COMMERCIAL SEVERE WEATHER ALERT SYSTEM

Pfizer, Inc., a global leader in pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovation, required a robust on-site severe weather alert and emergency notification system to improve safety and communication across its 990,000-square-foot, multi-building pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in Rocky Mount, NC. The goal was to implement a wireless severe weather alert solution capable of supporting emergency response protocols and safeguarding employees and executive staff amid increasing regional weather threats, including storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, high winds, and wildfires.
The system needed to deliver reliable, facility-wide coverage with the following core capabilities:

Visiplex’s wireless severe weather alert system was deployed at Pfizer’s Rocky Mount manufacturing plant using a strategically positioned primary wireless paging base station, fully integrated with a NOAA digital weather radio receiver to deliver real-time local severe weather alerts. This ensured automatic activation during critical weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and high wind warnings.

The severe weather alert system included a network of wireless indoor audio-visual PA speakers and high-powered outdoor horn speakers. These units were installed in key facility zones—including parking lots, break areas, muster points, and smoking zones—to deliver clear, zone-specific audio coverage. Adjustable volume controls for each speaker zone ensured compliance with OSHA hearing protection requirements.

To enhance visual communication and meet ADA accessibility standards, the system incorporated wireless LED message boards and multi-color beacon lights, delivering high-visibility alerts throughout the site.

All system components were equipped with built-in battery backup, guaranteeing continuous operation during power failures caused by regional grid instability. This ensured uninterrupted emergency communication under any condition.

In the event of an emergency, the system provides live voice paging for immediate updates, or automatically plays pre-recorded voice messages with detailed, zone-specific instructions tailored to various emergency scenarios.

For day-to-day use, the system supports facility-wide announcements, while integrated LED message boards display synchronized time and important messages to reinforce internal communication across the plant.

Pfizer partnered with a local contractor to install the system infrastructure and run low-voltage data cabling, utilizing PoE injectors to power all speakers. This approach eliminated the need for AC receptacles in areas where electrical work would have been too complex, disruptive to daily operations, or cost-prohibitive. Final system testing, commissioning, and on-site staff training were completed by Visiplex technicians, ensuring reliable performance and seamless integration across the facility.

Optimized Wireless Severe Weather Alert System Performance – The wireless severe weather alert system was successfully deployed across Pfizer’s pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, delivering significant improvements in site-wide emergency communication, employee safety, and operational efficiency. The system enhanced preparedness for severe weather events while providing the following key capabilities: