But people with hearing impairments have traditionally been at a disadvantage in when a blaze occurs with alarm signals taking audio form only.
This is the disparity that underpins the vision behind Klaxon, the Lancashire-based firm specialising in audio and visual alarm signaling.
Exhibiting at FIREX International 2015 the company showcased its latest sound beacons, which use ‘Pulse Alert’ technology allows for rapid evacuation for all building occupants.
And it’s not just the hard of hearing who can benefit, as I discovered when visiting their stand at London’s ExCeL. Even wearing a pair of headphones – which seem ubiquitous nowadays – could prevent someone from hearing an audible evacuation warning, so also deploying light and sound signals is vital.
New European fire system standards were published recently in recognition of the problem.
Published in 2010 EN54-23: Fire alarm devices – Visual alarm devices specifies the minimum performance requirements for Visual Alarm Devices (VADs), removing previous ambiguity regarding light output requirements or system design parameters.
Klaxon believes its products surpass these minimum standards.
One room, one device
With up to 15m diameter and 11.3m squared coverage for ceiling and wall-mounted versions, the Pulse Alert Beacon System can provide clear, unequivocal signaling for most rooms with a single device – making for a simple installation or upgrade.
It’s also worth underlining the reduction in total power consumption this entails. The system can be powered directly from the fire control panel.
“Patented electronic design maximises electrical efficiency, reducing current consumption to minimise the cost of ownership and allowing more devices to be installed on a single alarm system,” says the company on its website.
Klaxon, which also markets products for industrial signaling and mass notification purposes, says its optical systems “disperse light evenly, ensuring the most efficient distribution of light to maximise effectiveness. Our new LED lighting technology is derived from automotive applications, with a proven pedigree of reliability and performance in the harshest of environments.
Fewer devices are needed to cover open areas too. Sonos Pulse ceiling mount devices have up to 15m coverage diameter, so you can cover a 10m squared room with a single device. A 7.5 diameter product would require 4 devices to cover the same area: 5m diameter coverage would require 9 devices.
The series of visual beacons and sounder beacons include:
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