Adequate readiness for emergency situations can go a long way in saving the lives of the people involved. At worst, it can greatly reduce casualties. Whatever kind of emergency, evacuation siren systems play an important role in informing employees and other people in a particular building or area of imminent danger. With the advances in technology, there are even systems that can automatically send messages or alerts to the police, ambulance services, fire departments, and other emergency service providers that are equipped to deal with such emergency situations. However, the efficiency of the systems determines the extent of success of evacuation efforts.
Here is a quick overview of some of the factors that affect the efficiency of evacuation sirens.
1. Intelligibility and Audibility
The intelligibility of the sound emitted by an alarm system depends on the amount of noise produced in the background. Sources of background noise include conversations, printers, mechanical equipment and heating and cooling systems. In addition, reverberations and echoes may hinder the efficiency of the alarm system in delivering emergency messages. Therefore, you should ensure that your siren system produces not only intelligible but audible sound that would rise far above the background noises.
2. Uninterrupted Power Supply
One of the first consequences of emergency situations such as disaster is cutting off of power supply. In turn, the alarm system relying solely on main power lines may not work. The result is confusion and apprehension which may contribute to raising the number of casualties. It is important, therefore, to ensure that your alarm system has backup power supply in the event of a power cut.
3. Automatic and Manual Functioning
The system should have the ability to automatically and quickly activate sirens to notify the people in a certain space of danger. Remember, the time difference between the occurrence of an emergency situation and notification of its happening may very well determine how many lives will be saved or lost. The system should also have the manual option of operation in case, for some reason, its automatic function fails.
Bottom-line
Most emergencies come with no forewarning. It is likely that some people in certain locations of the space may know about the occurrence of the situation before others. Therefore, they must have a way of informing everyone else about the situation and enable the necessary actions in dealing with the emergency. Keep in mind that evacuation siren systems should allow activation from different parts of the building or area, including the security office, control room, and reception. In addition, it should be compatible with the available communication channels.
