About Voice Evacuation an introduction Voice Evacuation Research

About Voice Evacuation an introduction

Voice Evacuation • Research has proven that in an emergency people will react without confusion or panic if they receive a clear, intelligible message. • Bells and sounders only give a warning, they do not indicate the nature of the emergency. • Phased evacuation using clear, easily understood, prerecorded messages ensures that even untrained personnel are evacuated speedily and efficiently.

Voice Evacuation what is it? • An effective alternative to standard bells and sounders – using the spoken word for evacuating premises during an emergency. • Often referred to as ‘voice alarm’, ‘VA’ or ‘VE’. • Needs to be fully compliant with BS 5839 -8, BSEN 54 -16 and EN 60849. • Serves as a general public address system during normal circumstances. • Provides companies with facilities such as advertisement injection, background music, timed message announcements – and much more.

Voice Evacuation in brief • A ‘building’ is ‘divided’ into separate areas (zones). • Zones can be ‘spoken to’ (broadcast to) individually, several at once or as an ‘all call’. • During an emergency people are informed – via the spoken word – what is happening and what to do. • Evacuation control is either via pre-recorded messages and/or via emergency fire microphones. • The system is fully monitored (BS 5839 -8), with any faults reported, so that it will work when needed – during an emergency.

Voice Evacuation why do we need it? • Those most at risk can be evacuated first. • Phased evacuation can be pre-planned. • Emergency messages can be stored on the system and broadcast by automatic or manual means. • Fire officers/building management can broadcast ‘live’ at any time. • Panic is reduced due to the controlled nature of the evacuation. • Quite simply: voice alarm helps save lives during an emergency.

During an Emergency. . .

. . WITHOUT Voice Evacuation • A ‘break glass’ box or ‘fire detector’ is activated. • An alarm is sounded – normally a bell/klaxon style alarm. • Initially, it is usual for people to carry on as normal. • Vital seconds – or minutes – are lost. • After a while people become curious and eventually start to move. • People habitually exit via the same route they entered – this may be the longest (or most dangerous) route. • Unfortunately, such inaction can, and does, end in tragedy.

A Standard Fire Alarm System

. . WITH Voice Evacuation • A ‘break glass’ box or ‘fire detector’ is activated. • The fire alarm panel activates the voice alarm system messages. • Emergency messages are broadcast to areas at risk. • Areas of high risk are informed of any necessary action – ie ‘evacuate’. • Areas of low risk are ‘alerted’ to the situation – ‘phased evacuation’. • Real time information may be broadcast by the emergency services to prevent people moving into danger. • Result – immediate action – calm, controlled and SAFE evacuation.

Voice Evacuation System

Centralised Voice Evacuation • Usually offered for single building installations. • All loudspeaker lines derived from a single location.

Decentralised Voice Evacuation • Usually offered on site wired installations where a number of buildings need to be covered.

System Priorities • A voice alarm system has various inputs, which must be prioritised. This ensures the most important input (ie fire officer’s microphone) overrides any other. • Typical priorities are as follows: Fire microphone 1 (all call) Fire microphone 2 (zone select) Evacuation message Alert message Background music Spot announcer (advert injection) Paging microphone Other emergency message Priority settings on VIGIL EVAS systems can be easily changed to suit individual requirements.

Basic System Elements

Fire Microphone • Robust enclosure. • Fist microphone. • Has top priority – overrides all other microphones and inputs to the voice evacuation system. • Used by firemen/building control to override emergency broadcasts – either as a ‘zone select’ or ‘all call’. • Any other messages being transmitted to zones will be interrupted when the fire microphone is activated.

Microphone Controller • Operated by the designated person to control the evacuation using voice announcements – live or recorded. • Can also be used as a fire or paging microphone. • Selects music source. • Ability to test the system via prerecorded ‘start’ and ‘end’ test messages. • During an emergency, assumes ‘emergency control mode’ and is given a higher priority.

Router • The voice alarm router is connected to the fire detection system of a building. • The fire detection system triggers the VA system to evacuate and alert automatically. • Provides full system status monitoring and fault reporting. • The router receives various inputs including microphones, spot announcers, etc. • It outputs the ‘priority’ signal, via the amplifier(s), to relevant loudspeaker circuits (zones).

