Integrated Life Safety Communication Systems

In today’s connected world, the speed and accuracy of emergency communication can make all the difference. Valcom’s integrated life safety communication systems bring together access control, fire panels, nurse call systems, and mass notification platforms into a single seamless network—ensuring that critical alerts reach the right people at the right time on every channel.

The Challenge: Fragmented Safety Systems

Many organizations—from school districts and hospitals to manufacturing facilities—rely on a mix of standalone safety systems. Each may function well independently, but the lack of integration between them can delay response times, create confusion, and compromise safety. When seconds matter, these silos can make the difference between an organized response and chaos. A unified communication platform is no longer optional—it’s essential.

Valcom’s Solutions: One Platform, Total Integration

Valcom bridges these gaps through advanced emergency communication integration, connecting systems across industries and facilities, including:

• Access Control Systems – Instantly trigger lockdowns or perimeter alerts in K-12 schools and corporate campuses when a security breach occurs.
• Camera Systems – Integrate with surveillance and analytics platforms to provide real-time visual context during events. Security personnel can receive synchronized alerts with live video feeds to verify incidents and respond faster.
• Nurse Call Systems – Route priority alerts directly to staff in hospitals or senior living centers, improving coordination and response times.
• Mass Notification Software – Fully InformaCast and Intrado Revolution compatible and supportive of Common Alerts Protocol (CAP) Alerts, Valcom platforms extend messages across PA, VoIP, mobile, and desktop endpoints for complete unified notification coverage.

This interoperability ensures that every subsystem—regardless of manufacturer—communicates seamlessly within one safety network.

How Valcom Connects: APIs, Relays and Real-Time Communication

Valcom’s flexibility lies in how it connects. Our systems use open APIs, contact closures, network relays, and GPIO interfaces to integrate directly with third-party technologies. Whether triggering an emergency lockdown from an access control panel, syncing a camera system to automated audio and visual messaging, or pushing notifications through mass alert software, Valcom provides real-time data exchange and command synchronization. This level of connectivity enables customization and scalability without complex middleware—ideal for IT and facility teams managing multi-site operations.

Built for Everyday Use & Emergencies

Unlike systems that sit idle until disaster strikes, Valcom platforms support daily operational communication as naturally as they handle emergencies. Schools use them for morning announcements and bell schedules; hospitals use them for patient calls and shift changes; factories use them for paging and routine safety reminders. Because staff and students interact with the system every day, familiarity builds muscle memory—making it second nature to use during a crisis. When urgent communication is needed, users already know how to act, what to expect, and how to respond.

Why Integration Works

A unified system simplifies control, enhances awareness, and increases confidence across all environments:

• Faster response through automated triggers and synchronized alerts
• Reduced risk of human error with centralized management
• Scalable design that grows with the organization
• Better compliance with safety and security standards

The result is a cohesive safety ecosystem where K-12 campuses, healthcare networks, industrial complexes, and enterprise organizations can communicate quickly.

Valcom can integrate with various third-party software and hardware providers. To review this list, click the “Integration Solutions” button below.

Integration Solutions

Engineered for the Future of Enterprise Safety

Valcom’s approach to enterprise safety integration extends beyond compatibility—it’s about sustainability and evolution. Designed to adapt to emerging technologies, our systems provide organizations with a reliable, future-ready foundation for both everyday communication and critical alerts. Whether you’re modernizing a single facility or managing communication across an entire district or enterprise, Valcom delivers a single, connected, intelligent platform. Learn More about our Valcom Enterprise Maintenance and Security Solution by clicking below.

Discover VEMASS

Stay Connected. Stay Protected.

When seconds matter, trust the power of integration. Valcom’s unified life safety communication systems deliver clarity, speed, and reliability for every moment—routine or critical—because alerts and familiarity with the systems save lives. Read more about how Valcom’s life safety solutions help organizations keep people safe and informed.

Populations change. Messages stay clear.

Life safety is nothing new. It has been around for years. In fact, K-12 schools have long recognized the importance of structured communication – especially during emergencies. During the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis era, schools conducted “Duck and Cover!” drills. In the 1980s, the phrase “Stop! Drop! And Roll!” was taught to Generation X. Today, school-aged children are part of what the media refers to as the “lockdown generation.” While emergency scenarios have evolved over the years, the protocol for many K-12 schools remains unchanged: perform drills and keep the language simple and easy to understand to ensure the safety of your population.

