A loud audible signal, such as the ringing of a fire alarm, is the most common way of warning of danger to a building’s occupants. However, for those who are deaf, or working in a noisy factory, communication can be inhibited, making threats harder to detect.
In 2014, UK emergency services were called to attend over 2,500 fires in industrial premises. With this, and the UK’s ageing population in mind, Hochiki Europe, the manufacturer of life safety products, launched its range of Visual Alarm Devices (VADs). Hochiki has now extended its VADs range to include products which are suitable for conventional sounder circuits.
VADs provide a visual indication of an emergency, in the form of a bright flashing light, which helps to alert people who wouldn’t normally pick up on audible-based fire alarms. VADs became a mandatory requirement in all public buildings through the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and a new product standard, BS EN 54-23:2010, was introduced at the beginning of 2014 to bring VAD requirements into line.
Hochiki Europe’s range now includes eight conventional beacons, which can be used as wall or ceiling devices. All of the new products feature red or white LEDs, which give the installer more flexibility, according to the makers. Optics and an lens design are also included, which gives omni-directional light coverage of 0.4 lumens per m2 or 0.4 Lux at low current draw. Hochiki has had its VADs tested and assessed by an EU notified body to determine their coverage volume, based on the distance at which the required illumination is met.
To help building owners and managers meet EN 54-23, Hochiki Europe has also created a configuration table which allows customers to source the VAD most suited to their environment by answering a number of questions.
David Brown, Product Manager at Hochiki Europe said: “There is nothing more important than ensuring a building’s occupants are made aware of an emergency situation in the event of a fire. Last year’s introduction of EN54-23 marked a significant shift in the use of fire safety products. Extending our VADs range to include conventional beacons gives our installers more choice. It also ensures that those responsible for fire safety can install the equipment they need to stay compliant and keep occupants in their sites as safe as possible, regardless of their existing system type.”
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