The New Terminal Building's (NTB) existing voice alarm systems front end control and amplifiers were upgraded by ADC to a TOA VX-2000 integrated voice evacuation control system. Fibre-optic LAN based paging and control systems have also been installed throughout the airport complex and WAN based technologies also allow ADC to interrogate the control system. Digital recorded voice messaging and safety calls have been implemented and event timers are employed to replay messages at set intervals.
Pegasus is the ongoing project for the VA/PA systems required for the airports' expansion plans. Pegasus Phase 1 incorporated PA/VA for a new pier building and development of the first floor of the existing NTB.
In the corridors and walkways, Community I/O5 on-wall and Cloud 4 ceiling loudspeakers are used as appropriate for the ceiling height and construction. In open areas, including passport control, central search, immigration and baggage, ADC employ custom clusters of I/O5 loudspeakers.
The use of Community's I/O5 in clusters works particularly well as Lorn Money, MD of ADC explains: "When we started Pegasus Phase 1 we tested many different loudspeakers. Eventually we chose the I/O5 for its excellent build quality, very high intelligibility and natural voice reproduction in areas of low or high ambient noise. Combining three or four in a 'Catherine wheel' cluster also gave us very good coverage and even dispersion, without discernable hot spots. The results were so good it's become something of a standard for us when covering large areas with medium ceiling heights."
The first floor concourse area existed since the NTB was built, but was not previously developed.Due to the size and ceiling height of the , ADC installed five Community R5.94TX and a further two R5.94TX around the seating areas. Efficiency and tightly controlled dispersion were critical and on-site testing was necessary before the R5.94TX was chosen as the best solution. The R5.94TX uses a 12-inch (300mm) cone LF driver and a co-axially mounted 1-inch (25 mm) exit HF compression driver coupled to a nominal 90° x 40° horn.
ADC employs full computer-based acoustic analysis of all areas when planning and deploying a system, giving them both expected and achieved SPL figures and also the audibility and intelligibility of paging calls and messages. They additionally use a unique measurement method called 'complex power spectrum analysis', allowing a broadband view of power consumed against frequency.
The TOA VX-2000 voice alarm and paging control system and SX-1000 paging matrix is battery backed up, has dual processing and monitors all the A/B loudspeaker circuits continuously for faults. Various methods are used including impedance, pilot tone and end-of-line detection and logging.
Money concludes: "The last three years have been very gratifying as we have grown to understand the complex nature of a successful, growing airport and the long-term involvement allows us to think, plan and design in a more strategic way. It has been a major commitment for us and the airport, and it's important for us to have the excellent support and dedication we've had from the staff at both Community UK and TOA". He continues: "Pegasus Phase 1 has been our busiest period to-date but we've already started on the firsttwo zones of Pegasus Phase 2, with a further 50 Community I
