PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT AUTUMN 2013
Inspiring confidence
EN
54 is the mandatory European standard for fi re detection and
fi re alarm systems of which parts 16 and 24 deal with audio systems – voice alarm systems, for example – and now also products for professional sound reinforcement. In a roundtable discussion with electro-acoustic engineer Claus- Peter Sterling, Oliver Sahm (Director Application Design and Tech Support for Electro-Voice, DYNACORD and Bosch Communication Systems) and acoustic engineer Richard Merget, we investigated the consequences and benefi ts of the new provisions.
Who is affected by the norm? To which areas do the EN 54-24 and 54-16 standards apply?
CS: Basically, these standards affect all manufacturers who produce products for compulsory voice alarm (VA) and electro-acoustic emergency warning (EEW) systems.
RM: EN 54-16 covers all products of relevance to the central control system, whilst the EN 54-24 refers to loudspeakers. Since they came into force, all manufacturers must comply in the manufacturing of their products with the minimum requirements laid down by the standards.
OS: In the European context, what this means is that EN-certifi ed products must be installed everywhere stipulated by national construction guidelines.
What do the EN standards mean for customers?
CS: They mean the Europe-wide establishment of a set of quality requirements according to which products have to be tested and certifi ed. This simplifi es the tendering process and prevents producers even participating in the process unless their products comply with the quality standards. Furthermore, the EN standards make it easier to compare different products. So even if price still has a role to play, you can at least be certain now that all the products under consideration satisfy the same set of technical requirements.
110 In the European context... EN-certifi ed products must be
installed everywhere stipulated by national construction guidelines.
Audio experts discuss European standards EN 54-16 and EN 54-24.
(left to right) Claus-Peter Sterling (CS), Oliver Sahm (OS) and Richard Merget (RM)
Why did Bosch Communications Systems decide to have its products certifi ed in accordance with EN 54?
RM: Because you can no longer bring non-certifi ed VA and EEW systems onto the market. Besides which, Bosch has had very positive experiences with EN certifi cation for fi re alarm systems. It inspires confi dence when you can say “our products have been tested by a state-approved institution”.
OS: It is interesting to note that even in countries outside the European Union, where compliance with EN standards is seldom legally required, such certifi cation is nonetheless seen as a hallmark of quality.
Which product groups and series have already been certifi ed and which are scheduled for certifi cation?
OS: Among the voice alarm systems, Bosch Praesideo and Bosch Plena VAS have already been certifi ed. Then there’s the DYNACORD PROMATRIX 8000 system, which has now been expanded to include pro sound electronic components from Electro-Voice and DYNACORD. To these can be added more than 55 different pro sound loudspeaker models from Electro-Voice and a wide range of electro-acoustic system speakers from the brands DYNACORD and Bosch, including the classic 100-volt ceiling and wall speakers. We therefore offer the most comprehensive range of certifi ed loudspeakers in terms of product diversity and technical
products and services audio systems
parameters such as nominal dispersion angle and other values of relevance to project-specifi c design.
And which pro sound electronic components are now certifi ed?
OS: In conjunction with the DYNACORD PROMATRIX 8000 system, the networkable digital matrices Electro-Voice NetMax N8000 and DYNACORD P64 have been certifi ed. To these must be added the DSA and CPS multi-channel amplifi ers with the RCM-810 remote module and the LML-1 module for the monitoring of high-impedance loudspeaker lines for these amplifi ers.
What is tested in the certifi cation process? What tests does the equipment have to pass?
CS: The tests are diverse: individual tests, endurance tests, mechanical stress, temperature and SO2 tests. A list of the various tests is appended to the standard.
How do you see future developments in the fi eld of pro sound and ELA with regard to EN 54?
RM: That’s 99 per cent dependent upon what the planners do. If the planners in future invite tenders for voice alarm and pro sound systems together, the market will grow accordingly. Once it becomes known that you can now amalgamate the two, the subject will be one of pressing concern.
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