Muster systems for commercial and industrial sites
Know who’s out and who’s still inside the moment an alarm sounds. Muster point readers, a live roll call and reports, designed, installed and supported by Hightower across Canada and the USA.
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Muster systems we install
Account for everyone during an evacuation, in minutes instead of a clipboard roll call.
Muster point readers
Weatherproof readers at each assembly area. People tap their fob, card or phone when they arrive, and they’re marked safe.
Live roll call
Wardens see who is safe and who is still unaccounted for on a phone, tablet or screen, along with the last door each person used.
Starts with the fire alarm
A signal from the fire alarm panel can start the muster automatically, so nobody has to remember to open it in the middle of an evacuation.
Visitors and contractors
Visitors, trades and contractors are added when they sign in, so they show up on the roll call along with your staff.
How a muster system works
From the first badge of the day to the report after a drill.
- 1Everyone badges in
Staff, visitors and contractors badge in at the entrances, so the system always knows who is on site.
- 2The alarm starts the muster
When the fire alarm sounds, or a warden starts it, the muster opens and the roll call goes live.
- 3People badge at the muster point
Each person taps in at the muster point reader when they arrive, and they move to the safe list.
- 4Find who’s missing
Wardens and responders see who hasn’t reached a muster point yet, and the last door each of them used.
- 5Report afterwards
Every muster and drill is saved, with times, so you can review it and keep a record.
Connected to the rest of your site
A muster system is built on your access control and works with your other systems.
Access control
The muster works from your door records, so it needs readers at the entrances people use. See access control.
Fire alarm tie-in
We plan the connection with your fire alarm contractor, so the muster starts on alarm and the life-safety system isn’t affected.
Cameras on exits and muster areas
Cameras on exits and assembly areas help confirm who left and when. See security cameras.
Power and network to outdoor points
Muster points are often out in a parking lot or yard, so we run cable or fibre, or use wireless links, with backup power. See networks.
Who uses a muster system
Any site where people come and go and you need to know who’s inside.
Access control platforms we install
Many access control platforms can run mustering. We’ll tell you what your current system supports before recommending anything new.
Stuck with a system nobody will fix?
Mustering can often be added to the readers and records you already have. If your current provider isn’t helping, we can take the system over and set it up.
What affects the cost of a muster system
Every site is different, but these are the factors that move the price. After a site walk, you get a clear written quote.
Number of muster points
Each assembly area needs a reader, a mounting post or wall, power and a network connection.
Entrance readers
The roll call is only as good as your door records, so some sites need more entrance readers or exit readers.
Outdoor power and network
Muster points out in a lot or yard may need trenching, fibre or a wireless link, plus backup power.
Software and licences
Some access control platforms include mustering, while others add it with a licence or subscription.
Integrations
Connecting to the fire alarm, visitor sign-in or cameras adds design and programming time.
Questions to ask a muster system installer
The answers tell you whether the roll call will hold up in a real emergency.
- How will the system know who’s inside?
Ask how people are logged in and out, and what happens with tailgating or doors that don’t have readers.
- How are visitors and contractors included?
If they don’t badge in, they won’t be on the roll call. Ask how they’re signed in.
- Where do the muster readers go, and how are they powered?
Outdoor muster points need weatherproof readers, backup power and a reliable connection.
- Does it start automatically from the fire alarm?
Ask who sets up the fire alarm connection and how it’s tested.
- Who sees the roll call, and on what device?
Wardens need it on a phone or tablet they’ll actually have with them in an emergency.
Read: Is your installer covered? The insurance, clearances and certifications every installer should have.
Muster system questions
What is a muster system?
A muster system shows who has made it out of a building during an emergency and who hasn’t. People badge in at a muster point reader when they reach the assembly area, and a live roll call lists everyone still unaccounted for, so wardens and responders know who to look for.
How does a muster system know who is on site?
It uses your access control records. Everyone badges in and out at the entrances, so the system keeps a list of who is inside. The list is only as good as the badging, so we plan entrance and exit readers where tailgating is a risk, and a sign-in process for visitors and contractors.
Can the muster start automatically when the fire alarm goes off?
It can usually be set up that way. A signal from the fire alarm panel starts the muster and opens the roll call for your wardens. We plan the connection with your fire alarm contractor so the life-safety system isn’t affected.
What if the power or network goes down during an emergency?
We design muster readers and controllers with backup power, and plan how the roll call stays available if the network drops, such as on a tablet or with a printed list as a fallback. We go through this with you during design.
Can we use the muster system for fire drills?
Yes. Run a muster during each drill to see how long it takes everyone to reach the muster points, then keep the report for your records and safety reviews.
Can a muster system be added to our existing access control?
Often, yes. Many access control platforms include muster features or can add them with a licence. We check what your system supports, and whether your readers and records are set up to make it reliable, before recommending anything new.
Is a muster system required in Alberta or BC?
Alberta’s OHS Code and BC’s OHS Regulation require employers to plan for emergencies, including how people get out of the workplace. They don’t require a particular product, but a muster system is a fast, documented way to account for everyone. Check your requirements with your safety advisor. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can our cameras be monitored after an evacuation?
Yes. With remote video monitoring, a monitoring team can watch exits, muster areas and the rest of the site while everyone is outside. See video monitoring.
More answers: Access control questionsGlossary: credentialfail-safe vs fail-secure
Muster system service areas
Offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna, serving all of Alberta and BC.
See all service areas. Alberta and BC are our main markets, and we support customers right across Canada and in the USA, with a parachute team ready to go anywhere. Ask us about it.
Get a muster system quote
Tell us about the site, how many people work there and where your muster points are. We’ll follow up to book a site walk.
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