Top Door Alarm® (TDA) is an anti-ligature alert system designed for healthcare facilities. It is the first system of its kind, and the only system to operate with photoelectric beam detection that detects presence before pressure is ever applied to the door. In short, it saves lives.
How It Came To Be
In 2008, a Dallas hospital experienced its fourth suicide of the year, causing the director of the hospital to close the Psychiatric Ward pending a full safety investigation. The hospital contacted Door Control Services and quickly the research and design of the first-generation Top Door Alarm® was underway. One of our current sales representatives was part of the design efforts and has been involved since day one. The Top Door Alarm system has been through three versions of the design to reach where we are today with the only patented, proactive suicide deterrent solution on the market guarding both the top and bottom of doors.
What is Top Door Alarm®?
Simply put, Top Door Alarm® is an effective detection and notification system alerting caregivers of potential acts of self-harm when a door is used as a ligature point. In reality, TDA is anything but simple.
It is the only suicide door alarm system in the industry to offer state-of-the-art photoelectric beam detection which detects presence before pressure is ever applied to the door. A facility no longer must wait until an actual event is in progress to notify staff for emergency assistance.
The presence detection operates using photoelectric beam sensors installed at the top and bottom of the door. The beams are protected by ligature-resistant casings and detect the presence of any foreign object interrupting the beam, such as a towel, sheet, or clothing, whether placed on top of the door or slid under it.
When the beam is interrupted, Top Door Alarm® creates multiple audible and visual alarm notifications to alert staff of a potential act of self-harm including a light at each hallway door site that can flash or stay steadily on, a hallway siren, and a room indicator panel in the nurses’ station with both visual and audible alerts.
How TDA Compares to Competition
Among the top anti-ligature alarm system competitors, Top Door Alarm® stands solidly above the rest. In addition to being the only system with presence detecting sensors, as previously mentioned, it is also the only system with a number of other features including protection for the bottom of the door, a touchscreen/interactive control panel and remote annunciator, ability to log and download over one million events, a silent test option, self-monitoring, access control card reader integration, and ceiling grid protection.
In addition to the many unique features, Door Control Services and DH Pace are also the only supplier to provide added value including 24/7/365 technical support, manufacturer-trained personnel on site visits, manufacturer-certified installation and commissioning, project management support, and customized detection solutions.
Where We Are Today
Today, Top Door Alarm® is the Specification for government and private hospitals. It is also recognized as an effective patient safety solution by the Facility Guidelines Institute’s Design Guide for Behavioral Health Facilities, and the New York State Office of Mental Health’s Patient Safety Standards, Materials and Systems Guidelines.
Top Door Alarm® provides maximum protection on swing doors throughout a facility including patient room, bathroom, or therapy room doors. Customized solutions for both new installations and retrofits are available.
Specially trained technicians from Door Control Services and DH Pace travel around the country installing and training healthcare facilities on Top Door Alarm® and its operation. This includes everything from general hospitals, psychiatric centers, children’s hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and more.
