More insurance companies are rejecting claims for structural damage sustained as a direct result of non-compliance to the Building Regulations and Building Standards Acts. In addition, there is the added possibility of civil claims if individuals are injured or regrettably killed due to the disregard of regulations.
Multiple national and international standards and regulations are in place to prescribe the necessary safety measures that should be implemented by a building owner in order to ensure the safety of the property, staff and the public. For instance, SANS10400 includes regulations for both Fire Detection and Voice Alarm Systems in buildings with specific characteristics and types of occupancy, including (but not limited to) hospitals, educational facilities, dormitories, detention facilities, offices, hotels, shops and museums.
In addition to a fire detection system, it is critical to have a compliant voice alarm system installed in order to inform people in the building of threats and to guide them to safety in the fastest, most effective and well-organised manner possible. It is equally important to have an emergency communication system (fire telephones/disabled refuge system) for members of the public and fire marshals, enabling dependable communication with control rooms and fire services in the event of an emergency. This also enables someone trapped in an isolated area to call for help if they are unable to evacuate by themselves.
TOA manufactures a wide range of EN-54-Certified voice alarm systems and audio speakers, and we are distributors for Eaton VoCALL fire telephone/disabled refuge systems. It is able to provide relevant information on existing systems, or design a new system, in accordance with the applicable regulatory standards upon request.
For more information, contact TOA Electronics Southern Africa,
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