In an initiative that is open to all manufacturers interested in offering EN 54-16 compliance, five pro audio manufacturers have collaborated on the first cross-manufacturer voice alarm (VA) solution that is fully compliant with the EN 54-16 standard.
The system supports analogue, Dante, AES3 XDAB and Blu-Link connections, and means that it is no longer necessary to source EN 54-compliant voice alarm solutions from a single manufacturer.
Launched in 2008, the EN 54-16 voice alarm standard was designed with companies making entire systems in mind. This new initiative permits voice alarm systems to be built in a modular way according to the requirements of each project, using a range of products from different manufacturers.
With certification already granted for more than 30 products, the system includes audio signal processing and control using Peavey MediaMatrix, audio signal processing from BSS Audio along with a wide selection of Crown and Powersoft amplifiers. Luminex network switches are also certified to allow systems to be connected using copper or fibre. In coming weeks, d&b audiotechnik amplifiers will be added to the certificate.
‘This was one of the most complex audio systems ever built,’ says project leader Roland Hemming of RH Consulting. ‘It has taken three years of rigorous testing to achieve, and is now a platform that other amplifier, DSP, microphone and network switch manufacturers can join to create a single, compliant solution. Specifiers can now build EN 54-compliant systems using a range of products from different manufacturers, which is an industry first.’
More details on the solution will be released shortly, along with information on how other manufacturers may obtain certification for their products to become part of the system.
