It has long been accepted that the use of voice signalling offers enhanced safety and more efficient evacuation, whether by using voice alarm systems or by installing voice sounders integrated into fire detection and alarm systems. The time to respond to bell or alarm signals can be as much as 20 minutes, compared to only 30 seconds in the case of voice messaging.
Voice is proven to encourage a far more rapid response to emergencies in publicly accessible facilities – reducing risk to occupants and allowing for far more effective phased and staged evacuation in more complex buildings. Well-documented research into human behaviour in emergency situations shows that 75% of people react immediately to clear, authoritative voice messages in the event of fire.1
The use of voice sounders and voice alarm systems is, therefore, now commonplace and increasingly in demand from consultants and specifiers. Voice sounders are increasingly used instead of tone-only products with their ease of installation and ability to be fully integrated into the sounder circuits of both conventional and addressable fire systems.
The emergence of products such as the Fire-Cryer, with the ability to broadcast a number of diverse messages, depending on the state of alarm, differentiated into separate alarm or evacuation zones, has further broadened the market for such solutions.
The bells stopped ringing
The UK led the way in its adoption of voice sounders back in the early 2000s when the use of fire alarm bells started to decline in the face of increased adoption of electronic sounders over fire bells. The UK market made a huge mistake by not adopting a common fire tone. Whereas nations like Germany adopted the DIN tone, France the low-frequency AFNOR and The Netherlands the Slow Whoop, the UK never standardised. This oversight left the public entirely without guidance as to what a given alarm tone meant and what they should do when they hear it.
The situation has worsened over the past 10–15 years as addressable fire systems have become increasingly prevalent. Even more ear-piercing and higher frequency tones have been adopted for use in low-current sounders using piezo buzzers as evacuation devices.
The importance of intelligibility
No voice alarm system is effective unless it is intelligible and fully synchronised. Garbled, unsynchronised and unintelligible messages are no better or even perhaps worse than tone-only evacuation systems. The message given must be clear, audible and able to be understood. It is for these reasons that the most effective voice sounders utilise transducer technology rather than piezos.
Transducers – sometimes more accurately referred to as capsules, are nothing new. The technology is very ‘proven’. In fact, some of the first electronic sounders developed around 40 years ago used transducers harvested from decommissioned British Telecom phones!
The point here is that transducers were designed for exactly the purpose they are still being used for in voice sounders – to reproduce human voice. Effectively mini loudspeakers, they are integrated into the sounder moulding horn thus amplified to provide intelligible spoken messages at sound volume levels similar to conventional fire sounders.
Added advantages of voice for fire: sensory sensitivities
A published FIA (Fire Industry Association) guidance note2 recommends the adoption of voice alarm sounders as a potential benefit in special schools, care homes and other facilities which often accommodate those with ‘sensory sensitivities’. Advice in this guidance cites examples of the effects of shrill ear-piercing sounders on those affected by autism or other spectrum disorders.
Those with diverse needs might panic, hide or freeze when faced with unexpected noise from sirens. None of these reactions are ideal for effective or safe evacuation – voice sounders have been proven to reduce the risk of upset in these types of scenarios. Variations to local installation codes see voice sounders used, often without the normal initial siren tones to reduce fear and panic. Voice sounders are now an accepted solution for this type of installation and are actively in use, ensuring compliant and appropriate evacuation notifications for all building users.
Non-fire applications: lockdown systems
A regrettable need has developed in markets where terrorism, mass shootings or, sadly, school-focused violence is a risk factor. The US, parts of Europe and the UK are now emerging markets for ‘Lockdown’ or ‘Invacuation’ systems which are frequently required to effect the opposite of an evacuation alert. These systems are designed to give notification to occupants to stay put, hide or carry out pre-determined security or life-preserving actions in the face of terrorism, a roaming gunman or knife attacker. Sometimes using coded messages, other times explicit instructions, voice sounders are an extremely effective product when applied to these critical scenarios.
