Introducing Safe-Point

Safe-Point EVC – provides the communication from the safe refuge

area to the emergency services.

Overview

An EVC (emergency voice communication) system (commonly known as a Disabled Refuge System) allows firefighters and staff to communicate, with persons awaiting safe evacuation in Refuge Areas, during emergency situations.

It enables people who seek assistance to have a constant two-way communication with emergency services from a number of points throughout a building or building complex, particularly in a fire emergency situation.

The Equality Act (2010) ensures that disabled people are treated equally, this includes responsibility on all businesses to ensure that everyone has access to buildings and services.

The provision of a safe refuge area enables the person who requires assistance to make their way to the closest designated area and await an evacuation.

There are certain standards that a safe area must adhere to. These are described in building regulations BS9999:2017, BS5839-9:2011 and BS8300:2009. All of these standards ensure that buildings are designed to meet the needs of disabled people.

Main Features

A refuge area can be defined as:

A safe place for disabled to await evacuation assistance
An enclosed area of fire-resisting construction
Must be served directly by a safe route of exit
Minimum size = 900mm x 1400mm – enough space for a wheelchair to manoeuvre
Minimum of 30 minutes fire-resisting separation
Wheelchair space should not reduce the width of escape route
Wheelchair space must not obstruct flow of persons escaping

Safe-Point Refuge Call Outstation

Outstation Type B can be used as a disabled refuge call point or a Fire Telephone. This is defined is BS 5839 part 9.

A call is made by pressing the large momentary push button. This will then illuminate the panel mounted ‘call registered’ red LED and initiate a conventional telephone call tone from the panel loudspeaker.