Alarms are almost always associated with the sound of a bell, beeping, and persistent ringing. Voice alarms less so. Whenever we hear an alarm it is a clear indication we need to evacuate an area immediately to avert danger. So, how can a PAVA system work and when is it needed?
PAVA Systems - A popular answer to emergency situations in large public areas.
A PAVA system or Public Address and Voice Alarm System is recognised as a real answer to emergency situations. The technology has come a long way and provides two forms of audio messaging. These are voice message alarms (VA) to give people direct critical messaging, and public address (PA) which is paging messages or music.
The voice alarm system is particularly effective for emergency evacuation.
Messages using both systems use microphones to loudspeakers throughout the premises. This makes sure the message gets to everyone.
The more targeted the message the more effective the safe evacuation of people.
The problem with more conventional alarm systems is that most people associate them with one type of emergency. And in some cases, some believe it’s nothing more than a drill. But, with a voice alarm system, the very nature of the problem is addressed to the general public, which can save lives. This is much better than relying on bells and ringing alone.
Voice message systems are proven to have a far more positive result as opposed to alarm bells.
In fact, research in the 1980s and 1990s provided clear evidence that voice messaging works better. Out of those tested against responses to bells, text information or voice, a staggering 75% of people reacted better to voice messages.
A more targeted message gets a better response from those who need to hear it.
This makes perfect sense because if you’re scared and on the verge of panic, an alarm tells you nothing about the type of emergency you’re facing. This can cause more fear and panic as a result, or even inertia. But, a clear and intelligible voice gives instructions on what to do. An alarm alone doesn’t always create the right response when you need it most.
When you know what to do, you’re going to have a clear mind to follow instructions.
A simple, clearly delivered message is useful in situations where clear instructions on how to react are important. This could be as simple as telling a person whether to leave an area or stay calm. Or specific instructions on how to leave a building. Or clarity on whether they need to hide or behave in a particular way until help arrives.
Better and safer evacuation of a building.
These messages will be stored in the voice alarm system. This means that the messages are safe and ready to go as soon as they are activated. This way people can be evacuated in an orderly, safe manner avoiding accidents, falls or fatalities.
A voice alarm system is useful for a variety of different functions.
You’ll find that a voice alarm can also check for faults. They can house a monitored link to a fire alarm, and store several different types of emergency messages. They also come with a fireman’s microphone so all messages are heard from a distance, and with a phased evacuation.
This allows for different departments and specific areas of a building to evacuate in a pre-determined sequence. It also allows the areas most at risk to leave first. And finally, its controls can be overridden when needed.
Make sure you comply with all safety standards.
Make sure that any Voice Alarm System you purchase has the kitemark and complies with British Standards BS5839 part 8. They need to be able to work in tandem with the Fire Detection Systems for safe and timely evacuation procedures that suit your building.
A Voice Alarm System can and must be monitored.
This is so that it never fails when you most need it in an emergency. The BS5839 part 8 we mentioned earlier stipulates that a PAVA System is best installed in a public building.
What type of public buildings are we talking about?
An area of at least 1sq where people gather
A large area where people gather for daily operation, such as a place of work or a large shopping area or a hotel
Any large site or a sales room that is bigger than 2sq mtrs
Any schools, bus stations, hotels, railway stations, hospitals, office buildings, shopping malls, football stadiums and theatres
If you have low-security staff for whatever reason, as part of a mandatory fire risk assessment, a VA would be an important addition.
Public Address Systems.
PAS are not to be used for anything other than general announcements. They are not to be used for emergencies.
You can have background music, adverts, messages and noise masking with PAS. Voice Alarms (VA) can be used alongside flashing beacons and combined with a building management system.
Here at Planet Fire Security, we believe that a voice alarm integrated with a public address system is the best choice for large buildings and public occupancy. It’s proved to be the safest and most effective way of evacuating large amounts of people from a building. If you’d like to ask questions about what we’ve discussed today, why not give us a call here at Planet Fire Security. We’d love to discuss it in finer detail, whether it’s right for your building and how we work.
We work for you and with you.
As a team, we specialise in the maintenance, installation and repair of public address and voice alarm systems. And we work with the simple through to the complex. Our team come with a lot of experience. So your safety and security requirements are always in the safest of hands.
We can also provide a wide range of service packages to make sure your systems are in good working order. This means they can always be relied on in an emergency. Contact us to find out more.
