World Financial Center installs Bosch system

China - Bosch Security Systems' Digital Praesideo Public Address and Emergency Sound System is being installed in the new Shanghai World Financial Centre. At 492m, the centre is currently the world's third tallest building. The structure features three floors of underground parking and shops, a conference center on floors one to five, offices on floors seven to 77, a hotel on floors 79 through 93, and finally observation and exhibition areas on floors 94 to 100. Construction has taken over 10 years and since the events of 9/11 the tower was redesigned to withstand disasters such as a plane crash. Other critical safety features have also been added including 12 fireproof refuge areas and two external elevators.

The Praesideo Digital PA and Emergency Sound System is one of the latest safety features to be added to the construction. The whole installation comprises four Praesideo systems covering several zones, including the office areas, the main body and conference areas and the hotels. Consisting of 26 call stations including four customer-designed call stations, six CobraNet Interfaces for long-distance high-quality communication, over 200 Bosch (124 W, 250 W and 500 W) LBB series power amplifiers with each speaker line fully under supervision at any time, and 2400 Bosch ceiling-mount, surface-mount, horn and cabinet speakers, it comes close to being one of the largest most complex of such systems to date.

Part of an integrated security solution, the Bosch Praesideo's open platform can communicate with third-party systems and peripherals such as building-management, fire-alarm, and passenger-information systems. Installation of the system was started in 2006 and is expected to be completed by the end of July 2008.

(Jim Evans)