Originally Posted By: Ren

It's pretty messed up. The reason given was that someone pressed the wrong button?! I would've hoped the procedure to start mass panic was a little more involved.


I agree, the means of giving the alert needs to be instantly available, but protected against accidental operation.
A good way of achieving this is a simple switch that is located behind a breakable glass panel, similar to some types of fire alarm call point.
Located about 6 feet above floor level so as to be within reach of a person of less than average height, but unlikely to be broken accidently when moving furniture.

If the warning needs to be given, it takes a very few seconds for the operator to stand up, reach upwards, break the glass and operate the switch. Quick and simple but almost impossible to do by mistake.