LOCAS - November 2025

Elementary Technology

Getting started with

LOCAS

Helping schools use technology to deliver better education

Welcome It’s time to get started with your new LOCAS, used to help facilitate your internal communications across your site, providing a Lockdown alert to help protect your site.

We know that new technology can be daunting - teaching and non-teaching, already have enough to think about - and that’s where we come in.

This guide is to help you get started in no time and start seeing the benefits in your school before you know it.

Want more? You can keep in touch for the latest tips and tricks around school communications as well as lesson content to the next level - improving pupil engagement and outcomes.

@elementaryav

Elementary Technology

@elementaryav

ElementaryTechnology

The System Components You new system consists of six main elements -

1

Master Call Point

4

Annunciator

Luminite Electronics Ltd. 2a Bellevue Road, London, N11 3ER info@luminite.co.uk 020 8368 7887

2 3

NXIPBRIDGE

Sounder Beacon

5

Alertex IP Bridge

IP Bridge

The Alertex IP Bridge connects products that use the UHF network, such as the

The IP bridge can be powered by 5 volts DC (PSU part code = 5V.PS) or via Power

mobile smartphone, allowing users to obtain the IP address, set up the site and subnet, and connect the bridge to the local Wi-Fi network.

any units which have not called in according to their schedule.

The IP bridge has a wireless range of up to 1km line of sight, which can be extended using an AE434 aerial to assist when

Call Point

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6

Alertex IP Bridge Integraঞons

Remote Fob

www.luminite.co.uk LOCAS Lockdown Alert System Helping schools use technology to-deliver better education

LOCAS INTRODUCTION Your new Lockdown and Alert System, LOCAS, forms an interconnecting wireless mesh network between all units on the same site code. When one unit is activated, it will activate all other units on the same site. The maximum line of sight wireless range for LOCAS units is 1 km, and units can be set to repeat the signal, which in turn extends the wireless transmission range.

1km 1km

1km

1km

1km

1km

Total Mesh Network capacity: 64km

It is important that your site has a Lockdown policy in place that outlines your action plan for the restriction of movement during an emergency situation. A lockdown policy aims to prevent people from freely entering, leaving, or moving around an area to minimise disruption and danger.

In line with OFSTED guidance the Lockdown system should provide an audible and/or visual alert that is specific to a scenario requiring free movement to be restricted. The Lockdown system should look and sound different to a fire alarm and should provide a clear alert swiftly and reliably.

We strongly recommend that you practice your Lockdown drill within the same frequency that your adopt fire alarm drills. This will ensure that all members of staff know what to do and allows your children to become accustomed to the drill in advance of the possibility of a real-life incident.

Elementary Technology

Helping schools use technology to deliver better education

OPERATION The LOCAS system can be activated by any call-point or key fob within range of a main unit.

The system is fully standalone and requires no wires or cabling. Units are battery-powered with a long battery-life of up to 2 years.

To activate the system, press the break glass on the blue lockdown button of either the master call point (1) or the call point (3). Or activate the system using the fob (6), by pressing and holding both buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds. All sounder beacons (2) and annunciator (4) units will activate with an alert sound, and it’s light flashing to alert your site to the situation.

Once the system is activated, it can only be reset using the key in the keyhole on the right-hand side of the master call point (1, usually in your main reception). Insert the key and turn anticlockwise for 5 seconds, then turning back again. All beacon units will stop flashing, and the annunciators will send the relevant pre-programmed ‘All Clear’ message.

After resetting the system, if the activation was done using a call point, ensure the break glass panel of the affected unit is reset using the black plastic resetting tool in the bottom of the unit.

At the heart of the system is an IP Bridge (5).

This unit is located in the server room of your school and is connected to the network allowing your administrator easy access to the system to check on the devices’ health and signal strength. The system can also be set up to notify you by email if battery strength becomes low on any of the units.

Elementary Technology

Helping schools use technology to deliver better education

On a day-to-day basis, you will never normally need to do anything with the system, as it resides in place for the unfortunate occasion of needing to be utilised. We sincerely hope the system never needs to be used for a real-life incident, however, please feel rest assured that it is ready and waiting to be utilised.

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Note - It is essential that every 3 months, a silent test is carried out to help maintain the battery life of the devices. Steps on how to do this are below.

SILENT TEST Please carry out this process every 3 months to help maintain the battery life of the units.

To carry out a Silent Test: 1) On the master unit, turn the reset key on the side of the unit to the ‘On’ position.

2) After 10 seconds, all the units within range on the same site will begin to flash.

3) Have a quick walk around your site and check that all units with a flash unit are flashing, making a note of any units that aren’t responding.

4) To stop the test, turn the reset key back to the ‘off’ position, and all units will stop flashing.

5) Any noted units that didn’t respond, if you have the IP bridge, log into the bridge and check the battery levels of the devices and report as necessary.

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Any questions?

Please feel free to get in touch.

Helping schools use technology to deliver better education

4 Airport West Lancaster Way Yeadon Leeds LS19 7ZA 0113 818 7930 enquiries@elementaryuk.com Elementary Technology | elementaryuk.com | Company Ref No: 4870924