Voice evacuation systems provide clear, intelligible emergency messages to ensure safe and efficient evacuation. They use prerecorded messages to direct personnel in an emergency, allowing for phased evacuation. Without voice evacuation, valuable time is lost as people may not understand alarm bells and initially continue normal activities, potentially endangering lives. Voice evacuation systems help save lives by facilitating immediate, controlled, and safe evacuation through verbal instructions.

1. Voice Evacuation
an introduction

2. Voice Evacuation
• Research has proven that in an emergency people will react
without confusion or panic if they receive a clear, intelligible
message.
• Bells and sounders only give a warning, they do not indicate
the nature of the emergency.
• Phased evacuation using clear, easily understood, pre-
recorded messages ensures that even untrained personnel are
evacuated speedily and efficiently.

3. Voice Evacuation
what is it?
• An effective alternative to standard bells and sounders – using the
spoken word for evacuating premises during an emergency.
• Often referred to as ‘voice alarm’, ‘VA’ or ‘VE’.
• Needs to be fully compliant with BS5839-8, BSEN54-16 and
EN60849.
• Serves as a general public address system during normal
circumstances.
• Provides companies with facilities such as advertisement
injection, background music, timed message announcements – and
much more.

4. Voice Evacuation
in brief
• A ‘building’ is ‘divided’ into separate areas (zones).
• Zones can be ‘spoken to’ (broadcast to) individually, several at
once or as an ‘all call’.
• During an emergency people are informed – via the spoken
word – what is happening and what to do.
• Evacuation control is either via pre-recorded messages and/or
via emergency fire microphones.
• The system is fully monitored (BS5839-8), with any faults
reported, so that it will work when needed – during an
emergency.

5. Voice Evacuation
why do we need it?
• Those most at risk can be evacuated first.
• Phased evacuation can be pre-planned.
• Emergency messages can be stored on the system and
broadcast by automatic or manual means.
• Fire officers/building management can broadcast ‘live’ at any
time.
• Panic is reduced due to the controlled nature of the
evacuation.
• Quite simply: voice alarm helps save lives during an
emergency.

6. During an Emergency...

7. ..WITHOUT Voice Evacuation
• A ‘break glass’ box or ‘fire detector’ is activated.
• An alarm is sounded – normally a bell/klaxon style alarm.
• Initially, it is usual for people to carry on as normal.
• Vital seconds – or minutes – are lost.
• After a while people become curious and eventually start to
move.
• People habitually exit via the same route they entered – this
may be the longest (or most dangerous) route.
• Unfortunately, such inaction can, and does, end in tragedy.

8. A Standard Fire Alarm System

9. ..WITH Voice Evacuation
• A ‘break glass’ box or ‘fire detector’ is activated.
• The fire alarm panel activates the voice alarm system messages.
• Emergency messages are broadcast to areas at risk.
• Areas of high risk are informed of any necessary action – ie
‘evacuate’.
• Areas of low risk are ‘alerted’ to the situation – ‘phased evacuation’.
• Real time information may be broadcast by the emergency services
to prevent people moving into danger.
• Result – immediate action – calm, controlled and SAFE evacuation.

10. Voice Evacuation System

11. Centralised Voice Evacuation
• Usually offered for single
building installations.
• All loudspeaker lines
derived from a single
location.

12. Decentralised Voice Evacuation
• Usually offered on site wired installations where a number of
buildings need to be covered.

13. System Priorities
• A voice alarm system has various inputs, which must be
prioritised. This ensures the most important input (ie fire
officer’s microphone) overrides any other.
• Typical priorities are as follows:
Fire Fire
Evacuation
microphone 1 microphone 2 Alert message
message
(all call) (zone select)
Spot announcer Other
Background Paging
(advert emergency
music microphone
injection) message
Priority settings on VIGIL EVAS systems can be easily changed to suit individual requirements.

