Section 290IAC2-1-5. Minimum technical standards for severe weather warning sirens

   (a) The following standards and specifications shall be applied to those outdoor severe weather warning sirens installed and maintained in Indiana counties that have prepared a county siren coverage plan:

(1) Severe weather warning sirens may be of either electromechanical or electronic design.

(2) Severe weather warning sirens may employ three (3) coverage patterns to provide a full range of the alert coverage to a given area:

(A) directional, which are devices sending out a highly focused cone of sound in the direction that they are pointing;

(B) rotating, which are devices designed to spin completely several times per minute so the sound spreads three hundred sixty (360) degrees in a horizontal plane; or

(C) omnidirectional, which are devices designed to have the same sound power in all directions in a horizontal plane by employing multiple horns radiating out from a central point, covering a full three hundred sixty (360) degrees, without the need to rotate.

(3) Severe weather warning sirens shall be weather resistant and able to operate in a range of environmental conditions and temperatures (minus thirty (30) degrees centigrade to plus sixty (60) degrees centigrade).

(4) Severe weather warning sirens shall be resistant to insects and nesting birds.

(5) Severe weather warning sirens shall have sufficient power to provide for continuous, uninterrupted service to perform all of its essential functions including the activation, control, monitoring, and testing of the warning system components if conditions warrant. Severe weather warning sirens shall:

(A) be powered by the local electrical grid and in order to operate in the absence of this power source; and

(B) integrate and use one (1) or more of the following backup power configurations:

(i) Primary power from a local electric distribution grid, supplemented by emergency or standby power systems (for example, engine-driven generators).

(ii) Primary power from a local electrical distribution grid backed by an SEPSS (for example, batteries).

(iii) Primary power from on-site power system (for example, engine-driven generator) backed by SEPSS.

(iv) Primary power from uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that "floats" on local electrical distribution grid.

(v) Photo-voltaic or thermo-voltaic devices (that is, solar cells, used to charge SEPSS to supply steady electric power).

(6) UPS or SEPSS for outdoor severe weather warning siren systems shall:

(A) at a minimum, be designed to operate in a standby mode for at least twenty-four (24) hours without AC power from the local electrical distribution grid;

(B) be capable of operating in its alerting mode at its full design capability without recharge for a period of at least fifteen (15) minutes;

(C) allow for automatic charging to be sized such that batteries in the UPS or SEPSS are fully recharged to at least eighty percent (80%) of their maximum rated capacity from the fully discharged state in a period of twenty-four (24) hours; and

(D) utilize batteries of a maintenance-free design with a charging system designed to ensure a minimum battery life of at least three (3) years.

(7) The installation, maintenance, and use of severe weather warning sirens shall follow the manufacturer's recommendations and guidelines.

  (b) Counties electing to develop a siren coverage plan under IC 36-8-21.5-13 shall establish a central control site for their outdoor warning system having the capability to communicate and obtain information from all severe weather warning sirens erected in the county. Communication may take place through one (1) of the following means:

(1) A wired channel technology, consisting of either copper or fiber optic lines, with fiber optic lines being preferable.

(2) A wireless communications technology, consisting of radio frequencies in very high frequency (VHF) or the ultra high frequency (UHF) ranges.

(3) Other communications technologies, such as satellite communication channels, where a central control site may communicate with multiple outdoor siren sites.

  (c) If severe weather warning sirens are activated in an affected county, they shall provide alert and warning to the public at regular intervals if emergency conditions persist or are expected to continue over a prolonged period of time. The continuation of alerts may occur at least every twelve (12) minutes for the first hour and every twenty (20) minutes thereafter, until the danger or threat to the public has dissipated.

  (d) A common audible siren alert for an impending or occurring severe weather incident shall consist of a steady wail tone that is signaled over a period of three (3) to five (5) minutes.

  (e) Severe weather warning sirens may also include a voice broadcast capability in addition to the wail, but such broadcast capability may not replace the wail as the primary tone in altering the public of impending hazardous conditions.

  (f) Counties that have outdoor warning systems with other alerts, tone, and voice messaging capabilities shall communicate these alerts to senior officials, responders, and the public at large to ensure there is understanding of the types of alerts that may be heard and their corresponding meanings. This information shall also be made available in a county siren coverage plan.

  (g) In addition to the specifications listed above, counties adopting a siren coverage plan shall also consider the following when acquiring, installing, maintaining, and testing their outdoor warning systems:

(1) Integration of severe weather warning sirens with other systems that focus on communications, mapping, and frequent integration of new technologies and best practices.

(2) Ensuring other forms and means of communicating warning are made available to populations who are hearing impaired.

(Department of Homeland Security; 290 IAC 2-1-5; filed Aug 8, 2012, 10:43 a.m.: 20120905-IR-290110666FRA)