University College for the Creative Arts has become the latest to install a Refuge Alerter® RA1000 wireless radio-based emergency voice communication (EVC) system from the market leaders Deaf Alerter plc.
With around 6,500 students enrolled on more than 80 different courses, the University College for Creative Arts is one of the UK's leading providers of specialist art and design education, offering strengths in art, design, architecture, media and communication. Boasting a thriving and vibrant community of students, staff and researchers, the University College plays a significant role in the creative, economic and cultural life of the UK.
The University is committed to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for students with disabilities. To support its purpose built facilities it has just enhanced its safety for those with disabilities in the event of a fire, by installing Deaf Alerter plc’s RA 1000 wireless refuge system.
Refuge Alerter® has been installed across four campuses, Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham and Maidstone, in an effort to improve evacuation strategies. The University College’s RA1000 system consists of thirty outstations, three base stations and ten portable handsets. Refuge Alerter® RA1000 was selected as the most appropriate solution, due to its functionality and unique features, including the systems portable capability.
Larry Weller, Account Manager for Deaf Alerter Plc, who nurtured this Refuge Alerter® project from start to completion said: “We are seeing increasing demand for disabled refuge systems due to current Building Regulations insisting that all new non-domestic buildings with more than one storey provide refuge areas where people who cannot easily use fire escapes and evacuation lifts can call for assistance and wait until help arrives.”
This influx has been driven by the implementation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order to which the Government has issued a supplement to the 12 existing guides entitled "Means of Escape for Disabled People." Endorsed by the Disability Rights Commission (now the Equality and Human Rights Commission) the guide highlights the requirement for emergency voice communication systems.
Refuge Alerter’s deployment and functionality gives such versatility that it can be used in all types of EVC application, be it a disabled refuge, fire telephone or stadium marshalling system. Refuge Alerter® is incredibly easy to use and hugely cost-effective to install in comparison to traditional hardwired systems. Choosing a radio-based EVC eliminates costly and disruptive building work without the need to lay expensive cable. Refuge Alerter® is the perfect solution for historic or listed buildings and those that require retro fit such as hotels, leisure centres, theatres, cinemas, galleries, shopping centres and any other non-domestic building with more than one storey.
