Fire alarm testing at Ryan Field will continue through at least Oct. 19, the City of Evanston said Tuesday, Oct. 6.
The announcement means 7th Ward neighbors face nearly two more weeks of sirens from the 35,000-seat stadium at 1501 Central St. Contractor testing of the fire alarm system is expected to wrap up by Friday, Oct. 9, according to a city statement published by the Evanston Roundtable. The Evanston Fire Department (EFD) will then begin its own round of acceptance testing on Monday, Oct. 12. That phase is expected to last at least one week.
The city manager has directed that all testing be limited to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Weeks of disruption
The alarms first sounded in late August. The city posted a community notice on Aug. 31 alerting neighbors that contractors were testing the system. By early September, Northwestern contractors were testing the audio and visual components of the fire alarm and life safety system on multiple days.
The testing intensified in late September. Alarms ran daily starting Sept. 28 through the stadium's opening on Friday, Oct. 2, the Daily Northwestern reported.
Kim Novi, a 7th Ward resident, told the Daily Northwestern she could not concentrate while working from home. She said it felt like the city was not respecting the neighborhood's needs and compared the area to Wrigleyville.
Why the testing is required
Evanston's building and fire protection codes require each alarm device to be tested at full activation, including audible alerts. The stadium's system includes panels serving zoned areas, particle detectors, horns, strobes and duct detectors, according to the stadium's security plan. Johnson Controls monitors the system around the clock.
The city said the testing is necessary to verify that fire protection and alarm systems work properly before stadium events.
Once the EFD completes its acceptance testing, the department said it may be able to find ways to reduce the frequency and impact of alarms during any remaining work.
City acknowledges the impact
In its Oct. 6 statement, the city acknowledged that the testing has caused significant noise for nearby residents and businesses.
Mayor Daniel Biss, speaking outside Ryan Field before the Oct. 2 opening game, acknowledged the disruption. "I just think this is a giant project and some of it stinks," Biss told the Daily Northwestern, adding that the city's job is to hold Northwestern accountable for minimizing the impact on neighbors.
City spokesperson Cynthia Vargas told Evanston Now on Wednesday, Sept. 30, that testing would need to continue after the first game to ensure all alarms were properly synced.
The Evanston Township High School vs. New Trier football game is scheduled at Ryan Field on Friday, Oct. 16, while EFD testing is still expected to be underway.
