News

Voice Alarm Leader Anthony Smith Elected Chair of Key Standards Committee

Anthony Smith, managing director of global fire and safety audio specialist Vox Ignis, has been confirmed as Chair of BSI FSH/12/5, the committee responsible for codes of practice for the design, installation, servicing and maintenance of voice alarm evacuation systems and emergency communication systems in buildings. As Chair he will also sit on FSH/12, the committee that co-ordinates the UK participation of the BS EN 54 series of standards.

Over 30 years Smith has become an expert in audio technology and legislation contributing to standards development within CEN and CENELEC. He has also been president of the Institute of Sound & Communications Engineers and is a member of the Audio Engineering Society.

His appointment comes after many years guiding and developing British and international standards and codes of practice. His roles have included being a UK expert on CEN/TC 72 Working Group covering voice alarm, loudspeakers, sounders and beacons; as well as being a committee member on FSH/12/5 for over 15 years. On EPL/100 he was Convenor of the EPL/100 drafting panel responsible for BS 6259 (sound systems) and CLC/BTTF 133-1, which developed EN 50849 sound systems for emergency purposes.

Smith said: “I’m delighted to be continuing to contribute to the important work of FSH/12/5 and honoured to have been confirmed by BSI as Committee Chair. Voice communications are increasingly recognised as the best way to manage people in an emergency and the standards and codes of practice regimes around voice alarm, emergency voice communications and assistance alarms are changing relatively quickly as our built environment and the systems protecting it become more complicated.

“My work over 30 years in developing audio safety products, codes of practice and standards is something I’m very proud of. I would encourage any stakeholder in the industry to get involved in the future creation and amendment of our life saving regulations. I would also like to thank the former chair Andy Scott for his work as chair over many years.”

Christopher Smith-Wong, Lead Standards Development Manager within BSI’s Built Environment sector said: “British Standards are globally respected because of the expert input of stakeholders from across the field. Tony has been a vocal and important member of FSH/12/5 for many years and with his long experience across the field, his work on other standards, codes and practice and industry bodies is an excellent choice to chair the committee. I congratulate him and look forward to working with him.

Vox Ignis is a global specialist in voice alarm, emergency voice communication, and assistance call systems. Designed and manufactured in the UK and sold under the Vox Ignis and leading OEM brands worldwide, its products amplify the safety of millions of people and buildings every day. For more information, visit www.vox-ignis.com.