Guides

Each guide explains one part of emergency sound practice in UK buildings, cites the clauses it relies on, and is checked by a ProAudium director before it goes up. New guides are added a few at a time.

• Which emergency sound standard applies to my building?

  A decision guide to the five British Standards that cover voice alarm, evacuation alert, emergency voice communication, large-venue and non-fire emergency sound systems.

  BS 5839-8BS 5839-9BS 8629BS 7827BS EN 50849

• Voice alarm servicing: what each visit should cover

  What BS 5839-8:2023 recommends for weekly tests, six-monthly and annual servicing of a voice alarm system, and how to tell whether your service visits are doing the job.

  BS 5839-8:2023

• Evacuation alert systems (BS 8629): who needs one and what is involved

  What an evacuation alert system is, which blocks of flats are expected to have one, how it works, and what BS 8629 recommends for sound levels, standby power and maintenance.

  BS 8629:2019+A1:2023

• Emergency sound glossary: PAVA, VACIE, EVCS, EAS and the rest

  Short, plain definitions of the abbreviations and terms used in voice alarm, evacuation alert, emergency voice communication and hearing loop work.

  BS 5839-8BS 5839-9BS 8629BS EN 50849BS EN IEC 60268-16

• Who is responsible for your voice alarm system?

  Why hiring a maintenance contractor does not hand over the building's legal fire safety duty, what the contractor takes on in its own right, and what to put in a voice alarm maintenance contract.

  Fire Safety Order 2005BS 5839-8:2023