Shout it Out: PAVA Systems are the Voice of Fire Safety

It’s an awkward truth that when fire alarms sound many people stay put and wait to see what those around them do, even in small buildings.

Indeed, Notifier research found that while most people said they expected to hear a bell in the event of fire, only 13% would respond. In fact, more than a quarter of respondents said they would assume the activation was a false alarm until told otherwise.

Other research has revealed that very few members of the general public say they ever consider how to leave a building in an emergency, even one they visit regularly.

Against this background it becomes more important than ever to ensure that the best possible solution is found to encourage staff, residents and visitors alike to respond promptly and correctly to a fire warning.

The answer lies in a clearly spoken message over a public address/voice alarm (PAVA) system, directing a building’s occupants away from danger as quickly as possible.

Unclear warning

Bells and sounders may provide a warning of an emergency, but not always the nature of the emergency. Many people also told Notifier that they reacted more quickly to a voice message than to a bell or sounder.

Sophisticated and intuitive PAVA systems will meet these challenges as they are suitable for buildings of all sizes, from the smallest business premises to medical centres and sports stadiums.

Cost-effective at any level,they can be custom-built and adapted to complex sites that may benefit from phased evacuation procedures and IP connectivity.

Day to day this technology operates like an advanced PA system, carrying background music and announcements. Yet in an emergency the system kicks in to broadcast appropriate spoken messages, directing people to safe exits.

Should the situation demand more specific responses, firefighters can easily use an emergency microphone to make their own announcements to ensure a quick and safe evacuation.

Advances in technology also mean PAVA systems now require fewer amplifiers and are much easier for staff to use – especially useful in a small organisation where personnel have multiple roles.

The technology can also carry messaging such as paging, advertisements and the provision of background music.

On larger sites, the best network systems can carry up to 200 audio channels on a fibre channel interface up to 30 kilometres between stations, while work is also underway with voice over IP (VoIP) networks to enhance the ability to link multiple buildings.

Developments in speaker design have also made announcements audible at sites with considerable background noise or difficult acoustics.

Such advances mean that buildings requiring the phased evacuation a fire safety solution should include an element of voice as part of a comprehensive detection and response strategy.

Without fully-integrated, properly installed and fully maintained PAVA systems a building’s staff and visitors may disregard bells and sounders until it is too late.

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