Article Overview
Practical guidance for real-world site decisions.
People use “lockdown alarm” and “lockdown alert system” as if they mean the same thing. They don’t quite, and the difference matters when you’re deciding what your site needs.
At a Glance
- A lockdown alarm is the audible and visual signal: sounders, tones and beacons.
- A lockdown alert system can also include written instructions, on screens or phones.
- Alarms reach everyone, including outdoors; on-screen alerts tell people exactly what to do.
- Many sites use both, triggered together.
Section 01
What a lockdown alarm does
A lockdown alarm is the physical signal: call points or panic buttons that trigger sounders and beacons across the site, using a tone and colour that are clearly different from the fire alarm. Its job is to make sure everyone, indoors and outdoors, knows instantly that a lockdown has started.
It works whether or not people are near a screen, which is why it is the foundation of almost every lockdown procedure.
Section 02
What a lockdown alert system adds
A sound tells people that something is happening, but not what to do. A lockdown alert system adds the instruction. That might be a full-screen message on every computer, such as PopAlert, a notification to staff phones, or a spoken announcement.
Written instructions are especially useful for visitors, supply staff and contractors who have never heard your lockdown tone before, and for updates as the situation changes, such as “remain in lockdown” or the all clear.
Section 03
When you need both
For most schools and larger workplaces, the strongest setup is both, triggered together:
- The lockdown alarm reaches corridors, halls, playgrounds and car parks
- On-screen alerts tell classrooms and offices exactly what to do
- One trigger starts both, so staff don’t have to raise the alarm twice
- Live updates and the all clear go out through the same system
Lockdown alarm vs lockdown alert system
| Option | Lockdown alarm | On-screen alert system |
|---|---|---|
| Reaches people outdoors | Yes | No, only where there are screens |
| Tells people what to do | Tone only, or a spoken message | Yes, written instructions |
| Works for visitors | Only if the tone is recognised | Yes, the instruction is on screen |
| Live updates | Limited | Yes |
| Best used | As the foundation | Alongside an alarm |
Frequently Asked
Questions we get asked about this
Is an on-screen alert enough on its own?
Rarely. It doesn’t reach people outdoors or away from screens, so most sites use it alongside an audible lockdown alarm.
Can PopAlert be triggered by a lockdown alarm?
Yes. PopAlert can be triggered from lockdown alarm systems such as Alertex, so one trigger starts both the alarm and the on-screen instructions.
Does my lockdown alarm need to sound different from the fire alarm?
Yes. The two require opposite actions, so they should use a different tone and, ideally, a different coloured beacon.
Need help applying this to your site?
We can turn the principles in this article into a practical recommendation based on your building, procedures, and response priorities.