VOICE EVACUATION INTRODUCTION – EN 54 STANDARD
/The EN 54 Fire detection and fire alarm systems is a mandatory standard that specifies requirements and laboratory test for every component of fire detection and fire alarm system and it allows the free movement of construction products between countries of the European Union market.
/It was developed and approved by European Committee for Standardization (CEN, French: Comité Européen de Normalisation).
/This standard is widely recognized around the world for several countries outside of European Union. It is recognized in Middle East, Latin American countries, Brazil, African and Asian countries and several islands in the Pacific Ocean.
WHY DO WE NEED VOICE EVACUATION?
E54 COMPONENTS
VOICE EVACUATION INTRODUCTION
/The primary reason for using a Voice Evacuation System is to reduce the time taken for those at risk to recognize that an emergency exists.
/Research has proven that in an emergency people will react without confusion or panic if they receive a clear, intelligible voice message.
/Bells and sounders only give a warning without indication of nature of the emergency – notifications of this type are much less effective.
/Automatic, phased evacuation using clear voice announcements (pre-recorded messages) ensures that occupants are evacuated in fast and safe way.
Voice evacuation is effective in preventing the outbreak of panic
AREA FOR VOICE EVACUATION SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATIONS
VOICE EVACUATION INTRODUCTION
/A building is ‘divided’ into separate areas – ZONES.
/Zones can be broadcasted individually with different messages, several at once or as an ‘all call’.
/During an emergency people are instructed how to behave and safely leave the building.
/Evacuation control is either via pre-recorded messages stored in the system memory and/or via emergency fire microphone.
The system is fully monitored, all faults are reported
EN 54 CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE
/Manufacturers must prove via an approved certification body that their products comply with the harmonized standards and therefore may carry a CE marking mentioning EN 54-16, EN 54-24 or EN 54-4.
/Product approval procedure to use CE marking according to CPR include environmental, safety and functionality tests as specified in the standards requirements.
/Certification body frequently audits production process at the manufacturers’ facility(–ies) to ensure Factory Production Control.
/Bodies that test, audit and certify have to be accredited by European accreditation bodies. This is to ensure that product testing and certification follow international standards.
EN 54-16 VOICE ALARM CONTROL AND INDICATING EQUIPMENT
EN 54-24 / FIRE ALARM LOUDSPEAKERS
/EN 54 part 24 which regulates loudspeakers for Voice Alarm systems.
/Loudspeakers in a life safety sound system are vital to convey emergency evacuation instructions to the public. EN 54-24 certification ensures the speaker circuit integrity will be maintained in the event of a fire, and that audibility and intelligibility of the loudspeakers meets the required standard.
/EN 54-24 gives common requirements for the construction and loudspeakers performance under climatic and mechanical conditions. It does not take into account the acoustical surroundings.
/All of EN 54-24 speakers are rigorously tested by a third party before being certified as fit for purpose
/As additional / optional requirement for EN 54-24 speakers have additional thermal fuse & ceramic terminal block to prevent short circuit in case of fire.
A STANDARD FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
CENTRALISED FIRE ALARM AND VOICE EVACUATION SYSTEM
DECENTRALISED VOICE EVACUATION
SYSTEM PRIORITIES
/A voice evacuation system has various inputs, which must be prioritised.
This ensures the most important input (i.e. fireman microphone) overrides any other input signal.
/Typical priorities are as follows:
PHASED EVACUATION / HIGH RISE BUILDING
