The Future of Sirens

[Sirenguy02]

I'm 90% sure that a post like this has already been made but i haven't seen one.So,today i randomly thought,"What will the future of sirens be?" Will there be a better 2001? Will a siren better then the Thunderbolt be produced?
Will the be no sirens at all?I just wanna know your guys thoughts about the future of sirens.

[Mantis]

My guess it that we'll see weather sirens disappear completely sometime in the next 50 years.

Fire sirens may take a little longer since FDs have the habit of getting attatched and clinging to their sirens even if they legitimately don't need them.

Air raid sirens could very well stick around forever in the areas that need them.

[r4tbolts]

My guess it that we'll see weather sirens disappear completely sometime in the next 50 years.

Fire sirens may take a little longer since FDs have the habit of getting attatched and clinging to their sirens even if they legitimately don't need them.

Air raid sirens could very well stick around forever in the areas that need them.

Given the way communities are cutting services these days the fire department might be gone before the fire siren is.

[Jim Z]

I just wanna know your guys thoughts about the future of sirens.

IMO probably more and more going to electronic/speaker "sirens." mostly due to upgradability, flexibility, ability to do voice (whether that's a "benefit" or not is not for me to decide) and cost.

[jkvernon]

I would say that we won't see sirens totally disappear completely for quite some time. They're still very much a part of the overall scope of mass notification. We all saw the increase in campus voice/siren installations following the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois campus shootings. I see more and more of a market for a highly intelligible, highly versatile electronic siren.

Mechanical sirens continue to have a market with nuclear power EPZs at least. I don't see them completely going away either.

[t-bolt82]

I'd like to see a 2001 siren - since Im sure we're stuck with 'em, being the only rotating siren FS has, now - that can be dual-tone, and have different pitch levels. Would be great if they couldn't sound closer to a Thunderbolt, then maybe a 500AT.

Dont know if that'll ever happen, but would be nice.

[The3t22sOfUSA]

I'd like to see a 2001 siren - since Im sure we're stuck with 'em, being the only rotating siren FS has, now - that can be dual-tone, and have different pitch levels. Would be great if they couldn't sound closer to a Thunderbolt, then maybe a 500AT.

Dont know if that'll ever happen, but would be nice.

Nah, FS likes high-pitched because it "penetrates better," but it doesn't garb attention. As we've learned from movies and such, low-pitched sirens have that creepy sound people recognize.

I think weather sirens will decrease due to the reverse 911 systems, and most mechanical sirens will be replaced with electronic ones because of voice. The voice feature isn't always worth it, because many people can't understand the muffled words over the radio waves, especially from a distance. It would be nice if all the wonderful old sirens were given DC motors with battery backup.

[t-bolt82]

Nah, FS likes high-pitched because it "penetrates better," but it doesn't garb attention. As we've learned from movies and such, low-pitched sirens have that creepy sound people recognize.
I think weather sirens will decrease due to the reverse 911 systems, and most mechanical sirens will be replaced with electronic ones because of voice. The voice feature isn't always worth it, because many people can't understand the muffled words over the radio waves, especially from a distance. It would be nice if all the wonderful old sirens were given DC motors with battery backup.

Yeah, if cities and towns could afford to upgrade all the old sirens, that'd be great. Also, high-pitched doesnt carry as well as low. I think Whelen did a good job explaining this:

Q. What is the difference between high and low frequencies?

A. The frequency of a warning tone used in rating a siren's Sound Pressure Level is critical in evaluating the performance of an outdoor warning siren, where the siren's warning tones are expected to carry over great distances.

Whelen siren systems are designed to optimize the production and projection of low frequency warning tones. It is documented that higher frequency tones attenuate (lose power) more over distance than low frequency tones.

A warning siren capable of producing 124 dB at 100 feet with a 500hz warning tone will be more effective than a siren producing 124 dB at 100 feet using a 1,000hz warning tone. This factor should be considered in planning a warning system.

Consider this example of the attenuation of higher frequency tones that is apparent in our everyday life..................

As you are standing out in your yard, your neighbor's teenage son has the stereo in his car blasting as he is coming down the road toward your house. The earth seems to shake as the "boom, boom, boom" of the low frequency bass notes are felt beneath your feet and on your ears. It is not until the car is very near to you that you can hear the high frequency acoustic guitar and voices. As the car passes you, these high frequency tones seem to disappear, but the pounding and thumping of the "boom, boom, boom" bass can still be heard and felt.

This scenario clearly demonstrates that ability of the lower frequency tones to be heard at a farther distance than the higher frequency tones.

In short, remember that not all 124 dB (at 100 feet) sirens are alike.

[SirenMadness]

Actually, a lower pitch penetrates better.

Back on topic, I guess the future of sirens really depends on the governments involved. Some places obviously seem to prefer sirens over other means of warning, such as reverse 911. Then again, reverse 911 isn't a very effective system to begin with, simply because not everyone will be at the phone at the time the warning is sent. Me, I don't even have a cellphone, but I will most likely be able to hear a siren. Also, remember, sirens are only part of the equation when it comes to an adequate warning and are only there to get your immediate attention so you know that you should tune in to the best source of media possible. Having weather radios, reverse 911 and all that other stuff is good, but without a siren, chances are you won't turn to it in the first place. I personally think the foreseeable future of the siren looks good.

[Bama2001]

I agree with @sirenmadness post. Sirens continue popping up all over the state of Alabama. Tuscaloosa, AL has added 15 2001-130's since they've been in production, I recently found 2 in more populated parts of town. I dont think sirens are a dying breed but they may be endangered.