Lockdown apparatus for initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility during an emergency

A lockdown apparatus for facilitating initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility that is configured for occupation by facility occupants and that includes a fire alarm, the fire alarm including a fire alarm actuator and a fire alarm communicator configured to produce a fire alarm communication for communicating actuation of the fire alarm actuator, the lockdown apparatus comprising:

• a manually operated lockdown actuator disposed at the facility and configured to transmit a lockdown initiation signal upon being manually actuated, the manually operated actuator being configured to be recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm actuator, the actuator including:
• a mounting base configured for mounting to a static surface of the facility, and
• a depressible button disposed at the mounting base;
• and
• a lockdown communicator configured to produce a lockdown communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures to the facility occupants and individuals not disposed proximate the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the lockdown communication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication, the lockdown communicator including:
• an annunciator that communicates an audible annunciation to facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the audible annunciation being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication and continuing for a predetermined number of alarm cycles subsequent to transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the annunciator automatically ceasing to communicate the audible annunciation subsequent to the predetermined number of alarm cycles, and
• a visual indicator that communicates a visual indication to facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the visual indication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication, the visual indicator continuing to communicate the visual indication to facility occupants subsequent to the predetermined number of alarm cycles, the visual indicator ceasing communication of the visual indication upon receipt of a manually initiated override signal.