Voice alarms are the efficient emergency communication system of the next generation
Voice alarms significantly increases the confidence of those affected in taking the right action.
In crises, every second counts. A modern warning system must not only sound the alarm, but also provide specific information. While Switzerland traditionally relies on siren signals such as ‘general alarm’ and ‘water alarm’, the use of voice alarm systems is already common practice in other countries. International experience and initial feedback from Switzerland suggest that combining siren signals with voice alarms offers enormous potential – not only in civil protection, but also in industrial facilities, at large events, and in sprawling areas such as golf courses. Voice alarms can be used to convey instructions on how to behave or information about the nearest assembly point, known as the emergency meeting point.
‘Civil protection in Switzerland has three important functions in the area of security: alerting, warning and informing,‘ explained Robert Ascher, civil protection officer and cantonal administrator in Zug, last year in an interview on the status quo of public warning. “The ‘general alarm’ signal can be used to alert and warn the population, but secondary sources such as the radio must be used for information.’ Although this system has proven itself over decades, it has significant shortcomings: in acute danger situations, access to additional information is not always guaranteed. The result is an uncertain assessment of the situation among those affected and potentially incorrect behaviour in an emergency.
Voice alarm as a solution
A voice alarm system, such as our Delta sirens with AT Global control unit, can transmit predefined voice messages or live announcements directly to the people affected. This not only enables an acoustic warning signal to be emitted, but also clear, situation-specific instructions such as ‘Evacuate the building’, ‘Remain calm’ or ‘Clean drinking water and electricity are available at location XY’. Voice alarm thus closes the gap between warning and recommended action and significantly increases the effectiveness of hazard prevention (Rogers et al., 2017). Pre-recorded messages can also be transmitted remotely to the sirens via the IoT solution ks.Alert if required. The necessary hardware can be retrofitted at any time and is also inexpensive.
Advantages of voice alarms
Direct information transfer
With the help of a voice alarm system, those affected receive location-specific information without media discontinuity or delay.
Targeted communication
Depending on the hazard situation, announcements can be played selectively in specific sectors or zones, including production halls, grandstand areas or golf courses.
Technological compatibility
Voice alarm systems such as ours can be integrated into existing security systems and controlled centrally. They are scalable and reliable – even in the event of power failures or network outages.
International case studies
Countries such as Japan, the USA and Germany have been relying on voice alarm systems for years, especially in sensitive infrastructures and at major events (FEMA, 2019; European Commission, 2020).
Limitations of voice alarms
Like any technology, voice alarms are subject to certain limitations. In densely built-up urban areas, latency and acoustic interference can occur. In addition, the range of voice announcements is lower than that of traditional siren signals due to structural and frequency-related factors. Multilingualism in multicultural societies poses a further problem: Voice messages do not necessarily reach all population groups equally, especially if multilingual announcements are not provided. Dialects, accents, and differences in hearing comprehension can also impair intelligibility. Experts, therefore, recommend careful acoustic planning and combination with visual or digital warning devices to ensure the widest possible and most inclusive alerting (Lindsey & Anders, 2015).
Conclusion: Voice alarm is an indispensable system component
Voice alarm does not replace traditional alarm systems, but rather enhances them significantly. The targeted use of modern voice alarm systems not only improves the efficiency of the warning but also significantly increases the confidence of those affected in taking the right action. Swiss security policy should actively adopt this approach in the civil, industrial, and private sectors alike. Kockum Sonics offers proven, highly available voice alarm systems that can be individually adapted to the requirements of municipalities, businesses, or event organisers. In an increasingly risky world, targeted, understandable communication in an emergency is the key to safety.
Sources information:
Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP). (2022). Alarming the population – principles and practice. https://www.babs.admin.ch
Crowd Safety Institute. (2021). Voice Alarm Systems at Large Events: Guidelines and Best Practices. https://www.crowdsafety.org
European Commission. (2020). Civil Protection: Warning Systems in Member States. https://ec.europa.eu
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (2019). Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). U.S. Department of Homeland Security. https://www.fema.gov
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). (2007). ISO 7240-19: Fire detection and alarm systems – Part 19: Design, installation, commissioning and service of sound systems for emergency purposes. https://www.iso.org
Lindsey, R., & Anders, M. (2015). Acoustic performance of voice alarm systems in complex environments. Journal of Safety Research, 52, 17–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2014.12.006
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). (2016). NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signalling Code. https://www.nfpa.org
Rogers, G., Birtles, M., & Hall, D. (2017). Emergency communication systems: The role of voice alarms. Safety Science, 95, 74–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2017.03.004