Amplifier • Receives the input from the microphone (or other source) (via the router) and amplifies (broadcasts) it to the relevant zones. • Several amplifiers will be built into a voice alarm rack, with each amplifier broadcasting to specific zones (circuits) within the building. • Available in different power options to suit system requirements.

Batteries • A voice evacuation system must work during an emergency – even if the mains power has failed. • Backup batteries included in the system must be of a suitable ‘size’. • Calculations for battery sizes are made at the design stage of a system. • Typically, the system is capable of being battery-backed for 24 hours quiescent and 30 minutes at full power (to meet the requirements of BS 5839 -8).

Messages • Flash memory, recordable by client. • Digital WAV files. Alert • CD quality. • 57 second duration for each message. • Constantly monitored. • Triggered by fire panel or manually. Evac Test

Music Input • A source of music which is installed in the voice alarm rack – such as an MP 3 or CD player. • Used to broadcast background music to zones selected. • Typically the lowest priority in a voice alarm system. • Will be overridden in the event of an emergency.

Phased Evacuation

Typical Office Block or Hotel ROOF EVACUATE 7 th floor alert 6 th floor alert 5 th floor EVACUATE 4 th floor EVACUATE 3 rd floor EVACUATE 2 nd floor alert 1 st floor alert ground floor alert BASEMENT 1 ground floor GROUND LEVEL BASEMENT 1 EVACUATE BASEMENT 2 EVACUATE

The VIGIL Voice Evacuation System

Single, four or eight zone. Lockable robust steel enclosure. Zone status indicators. Speak now indicator. Speech volume indicator. Option to fit ‘processor bypass’ hardwired press-to-talk switch. • Option to fit flip-top switches to enable DVA (digital voice announcement) messages to be broadcast. • Fully monitored. • • • Fire Microphone BFM 400 range

Touch screen microphone • Capacitive 7 inch touch screen • NFC login capability • During an emergency, assumes ‘emergency control mode’ and is given a higher priority. • Dual use – can also be used for routine paging messages. • Able to select and route background music. • Dual audio output.

• Operator selects options by simply touching the screen prompts. • Graphics can be displayed as either virtual buttons or as a topographical layout (pictured). • All functions: message selection, zone selection, paging, message recording, background music, etc – can be performed from the paging station. • Industrial, solid state fan-less computer (no moving parts). • High definition LCD display. Touchscreen Paging Station Unitouch

• Eight inputs and seven outputs. • Inputs 1&2 with processor bypass. • One failsafe emergency ‘all call’ message. Router • Six messages stored in flash memory. • USB 2 port to configure unit/upload messages, etc. • Realtime clock – fault logging, history, night time volume, etc. • CANBUS ports to connect with modules, simple rack wiring. • Parametric EQ on all inputs and outputs. • Auto amplifier changeover (1 in 10). DSP-controlled BVRD 2 M

• 1 U in height. • Up to five slave units can be added to one BVRD 2 M master. Expansion facilities • Each BVRD 2 S adds: • 12 audio inputs. • 16 audio outputs. • 12 messages. • Each BVRD 2 SLT adds: • 6 audio inputs. • 8 audio outputs. • 6 messages. • Mount directly on top of BVRD 2 M – connections are made using RJ 45. BVRD 2 S & BVRD 2 SLT slave units

• Four inputs and four outputs. • One failsafe emergency ‘all call’ message. • Six messages stored in flash memory. • Realtime clock – fault logging, history, night time volume, etc. • Parametric EQ on all inputs and outputs. • Fits alongside a VIGIL 2 amplifier and BVSMP power supply in one 19” frame. • Fully monitored. Mini Router DSP-controlled BVRD 2 M 4

Eclipse 4 • Fits up to four VIGIL 3 transformerless amplifiers • Modular and fully networkable up to 126 units • Ideal for fitting in the risers of towers and other similar style buildings • Networking is via copper, multi mode fibre, single mode fibre, or any combination of these.