But what about organizations that don’t have a consistent population? Hospitals, airports, and business campuses face unique challenges as people come and go throughout the day, and many of them are unfamiliar with the facility.

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Preparedness and Real-Time Situational Awareness

Unlike schools that follow standardized drills, facilities with transient populations, such as hospitals, require messaging that adapts to the situation. Instead of using “Code Pink” for an infant abduction, a plain-language alert — “Infant abduction, mother/baby floor, secure exits” — is more effective at getting the population’s attention and helping them become aware of their surroundings. Valcom systems allow administrators to create real-time, location-specific instructions that are broadcast out to overhead paging speakers, LED/LCD message boards, and IP HelpPoints. This agility transforms emergency communications and helps organizations to move from reactive to proactive in emergencies.

Integration with Existing Systems

Valcom’s flexibility makes it easy to integrate with existing systems, including door access systems, camera systems, and software-based platforms. When these systems are all connected, an organization has a unified platform that instantly alerts people across multiple channels and methods – Valcom systems help you reach every eye and ear. But what about when there is an emergency in one area of the building that doesn’t affect other parts of the building? It is simple: Valcom’s system allows administrators to issue messages to one area of the building while maintaining operations in another. Scalability is key for many organizations, such as hospitals, airports, and corporate, commercial, and industrial campuses that span multiple buildings.

Everyday Communication Built-In

While Valcom systems excel during emergencies, their primary function is day-to-day communications. Paging staff, shift change alerts, visitor notifications, and routine announcements all flow through the same network. The dual use of a Valcom system means end users are already familiar with the interface, so when an emergency does happen, they already know the system and what to do next.

To learn about how we work in healthcare, K-12 and the commercial & industrial markets click the images below.

Healthcare

Commercial & Industrial

K-12

Want to learn more how Valcom can assist your organization with Life Safety Solutions. Complete the form below to let us know what your challenges are.

Why Hospitals Are Moving to Plain Language Protocols and How Valcom Delivers It

If you’ve worked in a hospital or even visited one, you’ve probably heard color codes over the public address paging system — “Code Blue,” “Code Red,” “Code Silver.” Helpful? Sometimes. Consistent? Not really. Across the U.S., recommendations from hospital associations and federal emergency associations advocate for replacing color codes with plain-language protocol alerts that everyone—clinicians, staff, patients, and visitors—can immediately understand. Here’s what’s driving the shift and how Valcom helps hospitals eliminate codes and deliver plain language protocols through its communication solutions, making implementation easy.

Why the shift to plain language?

Clarity under stress. Federal emergency management encourages the use of plain language to facilitate quick coordination among responders from different organizations. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) defines plain language as avoiding codes and jargon—especially when multiple agencies are involved. While NIMS mandates plain language for mutual-aid scenarios, it strongly encourages its use for day-to-day operations, as it reduces confusion and speeds action. Not every hospital or agency, such as law enforcement, uses a standardized code language. For example, a “Code Silver” in one hospital may mean a missing elderly patient, but in another hospital, it could mean an active shooter threat. Coded language can lead to miscommunication and a delay in response time.

Safety and Standardization

Many hospital associations nationwide have concluded that color codes vary too widely between facilities, which can cause confusion and slow response—particularly for float staff, travelers, and new hires. Several hospital associations from states such as Iowa, Missouri, Texas, New Jersey, and Colorado, among others, promote the adoption of standardized, plain-language (e.g., “Active Shooter—First Floor—Shelter in Place”) to improve transparency and reduce errors. It’s essential to consult with your state’s hospital association to determine if plain language protocol is mandatory or voluntary in your state.
Bottom line: Plain language clearly states what’s happening and where, so people can take action.

So, What Does Plain Language Sound Like?

Many toolkits recommend consistent, descriptive phrasing that names the hazard, location, and action.

For example:

• “Infant Abduction – Mother/Baby Unit – Secure Exits”
• “Active Shooter- ED Lobby – Run, Hide, Fight”

How Does Valcom Help Hospitals?

Pair Audio with Visual Notification for Inclusive Communication

• Valcom Speakers & Horns (ceiling, wall, and clean room speakers as well as vandal-resistant horns) deliver crisp voice paging emergency communication across many areas across a hospital, including patient and visitor areas, lobby, cafeterias, and others.
• The VIP-LC22 Series is an LCD display with speakers and flashers, equipped with customizable templates that display hazard, location, and action in an easy-to-read format.

