EN 54-16, EN 60849

Electro-acoustic emergency warning systems provide warnings and information to persons in areas of danger by means of instructions given automatically or manually through public address announcements. Clear and easily understandable instructions lead the persons exposed to danger swiftly out of the danger zone and the system also allows operations management to broadcast additional, specific evacuation instructions. Electro-acoustic emergency warning systems with clear instructions therefore prevent the outbreak of dangerous panic and speed up evacuation by life-saving minutes.

Naturally, the electro-acoustic emergency warning system only does its duty if it is guaranteed to function in an emergency. The purpose of standards EN 60849 and EN 54-16 is to guarantee 100% functionality by means of the permanent electronic monitoring of the entire signal path, from microphone capsule, alarm text device with stored evacuation instructions and amplifiers etc. to each individual loudspeaker.

In Europe, 13 standards agencies were approved to officially monitor compliance with standard EN 54-16.

g+m elektronik ag already complies with the new standard EN 54-16 and holds an official test certificate from the CNBOP testing centre (certificate no. 1438).

All relevant products must bear CE conformity marking by March 2011.

Why voice alarm?

In an emergency, sounders and bells do not communicate the true situation clearly enough to those at risk. This is particularly true of buildings wherein the majority of occupants are not familiar with the evacuation procedures. Emergency situations, by their nature, are unpredictable and liable to change rapidly, therefore the technology employed by detection and alarm systems must enable them to react accordingly.

Getting the message across!

Whereas bells and sounders cannot be relied upon to get the message across to most people, voice alarm systems, using pre-recorded "real speech" announcements, can be explicit in their reporting of a crisis and much more effective in encouraging the safest reaction.

Typical applications

Whilst voice alarm systems therefore work well in all buildings, they are particularly beneficial for the following applications:

  Leaflet EN 60849  Leaflet EN 54-16