14. Basic System Elements

15. Fire Microphone
• Weatherproof enclosure.
• Fist microphone.
• Has top priority – overrides all other
microphones and inputs to the voice
evacuation system.
• Used by firemen/building control to
override emergency broadcasts – either
as a ‘zone select’ or ‘all call’.
• Any other messages being transmitted
to zones will be interrupted when the
fire microphone is activated.

16. Microphone Controller
• Operated by the designated person to
control the evacuation using voice
announcements – live or recorded.
• Can also be used as a fire or paging
microphone.
• Selects music source.
• Ability to test the system via pre-
recorded ‘start’ and ‘end’ test messages.
• During an emergency, assumes
‘emergency control mode’ and is given a
higher priority.

17. Router
• The voice alarm router is connected to the
fire detection system of a building.
• The fire detection system triggers the VA
system to evacuate and alert automatically.
• Provides full system status monitoring and
fault reporting.
• The router receives various inputs including
microphones, spot announcers, etc.
• It outputs the ‘priority’ signal, via the
amplifier(s), to relevant loudspeaker circuits
(zones).

18. Amplifier
• Receives the input from the microphone
(or other source) (via the router) and
amplifies (broadcasts) it to the relevant
zones.
• Several amplifiers will be built into a
voice alarm rack, with each amplifier
broadcasting to specific zones (circuits)
within the building.
• Available in different power options to
suit system requirements.

19. Batteries
• A voice evacuation system must work during an emergency –
even if the mains power has failed.
• Backup batteries included in the system must be of a suitable
‘size’.
• Calculations for battery sizes are made at the design stage of a
system.
• Typically, the system is capable of being battery-backed for 24
hours quiescent and 30 minutes at full power (to meet the
requirements of BS5839-8).

20. Messages
• Flash memory, recordable by client.
• Digital WAV files. Alert
• CD quality.
Evac
• 57 second duration for each
message.
Test
• Constantly monitored.
• Triggered by fire panel or manually.

21. Music Input
• A source of music which is installed in the voice alarm rack –
such as an MP3 or CD player.
• Used to broadcast background music to zones selected.
• Typically the lowest priority in a voice alarm system.
• Will be overridden in the event of an emergency.

22. Phased Evacuation

23. Typical Office Block or Hotel
ROOF ROOF EVACUATE
7th floor 7th floor alert
6th floor 6th floor alert
5th floor 5th floor EVACUATE
4th floor EVACUATE
3rd floor 3rd floor EVACUATE
2nd floor 2nd floor alert
1st floor 1st floor alert
ground floor ground floor alert
GROUND LEVEL
BASEMENT 1 BASEMENT 1 EVACUATE
BASEMENT 2 BASEMENT 2 EVACUATE

24. The VIGIL2
Voice Evacuation System

25. • Single, four or eight zone.
• Lockable IP66 steel enclosure.
Fire Microphone
• Zone status indicators.
• Speak now indicator.
• Speech volume indicator.
• Option to fit ‘processor bypass’ hard-
wired press-to-talk switch.
• Option to fit flip-top switches to
enable DVA (digital voice
announcement) messages to be
broadcast. BFM400 range
• Fully monitored.

26. • Available in eight versions – from 8-zone up
to 64-zone. Microphone
• Performs as a paging or fire microphone Controller
with an optional ‘all call’ processor bypass
facility.
• LCD displays showing zone name and status.
• Red buttons for emergency messages –
operated by key switch.
• Fault indicators.
• Up to 30 messages available to operator
(stored on EVAS routers).
• Five programmable function keys. BVRD range
• Fully monitored.
• RJ45/CAT5 connection.

27. • Operator selects options by simply
touching the screen prompts. Touchscreen
• Graphics can be displayed as either Paging Station
virtual buttons or as a topographical
layout (pictured).
• All functions: message selection,
zone selection, paging, message
recording, background music, etc –
can be performed from the paging
station.
• State-of-the-art high performance
Unitouch
computer and screen all in one unit.
• High definition 56cm (22”) LCD
display.

