Fire alarms in at least 45 buildings across Cal Poly Pomona are being upgraded in a project that aims to enhance emergency response and safeguard the campus community.

Buildings with older fire alarms will receive an upgrade that includes new components, panels and conduits. For buildings that are equipped with newer fire alarm models, updated panels will be installed. The project will ensure that campus buildings meet current state fire codes and become integrated into the fire alarm response system at University Police headquarters.

The first buildings to undergo fire alarm upgrades starting in summer are the Biotechnology Building, Engineering Laboratories and the Children's Center. The alarm upgrades in those buildings are expected to completed by the end of July. Cal Poly Pomona's new semester system begins on Aug. 23.

Fire alarms in all buildings undergoing upgrades and overhauls will be connected to a central state-of-the-art emergency monitoring and response system that will be installed in the University Police headquarters as part of the revamp.

Facilities Planning, Design & Construction is managing the project and is responsible for ensuring that university buildings and projects comply with state building and fire codes. The $2.1-million project is scheduled to be completed in April 2019.

Work on overhauling and updating fire alarm systems will occur primarily during the day. Other work will be completed at night after classes have ended and campus offices are closed, on weekends and during lulls in classes, such as the spring and winter breaks. The contractor is planning work schedules that aim to minimize disruption to students and building users and staff.

If fire alarm upgrade work is going to impact classes or offices, email notification of the dates and times of the impending work will be sent. Notices also will be posted on The Compass website, which contains notifications about construction, repair and maintenance projects that can affect the campus community.

In addition, Facilities Planning, Design & Construction aims to meet with representatives of buildings that will be impacted.

The supervising electrician, project manager and an engineering firm hired by the university spent two months inspecting buildings to identify alarms that required upgrades and alarms that needed minor work. The design phase for the fire alarm upgrade project required 18 months of planning.