650 mm Battery enclosure 900 mm Eclipse 4 main housing Eclipse 4 Battery Enclosure 500 mm (depth 200 mm) • Optional depending on amplifier configuration • 72 hour standby power can be achieved (amplifier dependent) • Fits directly under Eclipse 4 • Optional floor standing kit available (will suit uneven floors)

• Enables dual loudspeaker circuits to connect to a single amplifier. • Each BVRDADIS unit provides both A&B circuits for two amplifiers. DC line monitor/ isolator • Up to 10 spurs per loudspeaker line. • The BVRDADIM master unit connects to the BVRD 2 M router. • Up to five BVRDADIS can be connected to one BVRDADIM. • Utilises DC line monitoring techniques, therefore, BEL 1 end of line monitoring is not required. BVRDADIM & BVRDADIS

• Provides digital networking facilities for the VIGIL 2 range. • Connected in a loop configuration. • Continues to function in the event of cabling damage at a single location. • The network can be copper, fibre or a combination of both. • Two RS 485 and up to fourteen concurrent audio channels. • Network status indicators. • Up to 126 VIGIL 2 EVAS systems can be digitally networked. • Fully monitored. DSP Network BVRDNET BVRDCIF & BVRDFIF

VIGIL 3 Amplifiers • • VIGIL 3 • • • VIGIL 2 Modular units which can be paralleled – great flexibility Up to four amplifiers modules per Eclipse 4 - up to 2400 Watts (separate battery box may be required) High power (75, 150 or 300 Watts per channel): • Quad 75 W • Quad 150 W • Dual 75 W • Dual 150 W • Dual 300 W Up to 12 x 150 W per 2 U mainframe (1800 Watts) Can be paralleled Lighter weight product – up to 56% less weight on a Watt x Watt basis Greater efficiency – including sleep mode on battery and mains power Compatible with VIGIL 2 products

VIGIL 3 Charger Module • Fits alongside the amplifiers in 2 U mainframe • Continually monitors batteries • Continually monitors up to five amplifier modules • Charges batteries at up to 10 Amps • Designed to exceed EN 54 -4

The Standards

BS 5839 -8 • At least two interleaved loudspeaker circuits are required in order to ensure adequate coverage should one circuit fail (4, 000 m 2/500 members of the public). • Cabling for dual circuits must not be contained in one single sheath. • Processor controlled system must: • Have restricted access for system configuration data. • Not use rotary discs or other moving parts. • Be monitored i. e. ‘watchdog’. • The network between subsystems must be monitored in accordance with requirements (12. 1).

BS 5839 -8 • System monitoring should include the following: • Normal/standby power. • Battery chargers. • Fuses and protective devices. • Critical signal paths. • Emergency messages. • Loudspeaker circuits. • Main and standby amplifiers. • Select wires on a multi-zone emergency microphone. • All links between a decentralised system. • Detection of missing modules or amplifiers within the critical signal path. • Automatic level controllers must be monitored and should failsafe to a pre-determined level, not mute.

BS 5839 -8 • The system should latch the input condition from the fire panel ensuring that if a link is broken the alarm broadcast continues. Reset is achieved by a separate signal from the fire panel. • After reset the system should be capable of producing a general evacuate broadcast within 30 seconds. • The fire alarm interface and VACIE must be separated by no greater than 10 m, unless duplicate circuits are used. • Any fault should be indicated within 100 seconds. • Standby batteries to have capacity for 24 hrs quiescent followed by 30 mins all zones evacuate. • 120 min enhanced fire resisting cables to be used in unsprinklered buildings having a phased evacuation, or buildings over 30 m high or where the risk assessment demands.

BS EN 54 -16: 2008 • Many European countries adopted this standard in April 2011. • All voice alarm manufacturers need their products third party tested by an accredited test house. • Specifiers, consultants, installers and end users need to ensure that the voice alarm equipment supplied has full EN 54 -16 third party certification. • All manufacturers must have relevant factory production control procedures in place – i. e. EN ISO 9001 -2000. • Power supplies need to meet EN 54 -4. • Loudspeakers need to meet EN 54 -24. • Annual inspections of the factory to be carried out by the test house. • All product enhancements need to be submitted for testing.

BS EN 54 -16: 2008 • VIGIL 2 voice alarm products have full BSEN 54 -16: 2008 certification (including BSEN 54 -4: 2008 for power supplies). • Our requirement for CE marking. • Baldwin Boxall has all relevant EN 54 certificates. • Any Baldwin Boxall supplied system can be upgraded to meet EN 54 -16. • The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) took effect on 1 st July 2013. All voice alarm manufacturers were required to comply from this date for UK sales.

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