NEMA Publishes Emergency Communications Audio Intelligibility Applications Guide - NEMA SB 50-2008
September 19, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA SB 50-2008 - Emergency Communications Audio Intelligibility Applications Guide.
"This publication assists specifiers, emergency voice system designers and authorities having jurisdiction who are not experts in acoustics with the concepts used to enhance intelligibility and it provides a better understanding of the factors affecting the intelligibility of these systems," said Jeff Brooks, a member of the Signaling Protection and Communication Section that prepared this guide.
"In the past, the fire alarm industry primarily focused concern on audibility requirements, assuming that if the sound was loud enough it would be sufficiently intelligible.
"Today, emergency voice communications systems are extensively used to provide building occupants information and instructions during all types of building emergencies. Consequently, intelligibility of these paging systems has become a vital concern.
"These messages contain essential safety information that must be clearly understood by the building occupants."
This is a new NEMA publication that draws on Tyco's Fire Alarm Audio Applications Guide as its primary source material.
Source: National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).