Upgrading Safety Systems at the Iowa Capitol Complex
The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) completed a campus-wide building safety initiative at the State of Iowa Capitol Complex in Des Moines. As of mid-February, all 13 government buildings’ elevators, emergency phones, and fire panel systems now incorporate redundant and reliable technology, securing the essential services that support Iowans every day.
To complete this critical infrastructure initiative, ICN partnered with Granite Telecommunications to install EPIK devices, which include connections for 81 essential building services that power elevators, emergency phones, and fire panel systems across the Capitol Complex. This project has been underway since March 2025, when ICN assisted the State Historical Building, after a connection to its elevators and fire panels was disrupted.
Previous building connections were becoming outdated, costly, and prone to service outages. The new EPIK devices replace traditional POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines with a high-tech redundant connection that includes:
- Three-Way Reliability: Each building uses a direct fiber internet connection backed up by two different cellular providers. If one connection goes down, the others start instantly.
- Power Outage Protection: If the power goes out, the systems stay online. Each unit includes a battery backup that keeps emergency lines running for up to 24 hours.
- Seamless Fit: The new technology was designed to plug into the existing equipment, meaning no expensive replacements were needed.
This project is a successful example of a public-private partnership working to modernize the systems Iowans use every day. By moving away from fading technology to this stable, modern platform, the ICN has ensured that the Capitol Complex remains a safe environment for visitors and state employees alike.