Fire alarm notifications for people with hearing imparements.

[Fire Monkey]

Hi,

I may to provide a fire alarm warning system for people with hearing impairments who work in a very large building. In years gone by I installed a pager system that was combined with visual alerter beacons. This system unfortunately proved un-reliable due to the radio not always delivering the signal. Other issues included staff's resistance to carrying around a pager. There were issues with batteries running out and not being replaced (even with a policy and procedure in place). Even the beacons were problematic as staff moved offices (within the building), used different meeting rooms and welfare facilites and even moved their desks around so they could no longer see the units.

Since then technology appears to have moved on. Does any one have views on systems that send alerts to mobile phones? Whilst I would prefer to send such notification to a work mobile (that does have signal in the building concerned) I could not guarantee the staff concerned would have a work mobile and may only have personal ones. Also the company I work for has quite strict controls on the Apps that it allows us to down load. Can these systems be used as a stand alone solution?

Buddy systems are in place. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans would be completed.

What other alternatives could you recommend? Desk mounted units?

Thanks,

Monkey.

[Tom W]

Hi Monkey

I may get shot down in Admin fury as I work for the manufacturer of DMS.

DMS uses text messages not push notifications (via an app) to alert people.

We use an agnostic sim which means it is able to change networks from o2 to vodafone to whoever depending on the signal strength at the time.

It has the subscribe setting so you get a message in the event of fire but you can also register as an engineer and ask various things of the dms and silence it in case of fire alarm test, all by text message.

http://www.fireco.uk/products/dms/

Apologies if this isn't allowed but message me if you want more info or a demo.

[Fishy]

My main tip... if you can, ask the hearing impaired users what they would prefer - there's nothing like consulting the people who are actually going to need to use the kit!  We can guess as much as we like what might be suitable, but you might find that there's some reason why it wouldn't be.  For example, I was told years ago that warning systems that relied upon induction loops (and therefore that any hearing aid users had their devices on the 'T' setting) were pretty ineffective, because people hardly ever left their devices on that setting.

If you can't ask them directly, you could always ask that whoever manages or occupies the premises does it & feeds back the preferences - perhaps in response to a list of options?

[David Rooney]

I can't see how signalling a phone would comply in any way shape or form.

There are a few firms that produce monitored transmitters / pagers - deaf alerter and Scope being two.

Scope also make various monitored boxes of tricks to put on desks etc

Unless you are going to install VADs all over the building (could do it wireless) I don't know of a simple solution .......

[Tom W]

I can't see how signalling a phone would comply in any way shape or form.

There are a few firms that produce monitored transmitters / pagers - deaf alerter and Scope being two.

Scope also make various monitored boxes of tricks to put on desks etc

Unless you are going to install VADs all over the building (could do it wireless) I don't know of a simple solution .......

You're quite right it's not seen as a complete compliance but to be used in conjunction with beacons etc.

Great advice by Fishy, user experience is important, ask them. Pagers can do a good job, but they are often forgotten at home, in a desk drawer, not charged. Plus

We designed dms full well knowing it couldn't be a primary means but because it uses peoples existing mobile phones which they are glued to.

It's a really interesting case of guidance over user experience.

You want to look at areas where they aren't going to see everyone heading for the exit so toilets, kitchens. What are they more likely to take with them from their desk? Pager or their own phone?