Student accommodation takes many forms. It can be anything from a residential house that is occupied by a small number of people to a hall of residence that provides accommodation for hundreds of students.
In the UK, a typical hall of residence provides single occupancy bedrooms with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. They are often multi-storey buildings located on the university or college campus but they can also be located off-campus.
Like any multiple occupancy building, there are strict fire regulations that must be adhered to to ensure the safety of the building occupants. This includes having fire risk assessments and a suitable fire detection system installed. However, they must also provide suitable safety measures for disabled occupants.
Emergency Voice Communication (EVC)
An Emergency Voice Communication (EVC) system is a voice system that combines fire telephone, disabled refuge and emergency alarm systems into one fully integrated network. Its job is to provide two-way communication between the emergency services and those inside the building who are in need of assistance with evacuation. Typically, an EVC system connects a central location point with a number of other points, known as outstations, situated throughout the building.
EVC systems are designed to aid in the orderly evacuation of people who are disabled or use a wheelchair and increase communication during emergencies. However, they can also provide increased communication capabilities for buildings that require phased evacuation. They should be installed in a safe refuge area, where anyone in need of assistance can safely use the system to call for help.
A typical EVC system for student accommodation will include three main components:
Disabled Refuge
In the event of a fire it can be difficult for people with disabilities to evacuate safely. A disabled refuge allows disabled or wheelchair users to congregate in a safe place while they call for help and wait for assistance. At the designated Disabled Refuge occupants in need of help can use the EVC system to easily communicate with the building management, explain their situation and seek the assistance they need while they wait somewhere that is relatively safe.
Disable Refuge points are required in all buildings in BS 9999: 2017 and Building Regulations Approved document B (Fire Safety) Volume 2: Buildings other than dwelling houses.
Accessible Toilet Alarm
The Equality Act requires all accessible toilets, changing areas and showers to be equipped with an emergency assistance alarm system. This system should allow users of these facilities to call for help should they need to. An alarm system that integrates with the building’s EVC system allows building staff to respond to an alarm from any of the master stations.
Accessible Bedroom Alarm
Accessible bedrooms in student accommodation should also be fitted with an assist call alarm system, again allowing the user to communicate with building management in case of emergency. In this situation, an alarm system that integrates with the building’s EVC system is also beneficial.
Handpicked Products for a Student Accommodation EVC System
Crisis Emergency Voice Communications provide the perfect solution for student accommodation. It combines Fire Telephone, Disable Refuge and Emergency Assistance Alarm systems into one fully integrated and robust network.
The Crisis range of EVC equipment uses compact and stylish touch screen master stations and system expander panels with compatible outlets. They are simple to install and configure and operate seamlessly on a shared network.
EVC Control Panels
Crisis EVC Network Master Station
The Crisis EVC Network Master Station supports up to eight lines for outstations, including type A fixed phones, type B refuge hands free points, emergency assist call point or jack points in Far East and Middle East applications. The touch-screen layout has four buttons providing quick access to the main functions and permanently displays the number of current calls, alarms and faults.
Crisis Expander Panel
Crisis Expander Panels have in-built networking allowing them to form one of the 64 panels on a Crisis EVC Network installation. A total of 512 outstations can be accommodated and the display on the front of the panel gives the current call or fault status of each line of the local panel aiding fault finding.
EVC Outstations
Crisis Type B Refuge Outstation
The Crisis Type B Outstation, as defined in BS5839-9:2011, is designed to be used by the public as a disabled refuge call point. Type B outstations should be placed in disabled refuge locations as described in Building Regulations Approved Document B and BS9999:2008.
The Crisis Type B Refuge Outstation is compatible with the Crisis standalone and network systems. The outstation is supplied with a brushed stainless finish and a green flashing button to aid location.
EVC Assist Call
Crisis Assist Call WC Kit
The Crisis Assist Call WC kit provides a BS8300 compliant accessible toilet solution including the “Acknowledge” signalling required for remote locations. The Assist Call WC kit provides a simple solution integrating emergency assist alarm call systems within an EVCS, providing a single display point for all disabled calls within a building.
Crisis Assist Call Accessible Bedroom Kit
The Crisis Assist Call Accessible Bedroom kit provides a BS8300 compliant accessible bedroom solution including the “acknowledge” signalling required for remote locations. The accessible bedroom kit provides a simple solution integrating emergency assist alarm call systems within an EVCS, providing a single display point for all disabled calls within a building.
Why Choose Eurofyre?
- Complete System Supplier
- Eurofyre manufactures and supplies all aspects of fire detection and its associated safety products, including Emergency Voice Communication Systems, and can provide expert advice and consultation.
- Demonstration and Training
- We offer demonstrations and expert training on a range of systems, including Crisis EVC systems, in our very own sophisticated training facility.
- After-Sales Support
- Eurofyre offers both on-site and telephone support to assist you in ensuring that your system is fully functional and operating at maximum efficiency. Our after-sales care and support are second to none.
For more information about Crisis EVC systems, or to discuss any of the other products that Eurofyre has to offer, please feel free to get in touch either by phone on +44 (0) 1329 835 024, by email to [email protected] or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.
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