PAP Group supplies voice alarm systems together with design, installation, programming, commissioning and maintenance services. Our sales team helps you choose a system and prepares a quote.
When is a voice alarm system required?
In Finland, the need for a voice alarm or emergency announcement system is determined site by site. It is based on the fire engineering design, the conditions of the building permit, risk assessment and the policies of the authorities.
The need is typically greater in buildings with large numbers of people, a complex layout or special groups such as children or people with reduced mobility. Once the need has been established, the requirements are recorded in the plans and in the basic specifications of the fire alarm system.
Usage classes 3 and 4
The Tukes guidance concerns evacuation alarm and emergency announcement systems controlled by a fire alarm system, which are divided into two usage classes:
Usage class 3
The system supplements the fire alarm system’s alarm. The fire alarm system’s alarm devices remain in use, and the spoken messages also tell people what to do.
Usage class 4
The system replaces the fire alarm system’s alarm devices. The evacuation alarm is then given through the announcement system.
Design guidelines: ST-ohjeisto 21 and CEN/TS 54-32
According to Tukes, the design guideline is chosen on the basis of the guideline used to design the fire alarm system. If the fire alarm system is designed in accordance with the ST-ohjeisto 1 guideline (Paloilmoittimen suunnittelu, asennus ja ylläpito, 2019), the voice alarm system follows the ST-ohjeisto 21 guideline (Poistumishälytys- ja turvakuulutusjärjestelmät). If the fire alarm system is designed in accordance with CEN/TS 54-14, CEN/TS 54-32 is used. The equipment manufacturer’s instructions are also always followed.
The fire alarm contractor is responsible for the whole
When a usage class 3 or 4 system controlled by the fire alarm system is installed in a building, the fire alarm contractor is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the equipment as a whole. The announcement system may be installed by a sound system company, but the fire alarm contractor ensures that the whole works and compiles the implementation documents and reports.
Commissioning is carried out in accordance with the guideline used: part 11 of ST-ohjeisto 21 or chapter 8 of CEN/TS 54-32. The inspection body verifies the operation of the whole in connection with the fire alarm system’s verification inspection, on the basis of the commissioning documents and random tests. PAP is entered in the Tukes register as an installation company for fire alarm systems, so coordination, programming and commissioning are all available from the same supplier.
A solution based on the building’s occupants and spaces
A voice alarm system delivers instructions to large numbers of people and to different parts of a building. In a commercial property, for example, visitors who do not know the premises must also receive instructions they can understand.
Our sales team reviews how the spaces are used, the existing systems and the announcement requirements. The system solution is chosen on the basis of this information.
Announcement zones and speech intelligibility
It is not enough for a message to be heard; it must also be understood. The size of the spaces, their acoustics and background noise all affect the implementation. Announcement zones define where messages are delivered and how they are controlled.
Other announcement uses and emergency functions are coordinated on the basis of the features of the chosen system. If the system is also used for other announcements, it is designed so that emergency messages override them.
The system can be programmed to operate zone by zone. Zones close to the fire are given an instruction to evacuate, while zones further away may be told to wait for further information. Announcements can start automatically under the control of the fire alarm system or partly manually, in which case the operating staff or the rescue authority makes the announcement. The operating logic is defined for each site and recorded in the plans.
Interoperation with the fire alarm system
A voice alarm system can be connected to the fire alarm system so that fire alarm events trigger agreed announcements. The operating principles are defined for each site: which messages are delivered, to which zones and with what control.
How a voice alarm project progresses
Survey, system selection and quote
A suitable solution is chosen from the systems offered by PAP on the basis of the building’s spaces and announcement needs. The quote shows the equipment and services to be procured.
Detailed design
Once the quote has been accepted, our design team prepares the detailed design for the chosen system. It specifies the announcement zones, functions and connections to other safety systems. PAP also supports electrical designers before a project starts.
Equipment delivery and installation
Equipment deliveries and installation are scheduled to fit the construction project timetable.
Programming and testing
We program the system functions in accordance with the design. During commissioning, we test the system as a whole and its connections to the fire alarm system and other safety systems, including the chain of operation between the fire alarm and the voice alarm.
User training and maintenance
User training helps the people responsible to manage the system’s functions. PAP also provides documentation; maintenance is described below.
Voice alarm system maintenance
PAP maintains voice alarm systems in accordance with their maintenance instructions. Maintenance covers both the system equipment and its connections to the building’s other fire safety systems. Findings from maintenance help in planning repairs and upgrades ahead of time.
According to the Tukes guidance, the owner of the property and the fire alarm system custodian are responsible for upkeep. Upkeep checklist:
- people know how to use the system, instructions are available and a custodian has been designated
- the system is tested regularly in connection with the fire alarm system’s monthly test
- maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions is carried out in connection with fire alarm system maintenance
- working order is verified at the fire alarm system’s periodic inspection
- any faults found are repaired without delay
Explore our maintenance services
What initial information is needed for a procurement?
Useful information includes floor plans of the building, the intended use of the spaces, details of existing systems and the project timetable. Please also tell us whether you need a new system, an extension to an existing one or a replacement. The initial information and its significance for the survey are discussed in more detail in the article What information do you need to procure a voice alarm system?
Is a voice alarm system mandatory?
Not in all buildings. The need is determined site by site on the basis of the fire engineering design, the conditions of the building permit, risk assessment and the policies of the authorities. If a system is required, the requirement appears in the project plans.
Who may install a voice alarm system?
The announcement system may be installed by a sound system company. When the system is a usage class 3 or 4 system controlled by the fire alarm system, the Tukes guidance makes the fire alarm contractor responsible for coordinating the implementation of the whole and compiling the documents.
Can the existing public address system be used?
This is assessed on the basis of the system’s equipment, its features and the requirements set for the site. An ordinary public address system should not be assumed to be suitable for voice alarm purposes as such. PAP helps you determine what can be reused and what needs to be replaced.
Learn more about voice alarm systems
When is a voice alarm system needed, what do usage classes 3 and 4 mean, and how is the system maintained? PAP’s expert article covers the topic in more detail.
Read: Voice alarm systems: the foundation of modern fire safety in buildings
Redi: voice alarm as part of a building’s fire safety
PAP designed and commissioned the fire alarm and voice alarm systems at Redi. The reference shows how systems serving many different kinds of spaces are made to work together.
Request a quote for a voice alarm solution
Tell us about your property, the stage of the project and the announcement needs of the spaces, and we will prepare a quote for a suitable solution.