28. • Eight inputs and seven outputs.
• Inputs 1&2 with processor bypass.
Router
• One failsafe emergency ‘all call’
message.
• Six messages stored in flash memory.
• USB2 port to configure unit/upload
messages, etc.
• Realtime clock – fault
logging, history, night time volume, etc.
• CANBUS ports to connect with
modules, simple rack wiring. DSP-controlled
• Parametric EQ on all inputs and outputs. BVRD2M
• Auto amplifier changeover (1 in 10).

29. • 1U in height.
• Up to five slave units can be added
to one BVRD2M master.
Expansion facilities
• Each BVRD2S adds:
• 12 audio inputs.
• 16 audio outputs.
• 12 messages.
• Each BVRD2SLT adds:
• 6 audio inputs.
• 8 audio outputs.
• 6 messages. BVRD2S & BVRD2SLT
• Mount directly on top of BVRD2M – slave units
connections are made using RJ45.

30. • Four inputs and four outputs.
• One failsafe emergency ‘all call’
message. Mini Router
• Six messages stored in flash memory.
• Realtime clock – fault
logging, history, night time
volume, etc.
• Parametric EQ on all inputs and
outputs.
• Fits alongside a VIGIL2 amplifier and
BVSMP power supply in one 19” DSP-controlled
frame. BVRD2M4
• Fully monitored.

31. • Wall-mountable, stand-alone
system, complete with battery backup.
• All the facilities of the BVRD2M4. ECLIPSE2M
• With a BV120D dual 120W amplifier
fitted:
• One dual circuit zone (or two, single
circuit zones).
• With a BV050Q quad 50W amplifier fitted:
• Two zones with dual circuits (or
four, single circuit zones, or three with
reserve).
• Ideal for decentralised networking or VA/PA system
tenant systems.
• Fully monitored.

32. • Class D – 80% efficient.
• Compact.
Amplifiers
• Sleep mode – automatically
reducing standby requirements
to 50mA per amplifier when
operating on batteries.
• Rated power obtainable from
22V battery supply.
• Over-temperature protection.
• The BV225 can be paralleled. BV225, BV125D,
BV050Q

33. • Enables dual loudspeaker circuits to
connect to a single amplifier. DC line monitor/
• Each BVRDADIS unit provides both isolator
A&B circuits for two amplifiers.
• Up to 10 spurs per loudspeaker line.
• The BVRDADIM master unit
connects to the BVRD2M router.
• Up to five BVRDADIS can be
connected to one BVRDADIM.
• Utilises DC line monitoring BVRDADIM & BVRDADIS
techniques, therefore, BEL1 end of
line monitoring is not required.

34. • Switch mode power supplies.
• Two individually protected outputs
at 24V (one on the BVSMPLT). PSU Charger
• Built-in deep battery discharge cut
off.
• Standby batteries are continually
‘float charged’.
• A protected output is provided to
power a mixer or auxiliary circuit.
• Several chargers may be paralleled
when used for larger systems. BVSMP & BVSMPLT
• Fully monitored.

35. • Provides digital networking facilities
for the VIGIL2 range.
• Connected in a loop configuration. DSP Network
• Continues to function in the event of
cabling damage at a single location.
• The network can be copper, fibre or
a combination of both.
• Two RS485 and up to fourteen
concurrent audio channels.
• Network status indicators.
• Up to 126 VIGIL2 EVAS systems can BVRDNET
be digitally networked. BVRDCIF & BVRDFIF
• Fully monitored.

36. EN54 part 16

37. EN54-16:2008
Fire Alarm and Fire Alarm Systems. Voice Alarm Control and Indicating Equipment.
• Many European countries adopted this standard in April 2011.
• All voice alarm manufacturers need their products third party
testing by an accredited test house.
• Specifiers, consultants, installers and end users need to
ensure that the voice alarm equipment supplied has full
EN54-16 third party certification.
• All manufacturers must have relevant factory production
control procedures in place – i.e. ENISO9001-2000.
• Baldwin Boxall’s VIGIL2 voice alarm products have full
BSEN54-16:2008 certification (including BSEN54-4:2008 for
power supplies).

38. Other Information Available:

39. www.baldwinboxall.co.uk