Launch the Right Alert Announcements with Valcom’s Site Manager

• Valcom’s Site Manager delivers tailored solutions to address the diverse needs of healthcare facilities. Valcom helps healthcare delivers plain language protocol by tailoring its products for your specific needs.

Monitor, Manage and Prove Readiness

• Valcom’s VEMASS solution provides a real-time status of all IP endpoints and software components across multiple locations—ensuring your alerting system is healthy before you need it.

What About Code Blue?

What about those scenarios where a Code Blue is in use? Many states still allow a few legacy color codes while transitioning to plain language equivalents. Valcom recommends that you check your state association’s guidance and align your scripts accordingly. Additionally, understanding how Valcom helps healthcare deliver plain language protocol will ensure accurate and rapid response during such critical events.

Ready to Modernize Your Healthcare Communications?

Valcom helps healthcare systems transition from color codes to clear, plain language protocols without disrupting existing communication infrastructure. Our solutions include paging servers, IP speakers, visual signage, mobile activation, and enterprise monitoring. Please reach out to us to learn more about how Valcom helps healthcare facilities deliver clear, concise protocols effectively and efficiently to meet the specific needs of your facility.

Upgrade Without the Overhaul: Benefits of a Hybrid Paging System

When it comes to upgrading your paging system, ripping out everything and starting over isn’t always practical. Many organizations still rely on analog paging systems for daily operations and emergency alerts, but also want to move toward more flexible, IP-based communication. That’s where Valcom’s ezIP hybrid paging system shines. Designed to help organizations transition from analog to IP paging at their own pace, ezIP bridges the gap between legacy infrastructure and modern network-based solutions, without sacrificing reliability, coverage, or clarity.

What is a Hybrid Paging System

A hybrid paging system combines traditional analog paging equipment, such as 25V/70V speakers and wiring, with IP-based paging endpoints. Valcom’s ezIP solution allows healthcare facilities, industrial facilities, and smaller organizations to preserve existing infrastructure while adding IP speakers and advanced communication features on the same network.
Whether you’re managing emergency notifications in healthcare or facility-wide announcements in manufacturing, ezIP helps you modernize while staying cost-effective.

Top Benefits of Valcom’s ezIP Hybrid Paging System

Analog Compatibility Saves Time & Money

One of the biggest concerns with VoIP paging upgrades is cost. ezIP is compatible with analog speakers, even those from other manufacturers, so there’s no need to replace your entire system. You can keep what works and upgrade only where needed. This dramatically reduces labor and infrastructure costs.

Flexible & Scalable Paging

With ezIP, you can add IP speakers and expand coverage as your organization grows. New zones, buildings, or areas can be added without running new analog cabling. The system scales easily across campuses, multi-floor facilities, and networked locations.

VoIP & SIP Phone System Integration

Many organizations are moving to VoIP phone systems. ezIP integrates with SIP-based systems, ensuring your paging system works seamlessly with your IP phones and VoIP infrastructure, thereby helping to unify communication across platforms.

Future-Proof with Software Upgradability

ezIP’s IP endpoints are software-upgradable, allowing you to unlock features like two-way talkback, shift tones, and compatibility with third-party mass notification platforms as your needs evolve.

If you’re looking to modernize your paging and emergency communication systems without a complete infrastructure overhaul, then a hybrid paging system with Valcom’s ezIP is your answer. It’s cost-effective, scalable, easy to manage, and designed for real-world compatibility.
Make your next paging upgrade smarter, not harder. With Valcom ezIP, you can future-proof your communications and meet today’s demands with confidence.

Enhancing Emergency Response with Visual Notifications

December 17, 2024

Visual alerts extend beyond interior spaces to exterior areas. For example, Valcom’s VL590 Large LED Sign can be installed outdoors to notify those approaching a building of ongoing emergencies inside, instructing them to stay away. Enhanced features, like multi-color displays and bilingual programming in products like the VL520BK-F-FC, further improve accessibility and effectiveness. Valcom’s VL520BK-F-FC LED sign can be programmed in schools to correspond with the standard response protocols from the “I Love U Guys” Foundation. The multi-lingual feature enhances comprehension and helps individuals overcome language barriers in settings with a diverse population. 

From guiding evacuees to an area of refuge to ensuring accessibility for the hearing impaired, visual notifications bridge critical communication gaps that auditory signals cannot address. As a cornerstone of comprehensive emergency response plans, these tools enhance safety, inclusivity, and security, ensuring everyone receives the information they need to stay safe in a crisis.