Ask your colleagues if they have ever heard a hotel fire alarm sound in the middle of the night, and if so, how they reacted. If hotel guests hear just a single alarm, chances are good that they will do nothing; people are accustomed to false alarms, and they don’t want to appear foolish by running down to the lobby in their pajamas for a prank.

For those of us in the fire and life safety business, of course, it’s disturbing to know that people may purposely ignore alarms that could save their lives. There are many other human-related barriers that could inhibit response to emergency signals, including confusion, preoccupation with activities and language or cultural differences. Therefore, we should all strive to improve response in the ways we can control by recommending and installing the right combination of notification systems.

Codes are catching up with the need to provide more precise information for all types of emergencies. Today, facilities must also plan for the possibility of shootings, chemical spills, natural disasters and other events that jeopardize personal and building security.

An alarm that captures people’s attention, followed by voice messaging offering specific instructions, can be highly effective in certain applications. If building occupants hear a voice message telling them to evacuate, they will be more likely to believe that there is a true emergency. Visual cues also confirm threatening situations. SpectrAlert^® Advance strobes, for example, which are marked ALERT and have a clear lens, are ideal for mass notification.

System Sensor knows that giving people clear information goes hand in hand with being understood. That is why we are placing greater emphasis on ensuring intelligibility. On page 4, this issue’s cover story provides an overview of NFPA 72-2010, which now covers intelligible voice system design. The story also includes information on how professionals can plan for and measure systems for optimal sound delivery.

It is impossible to control every aspect of intelligibility. But System Sensor is working hard to help you deliver life-saving solutions that are within your control.

Christa Poss
Marketing Manager, AV Business Unit, System Sensor

Tags: Editorial

Posted in Editorial, Summer 2010

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