Gillian,
I read your request with interest and I would suggest that rather than
visual alarms you look at a radio based system. The building has a radio
transmitter installed which is connected to the fire alarm system and is
automatically switched on when the alarm sounds. (It can be zoned for
larger buildings). The deaf person carries an alerter which on receipt of
the alrm transmission, vibrates and displays the reason and location of the
alarm. At night the alerter is put into a bedside night cradle which is
connected to a vibrating pillow pad. The benefits of the radio based
system are:
1. can work in every room of the hall of residence without special wiring,
therefore room allocation is easier.
2. can provide fire and bomb evacuation messaging in every building across
a campus
3. can provide public address messaging across the campus
3.can provide personal messaging across the campus
4.can be linked to items of equipment to provide alarm warning (e.g. paper
out on a printer etc)
5.Generally much cheaper to install than flashing lights
6.Can provide alarm warning in any building that the deaf student is in
when fitted with a transmitter (i.e. the same frequency is used throughout
the UK)
Many universities have the system installed. I can put you in touch with
some users to find out what they think.
I have put some information in the post.
Kind regards
Steve Haseldine
Deaf Alerter
Enfield House
303 Burton Road
Derby
DE23 6AG
Tel 01332 363981
Fax 01332 293267
Minicom 01332 291921
email: [log in to unmask]
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