Emergency Announcement and Voice Over Systems
Emergency Announcement and Voice Over Systems
Emergency announcement systems are systems that provide fast and safe evacuation of buildings by warning the people in the building with sound in case of emergency. As stated in the regulation, the use of emergency announcement systems is mandatory, especially in buildings with a large number of people. Emergency announcement systems are used together with vocalization systems. Except for emergencies, necessary announcements or music broadcasts can be made with voice-over systems. Emergency announcement and public address systems, one of the weak current systems; schools, student dormitories, shopping malls, supermarkets, hotels, congress centers, bus stations, factories, airports, public buildings, plazas, etc. It is used in indoor and outdoor areas.
It provides fast and safe evacuation of places in emergency situations such as fire, earthquake, flood, attack, terrorist attack. At the same time, it is easier to inform and guide people correctly with the vocalization system other than the announcement. For example; in which direction the exit doors are, how to get to the gathering area.
Emergency Announcement System Regulation
The necessity of emergency announcement systems is also included in the regulation. The Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings also requires the use of emergency announcement systems. According to the Regulation, emergency announcement systems must be used in the following buildings;
- In hotels, motels and dormitories with more than 200 beds in the building,
- In public buildings, shopping centers, supermarkets, industrial facilities and similar buildings with a building construction area of more than 5000 m2 or with a total number of users exceeding 1000 people,
- All buildings with a building height exceeding 51.50 m.
The Regulation also states that the sound level of the emergency announcement systems in these places should be at least 15 dBA above.
Emergency Announcement and Public Address Systems Installation
The installation of emergency announcement and vocalization systems should be carried out according to the rules in the Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire. For this reason, you should take care that the companies and people you will work with for system installation are reliable and competent. It requires technical experience and training to know details such as the quality of the equipment in the system, the compatibility of the equipment with each other, the correct placement of the equipment, and how to use it most efficiently.
Voiceover and emergency announcement systems usually include the following equipment;
- Zone control system
- Emergency message unit
- Radio background music source
- Alarm matrix panel
- Speakers (suspended ceiling type, cabinet type, column type, projector type, horn type speakers)
- Interface
- Announcement control microphone
- Volume control units
- Power amplifiers
Emergency announcement and public address systems ensure the safety of life and property, but the people working in the building should also be trained on this issue. Employees should be informed about the announcements, what the announcements in different voices mean, which doors to evacuate from, how to act at the time of evacuation, etc. Employees should be trained on the issues.