Clarity in alerting
A new SES paper now also creates clarity in Switzerland with regard to alarms and shows the distinction between electroacoustic emergency warning systems and voice alarm systems.
Since the introduction of the EN 54-16 product standard in 2008 and the new SN-EN 50849 application standard in 2017, a clear distinction has been made throughout Europe between electroacoustic emergency warning systems (ENS) and voice alarm systems (SAA). Neighboring countries started distinguishing between the two types of systems early on and built the systems according to European and national specifications. But in Switzerland, on the other hand, only the European ENS standard was known, which always led to great confusion. A local paper regulating this distinction was missing until now.
New state of the art paper
The Swiss Association of Security System Installers (SES) recognized this problem at an early stage and drafted a new state of the art paper (STP) on the subject. This SAA guideline, which is recognized by the VKF, specifies the distinction between SAA and ENS systems in its application for Switzerland and has been in force since 2017.
What distinguishes an SAA from an ENS?
Electroacoustic Emergency Warning Systems ENS:
- Since the transition of EN 60849 to the new EN 50849, it is no longer permissible to alarm the case of fire with an ENS system. All other hazard cases can be alarmed with an ENS system.
Voice Alarm Systems SAA:
- The fire event is alarmed with a SAA system, regardless of whether it is triggered automatically or manually.
- All other hazardous situations may also be alerted with an SAA system.
- SAA systems must be built with EN-54 standard series products.
- A SAA is always controlled and monitored by a FACP. It replaces their acoustic alarm.
Three security levels
In the SES STP, SAA systems are classified into three security levels. These define the system availability and speech intelligibility in the event of an incident. ENS systems can also be set up according to the same safety levels.
The applied safety level must therefore be defined early in the concept phase together with the plant owner or operator.
| Security level | |||
| I | II | III | |
| Risk in the object | Low | Normal | High |
| General average amplifier | Not mandatory | Yes | Yes |
| A B Wiring | No | YES | YES |
| Entire system redundant | No | No | YES |
| Fault tolerance | Failure of an alarm zone in the event of an error in the transmission path. | STI >0.45 in case of a fault in the transmission path or amplifier. | STI >0.45 in the event of a fault in the transmission path, amplifier or overall system. |
The SES paper "State of the Art, Voice Alarm Systems (SAA) & Electroacoustic Emergency Warning Systems (ENS)" contains practical knowledge on installation, operation and maintenance. Additional application examples supplement the document. The guideline can be downloaded from www.sicher-ses.ch/de/dokumente/bestellungen be obtained.