Another FIA guidance note3 advises installers on the use of fire alarm systems for lockdown. In this document, it is advised that fire sounder tones should not be used for any other purpose other than for fire. With switchable multi-message voice sounders, this problem is allayed since the fire message or tone is completely different from that of the lockdown message. Multi-message sounders, then, are a useful way of utilising a fire system sounder circuit for lockdown, class change or other ancillary announcements.
Pubic/visitor notifications
The benefits of multi-messaging continue in more benign environments, bringing added value to the entertainment and hospitality sector. Pubs, clubs and other licensed venues can benefit from piggybacking onto a Fire-Cryer circuit to use message slots to broadcast ‘last orders’, visitor instructions, periodic safety warnings, perhaps ‘attraction now closing, please make your way to the exit’ or other useful regular notifications.
For pubs, clubs and other such venues, voice alarms are commonly specified in licensed premises with a presumption that those with a full pint will resolutely ignore a fire sounder even with the flames licking their feet!
The retail sector can equally benefit from creative thinking in the application of voice. False alarms are costing the UK economy almost £700m a year.4 Whilst voice sounders will not prevent a false alarm from occurring, they can aid in a more rapid return to work or the reopening of a store after an evacuation.
A major retailer once quoted to us that in their largest superstores, every minute lost to an evacuation after a false alarm can mean up to £15,000 of lost revenue. The message ‘Fire alert over. You may now safely return the store’ could, therefore, be a very valuable message to integrate into any evacuation system design in the retail sector.
Beyond evacuation
As the UK market for voice sounders continues to develop, greater numbers of system designers, consultants and specifiers have recognised the breadth of applications that can benefit from these simple-to-integrate products.
In Industrial settings, the need to warn operatives of impending danger, machine shutdown or leakages of potentially lethal substances is arguably of equal importance to evacuation warnings, which are, thankfully, relatively infrequent in terms of actual occurrence of fire.
Leaks of fluids, gases or potentially damaging machine shutdowns, however, are not so uncommon. There are more and more cases of multi-message voice alarms being used for a multitude of applications, such as acid spill alerts or – in swimming pools and leisure centres – chlorine gas leak alarms. Such voice messages become even more useful in facilities employing poorly qualified or inadequately trained staff – who are often not sure of the importance or significance of various tones, beeps and flashes.
Benefits for reduction in commercial risk
It is not just public or worker safety that can benefit from voice alarms. Our decades of experience in the supply of water leak detection systems, used to monitor for ‘escape of water’ in commercial buildings, have educated us on the need to ensure appropriate notification on the detection of leaking water from pipework, air conditioning systems and other in-building risks.
These types of systems are now commonplace in modern commercial premises where payout by insurers due to water damage to buildings is now running at a staggering £1.2 billion a year in the UK. Just like with fire alarm tones – occupants, even building managers – are often at odds with knowing why a particular panel or alarm is buzzing. A ‘Water leakage alarm activated’ message leaves slightly less to the imagination and is rather harder to ignore.
Echoes in light
This article seeks to draw the user to conclude that the application of voice alarms can and will contribute to enhanced safety, reduced reaction times and safer environments. They can also be of commercial benefit and offer logistical advantages.
However, now a further unintended consequence of fire product design is on the horizon. Just as the lack of a common fire tone is blamed for public complacency with fire alarm signals – we are now told that white flashing strobes are not necessarily ideal for fire evacuation as they can be confused with mobile phones ‘on silent’ with a flashing torch as a notification alert… but that’s a debate for another article!
References
1. https://www.firesafetysearch.com/voice-is-choice-for-emergency-response
2. Fire alarm considerations for people with sensory sensitivities, The Fire Industry Association, May 2022
3. Use of fire alarm systems for lockdown (specifically in schools), The Fire Industry Association, Sept. 2022
About the Author
James Jones
James Jones is Managing Director of Vimpex Limited. Vimpex is a long-standing supplier of firefighting and Specialist Rescue Equipment and PPE to UK Public Sector Organisations. Vimpex has recently launched its Scandecon Decontamination brand, providing equipment and services to contribute to reducing the risk of cancer in UK firefighters.
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