2010 NFPA 72 (National Fire Protection Association’s National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code), passed in 2010 requires all buildings and venues with occupancy of over 300 people to provide a Mass Notification & Emergency Communications sound system (ECS).

This system will address a “non fire emergency”. Because this new and challenging code will require a facility to meet certain loudness and intelligibility standards for emergency communications which have never been required before, it will have a huge impact on building design and construction.  This ECS system must provide door to door alert notification.

Steven Durr Designs, LLC has been involved in the design, implementation and proof of performance of high intelligibly sound systems in very difficult acoustical environments for many years. We are on the forefront of developing an ECS system for sports venues and other large gathering places.  We are currently developing an extremely high intelligibly speaker system with a 360 degree coverage for exclusive use in ECS systems. Because we have been involved in this process, we are knowledgeable about the new building requirements and equipment available to integrate into your current environment.

This new code will affect the type, number and placement of loudspeakers and limit the design team from simply hiding the speakers for aesthetic reason. We are accustomed to providing high intelligibility systems designs into aesthetically sensitive environments.
We welcome the opportunity to discuss your concerns or assist your firm with a design to meet this new code requirement.