BS 5839-8 is the British Standard on fire detection and fire alarm systems which reduces the risk of death or serious injury from fire.
BS 5839-8 is the eight-part of the multi-series that gives recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of voice alarm systems that automatically broadcast speech or warning tones, in response to signals from their associated fire detection and fire alarm systems.
BS 5839-8 also covers systems that include a manual facility for the transmission of live voice messages as well as automatically generated messages for emergency purposes.
Note 1: The fire detection and fire alarm systems themselves are covered by BS 5839-1.
Note 2: This standard applies to extensions and alterations to existing systems, at least in respect of the design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, and the certification of the new work, albeit that the extended or altered system might not, overall, conform to this standard.
Note 3: BS 7827 provides further recommendations in respect of sports venues.
BS 5839-8 on voice alarm systems for buildings is relevant to:
Fire alarms systems play a crucial role in today's society by detecting and warning us of the presence of smoke or fire. The fire alarms are activated automatically from a smoke and heat detector, or manually, by using fire alarm call points and pull stations.
BS 5839-8 is part of an extensive series of fire detection standards. It gives the latest guidelines and specifications relating to specific voice alarm systems and its overall purpose is to help save lives.
BS 5839-8 includes systems that involve a manual facility for the transmission of live voice messages as well as automatically generated messages for emergency purposes.
BS 5839-8:2013 supersedes BS 5839-8:2008, which is withdrawn. As compared to the previous version, BS 5839-8:2013 includes the following principal changes: