Fire Alert Systems
Introduction
Radio-based systems using vibrating pagers
Benefits of radio-based systems
Flashing lights, beacons and strobes
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Further information
Introduction
To ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors who have a high degree of hearing loss, colleges need an alternative system to alert people to the danger of fire.
For an overview of your college’s legal responsibilities to ensure fire safety for deaf employees, visitors and students, see the Further Information section of this document.
Alternative fire alert solutions available include:
- Radio-based integrated system using vibrating pagers (tactile)
- Flashing lights, beacons and strobes (visual)
Whichever system your college uses, it is important that all deaf students and visitors are informed of fire evacuation procedures (i.e. where exits are and what to do) and know how to use the alternative alert system provided.
A member or members of staff should be responsible for managing the system and the system should be regularly checked and maintained.
If students are on residential courses or placements, fire safety in the accommodation is extremely important, as hearing aid users who can hear alarms during the day may not hear the alarm when they remove their aids to go to bed and will also not be able to rely on visual cues.
Accommodation providers should be aware of their legal responsibility to provide an alternative system. These responsibilities also apply to student halls of residence.
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Radio-based systems using vibrating pagers
There are several pager systems available that can provide alerts to students. Most consist of a small pager that is carried by the student (often it is worn on a belt). When the fire alarm system is activated, it sends a signal to the pager making it vibrate.
Deaf Alerter is a small radio receiver that is carried by the student, which vibrates when it receives a message from a Deaf Alerter transmitter. It has a display on the top where the user views the information sent to them.
The Alerter will continue to vibrate until the person is out of the service area of the transmitter i.e. outside the building.
Important safety features include:
- Not being able to switch off the vibrate function on a menu (as in the case with most pager devices).
- Not being able to accidentally turn off the alerter. There are no on/off buttons or switches that could be accidentally operated.
An alternative is the Vibrating Pager Alerting System by Galtech-UK
Can be added to fire alarm systems (24volt.d.c)
Pagers: 61mm x 40mm x 12mm
Transmission range up to 3000m line of sight
Fire Alert Systems must be installed by a trained and certified engineer who has the appropriate installation and test equipment.
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Benefits of radio-based systems
- Provide guaranteed complete building coverage
- Has no harmful strobe effect
- Is less expensive to install when compared with a full installation of lamps with battery backup
- Provide messaging (public address and personal)
- Does not affect the décor of the building
- Is usually rapid to install
- Does not discriminate against Deaf people who are visually impaired or who have Usher's Syndrome
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Potential problems with radio-based systems
- Staff and students must know how to use the system
- The system should be checked regularly and batteries charged
- If a student looses or forgets to collect his or her pager, they will need to rely on other signals i.e. a flashing light
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Flashing lights, beacons and strobes
A flashing light system is installed by the contractor who installs the standard fire alarm system.
The strobe lights are wired into the existing sensors and use the same energy supply as this existing system. Because of this, flashing lights are best suited to smaller buildings. In a larger building another set of cabling may need to be installed which can be a time-consuming and expensive process.
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Benefits of flashing lights, beacons and strobes
- As soon as a deaf person enters the building they are automatically covered (but only if they are within sight of the flashing light, beacon or strobe)
- Suitable for small buildings
- Does not require students and visitors to carry equipment
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Potential problems with flashing lights, beacons and strobes
- In order for a person to be completely covered within a building there must be flashing lights, beacons or strobes installed in every room (including toilets) and corridor
- Can be expensive to retro-fit
- People with photo-sensitive epilepsy may be affected
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Further Information
http://www.deaf-alerter.com: Deaf Alerter also run free certificated professional development events looking at: ‘Fire Safety for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People: The Law and the Solutions’
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2005/20050005.htm : The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
http://www.galtech.co.uk/smoke-detection-for-the-deaf1.htm :Gal-Tech
http://www.rnid.org.uk/information_resources/factsheets/employment/factsheets_leaflets/
deaf_people_and_work_a_guide_for_employers.htm :RNID Safety at work
http://www.hse.gov.uk/: The Health & Safety Executive Infoline can give you information about health and safety legislation and guidance at work. back to top |
