THE BEHAVIOR OF ECS AND SSEP AMPLIFICATION SYSTEMS USING DIFFERENT INPUT SIGNALS AND IMPLICATIONS

Throughout this paper, the term ‘Sound Systems for Emergency Purposes’, SSEP, will be used to include ‘Emergency Communications System’, ECS, as defined in NFPA72:2016 and ‘Voice Alarm Systems’, VAS, as defined in BS EN54-32:2015 and BS 5839-8:2013. The SSEP industry constantly evolves due to the implementation of newer technologies. The motivation behind these developments are often attributed to emerging “green” requirements to be energy efficient and space saving to provide physically smaller systems thereby freeing up precious real estate. Currently, there is a significant transformation due to the audio transmission path changing from analogue to digital. SSEP standards are still behind in this evolution and SSEP system manufacturers are not all addressing these changes in the same way. This paper presents the measurement results of a wide range of systems which we believe includes most of the different approaches offered in the SSEP market. SSEPs, whether connected to a fire detection system or not, are part of the life safety system of a building and hence it is crucial that for the safety of the occupants the systems are compliant.