BS 5839-9:2021

This part of BS 5839 provides recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of emergency voice communication (EVC) systems in and around buildings and at sports, entertainment and similar venues. It does not recommend whether or not an emergency voice communication system is installed in a given premises.

This part of BS 5839 relates to the use of EVC in communicating with people in refuges, fire wardens, fire marshals and firefighters in firefighting lobbies and communicating with stewards at sporting events. Use, other than in fire emergency situations, by disabled persons and others, although not precluded, is not addressed in detail.

Other than in exceptional circumstances, EVC systems are not intended as the means of raising a fire alarm, instead of manual call points. Refer to BS 5839-1 for guidance on fire detection and alarm systems.

This part of BS 5839 covers systems with components linked by wires, wirelessly, or a combination of both.

This part of BS 5839 covers EVC systems and is therefore not intended to cover general-purpose intercom systems, lift intercom systems, local (internal) telephone systems for general use, or any external communication systems, such as the public switched telephone network and cellular telephone networks.

Voice alarm systems are primarily intended for the automatic broadcasting of evacuation messages; they are covered by BS 5839-8 and are therefore excluded from this part of BS 5839.