Since the Beslan school hostage crisis of September 1, 2004 the world has changed for school emergency systems. The NSW Department of Education has issued revised guidelines on lockdown and lockout procedures. The trouble is, the equipment in many schools does not support them.

Many schools only have one or more old-fashioned clangers, perhaps with a timer. Emergency is often simply based on fire safety equipment. The old AS2220 standard defines two tones, Alert and Evacuate, but these are driven by the fire detection system, not by other possible emergency events.

Emerging guidelines typically provide for both Lockdown and Lockout procedures, each of which requires a separate tone, as well as possibly an all clear tone. In addition, a public address system allows for coded additional information which might prove life-saving. For instance, “Graham Borthwick, please report to the Library” could mean all staff and students should avoid the library.

 

You may be happy to use the AS2220 Alert tone to double for “Lockdown” – they both require you to stay put and wait for a possible “Evacuate” – possibly with a coded public announcement to distinguish between fire alert and lockdown alert. If so, something like the Redback 1700 incorporating a school bell timer is cost/effective and will usually feed into an existing PA system.

 

Maybe you need a PA system. East Coast Audio Visual can provide a range of solutions with microphone and amplifier, ceiling speakers inside and horn speakers for outside.

If you need a PA system over an entire campus and don’t want to dig up outside paving, we can provide a network audio solution that streams the audio over your IP network.

Finally, if you require a range of tones, different to AS2220 or AS1670.4, such as the US Civil Defense Emergency tones or even wish to record some of your own, we can load and supply the Australian Monitor Series DMA1 Digital Message Announcer. The DMA1 supports up to 256 separate MP3 files, and is controlled by external contacts.

 

 

 

Contact us to arrange for a site inspection and discussion on your Public Address and Emergency systems needs.

 

 

Its not really funny, is it. There are increasingly more demanding guidelines on lockdown and lockout procedures in workplaces. The trouble is, the equipment in many workplaces does not support them.

Many workplaces only have one or more old-fashioned clangers, perhaps with a timer for a knockoff bell. Emergency is often simply based on fire safety equipment. The old AS2220 standard defines two tones, Alert and Evacuate, but these are driven by the fire detection system, not by other possible emergency events.

Emerging guidelines typically provide for both Lockdown and Lockout procedures, each of which requires a separate tone, as well as possibly an all clear tone. In addition, a public address system allows for coded additional information which might prove life-saving. For instance, “Graham Borthwick, please report to the Workshop ” could mean all staff should avoid the workshop.

You may be happy to use the AS2220 Alert tone to double for “Lockdown” – they both require you to stay put and wait for a possible “Evacuate” – possibly with a coded public announcement to distinguish between fire alert and lockdown alert. If so, something like the Redback 1700 incorporating a workbreak bell timer is cost/effective and will usually feed into an existing PA system.

 

Maybe you need a PA system. East Coast Audio Visual can provide a range of solutions with microphone and amplifier, ceiling speakers inside and horn speakers for outside.

If you need a PA system over an entire campus and don’t want to dig up outside paving, we can provide a network audio solution that streams the audio over your IP network.

Finally, if you require a range of tones, different to AS2220 or AS1670.4, such as the US Civil Defense Emergency tones or even wish to record some of your own, we can load and supply the Australian Monitor Series DMA1 Digital Message Announcer. The DMA1 supports up to 256 separate MP3 files, and is controlled by external contacts.

 

 

 

Contact us to arrange for a site inspection and discussion on your Public Address and Emergency systems needs.