Saving lives with sound: How TOA uses voice systems to guide evacuations
Iain Hoey
Share this content
Ian Bridgewater, Managing Director, TOA Corporation (UK) Ltd, talks critical communication, audio’s role in public safety and why sound saves lives
It is a hard fact to comprehend, but the reality is that incidents of natural disaster, tragic accidents and terrorism have increased in recent years and emergency responders are having to deal with more significant events than ever before.
Addressing how this is managed is key, and the use of audio is now at the forefront of how safety, early warning and evacuation systems are developed.
There are significant statistics showing that people respond better to direct vocal instructions than to a bell.
A bell is often ignored because individuals assume it does not apply to them, whereas a clear, direct command motivates people to follow instructions.
It is very important that we address both evacuation and invacuation when using messages to manage incidents.
We all know what evacuation means, but invacuation procedures involve people moving to a designated place of safety or staying in a zoned area while awaiting instruction.
The way messages are delivered influences how people react and can reduce panic.
Audio communication improves safety outcomes by providing clearer and more informative instructions.
As audio-based safety messages become more common, they will become part of everyday life, encouraging controlled responses rather than instinctive movement toward the nearest exit, which could increase risk.
Advantages of effective communication
With this in mind, it is extremely important to acknowledge the advantages that audio provides for two-way communication.
The ability for emergency responders to be able to communicate effectively and quickly allows us to minimise response times and improve methods of critical communication to those they can’t immediately reach to try and keep more people safe and calm.
They can then deal with the incident, knowing they are able to keep in contact with people and communicate with them if, initially, evacuation is not an option.
This is particularly important in the event of an act of terrorism, where the perpetrators are often mobile and hostile.
We have seen so many times that if a ‘stay put, stay down’ message had been delivered in certain incidents lives might have been saved.
This is what the industry must work towards moving forward.
In the UK, the introduction of Martyn’s Law in 2025, officially titled the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, means there are going to be many changes to how venues operate and respond to incidents and that audio systems will play a huge part in this.
Venues will have to demonstrate responsibility for their visitors and ensure their staff are trained in appropriate public procedures that specifically relate to evacuation, moving people to a safe place and lockdown.
Venues will have to have incident management plans in place which should include how they will communicate with external organisations offering emergency assistance.
Many countries globally either have similar legislation in progress or are considering frameworks for changing the way they manage public places, and we can only see this developing internationally.
It is very clear in the UK what standards voice evacuation systems must adhere to and we are regulated to two BS standards.
BS EN 50849 requires BS-EN54 certified components that are suitable for use as a Sound System for Emergency Purpose (SSEP).
A SSEP is a public address audio system that can deliver emergency messages but is not connected to a fire system.
BS-5839-8: 2023 is the standard that should be adhered to if there is a voice evacuation system that connects to the fire alarm system.
It is a legal requirement for power supplies, control and indicating equipment and speakers to be EN-54 independently certificated by a third-party approved body.
Connected systems
In terms of technology, we are increasingly asked by end-users to design a system that is not only multi-tasking for audio but also can connect and communicate with other safety solutions such as fire alarms and security CCTV.
For example, a recent project involved a large multi-function facility with retail units, restaurants, offices and residential spaces where different units required separate audio.
However, the overarching landlord also wanted to have control to override this in the event of an incident or fire, enabling them to take back control of their whole building, keeping overall responsibility.
As buildings get bigger, systems will get more complex.
As a manufacturer, we have to address this in our research and product development ensuring flexibility and scope to expand and offer many solutions that connect together.
Voice alarm and public address systems that deliver audio give control and enable complex management of both events and incidents using one system to manage both.
They are designed to be scalable and can be used in many applications from a retail unit to large complex buildings, such as a football stadium.
At TOA we believe that audio provision should be designed to the building specification.
It is extremely important to get this right so that the audio is clear and intelligible, with the acoustics and placement of speakers reflecting the fabrication of the structure.
Advances in speaker technology and design have allowed us to improve the effectiveness of speaker profiles allowing projects to require less equipment while still projecting sound further and more effectively.
Advances in IP audio will also be a game changer in combining audio with IP networks for a complete safety solution.
By adopting common industrial standard protocols for audio transmission and network control we can fully integrate IP audio with platforms such as SIP services/phones, video management systems (VMS) or IP control systems.
In summary, using audio in fire safety and security is bringing many more options to the table as to how we communicate clearly and effectively, both with everyday messages and when we need to trigger emergency announcements.
Audio creates a much better way of keeping people informed, safe and ultimately will save lives.
For expert advice contact the TOA Corporation UK Team on 01372 389799 or email [email protected]