plan in place to notify customers. They were personally there to escort the OP out. My work place has fire alarms throughout the building and occasionally our system goes out, but we have a plan with walkie talkies and contacts through out the building to notify everyone in case of emergency. I would hope this business knowing their alarm was out on the second floor also had a plan. Apparently, they did.

P.S. Maybe the fire dept was made aware earlier. We always call them if ours goes out.

Very logical post. Certainly didn't upset me,,, what does upset me is the jump to conclusion attitudes on this thread. For goodness sake,,, why not just talk to the manager,,, he's a very nice guy, his name is Michael.. Ask him why and if you don't get a satisfactory answer, then call the fire dept. But I think Michael will give you a very satisfactory answer.

I agree with Doug,,, obviously they had a plan in place as we did in our businesses, to notify everyone in case of emergency. I'd give them A+ for getting it done according to their plan.

[OnTrack]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

Ya got to admit, it is easier to complain than look for the reason why.

The OP stated that an employee told her, that the alarms were very loud on the first floor...but silent on the second floor.

Does it really matter....why they went off?


I would be letting the Fire Marshall know about it, before someone gets hurt.

.

[OnTrack]

Originally Posted by spk7951

Well it is a problem. Whether it is a 20 story or 2 story the alarms are meant as an immediate notification of a possible emergency and a need to evacuate. Many companies have evacuation monitors whose responsibility is to make sure everyone gets out of the building, in an emergency, AFTER an audible alarm has been sounded.

You are exactly right...it IS a problem.

I am surprised, that anyone would make excuses for the business.

Or maybe I'm not.

.

[blueash]

I don't know if the OP was clear, but if the words in the post are accurate I don't see what the conjecture might be. Apparently a loud alarm occurred on the first floor. This alarm went off at least several minutes before the OP left the locker room on her own as the fire trucks had already arrived. She never heard the alarms. Not only did she not hear an alarm but she was advised they were apparently deliberately turned off. No one came to advise her that there was an event. When she independently went to take the elevators someone redirected her to the stairs. This suggests that for emergency purposes the elevator was shut down. If the spa's emergency plan is to wait for people to come to the elevator then send them down the stairs that could leave people elsewhere on the second floor unaware of a fire. No idea what the Florida Fire Prevention Code may require if anything for this particular business. But the fire marshal will know.

[gingersnap]

I was also @ Tuscany Spa, on the second floor during the "fire alarm". I came out of the ladies room, heading for the elevator when I was approached by an employee saying that I could not use the elevator because it was "beeping" and she was unsure why. I heard it beeping, but that was the only thing I did hear at that time. I was then escorted out the back upper level door onto the back porch. As soon as I went out the door, I heard the loud, shrill sound of a fire alarm going off. I thought that the elevator alarm was going off way ahead of the fire alarm ,but it never entered my mind that the alarm was shut off upstairs. I was escorted all the way down the steps and then into the front door to pay for my service. The girls at the counter were making phone calls to the owner, the fire dept had already been alerted. They were making their plan to get the building evacuated. There was a lady upstairs with a broken foot that they were concerned about. By the time I walked out the front door to leave, the fire dept was already there. Great response time...it was certainly less than 10 min.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by bimmertl

The reason the fire dept was there is not relevant. Most likely the alarm would have gone off prior to the fire department even arriving.

The fire alarm in the building was going off and wasn't able to be heard on the second floor since it was shut off. It could have gone off accidentally and been a false alarm. The point is, if it was a real emergency, those on the second floor may not have been aware of the emergency. Every second counts in such an emergency, especially for senior citizens.

The firetruck comes for ALL emergencies was my point, NOT just for fires. It was first to respond in our neighborhood to a 911 call for illness.

It is a part of the EMS, first responders. I have never heard a fire alarm anywhere in any business in TV. I didn't know the Tuscany Spa had a second floor.

I think the SIMPLE answer is that the OP should call the fire department and tell them that she was told that the alarm system is NOT working on the second floor and that she was told it was turned off.

And then anyone who goes there tell the manager shame on you and see what he/she says.

[weaverk65]

The Villages Public Safety Dept and Fire inspector are investigating.

The fire truck was NOT there for a medical emergency. Fire dept personnel was in full fire gear, and we could not re-enter the bldg (to pay) until we got a clearance from them.

[rubicon]

Please with all the noise on this thread don't let go of the basic offense. Fire alarms placed at strategic points are done so for specific reasons. The safety inspection passed was based on the satisifaction that ample audio alarm were in place that would immediately detect the presence of smoke/fire/heat. the insuranc company also insured this building for the same reason. By the bldg owners action of disabling that second floor alarm system the bldg owner was in violation of the safety rules and the contract they signed with their insurer. Most importantly if a fire had ensued and if customers were not alerted because the alarm was disabled then an injury or death that occurred would take on at minimum gross negligence which would make the bldg owner liable for punitive damages.

[asianthree]

when our fire alams go off at work they continue to sound and strobe untill the all clear is given...the fire is out...and i don't care where you are you can hear them..

[Schaumburger]

At my office we have about 4 practice fire drills a year. The fire alarms are very loud in my office. My job is to check the ladies room to make sure no one is in there and to tell them to get out. All employees have to meet at a designated spot in our office parking lot, and we are timed to see how fast we evacuate the office. If an employee refuses to leave during a fire drill, that person and their supervisor will hear about it from the corporate manager of safety.

[Brian b.]

....

[memason]

Originally Posted by Brian b.

From what i have heard they where doing a fire sprinkler test and the guys doing it where resetting the fire alarm so fast that it did not have time to set off the whole building. I do not know why the fire department was called out they should have put the system in test to stop them from calling.

and just so you know you can use the elevator's when the fire alarms are going off untill one of the smoke detectors infrount of the elevator ( lets say the smoke detector infrount of the elevator on the 2nd floor go off the elevator will go down to the 1st floor)

But good job on starting a rumor about somthing you know nothing about. Maybe you should be more mad that they put you on the schedule same time they where going to have there sprinkler system tested.

Not to be contrary, but when you start a response like above, why would we think yours is anything other than another rumor ???

Just asking....

[Brian b.]

....

[marianne237]

Hey folks, this is not worth fighting about. An incident happened, whatever it was, and was taken care of.

[gustavo]

Originally Posted by marianne237

Hey folks, this is not worth fighting about. An incident happened, whatever it was, and was taken care of.

It is worth it, that's why I read this stuff. Love the holier than thou dynamic from both ends of the spectrum coming together to educate each other.