Hi

Just a query, but we have a relatively small, box shaped Control Room, with a Plant Area set in each corner of the Room consisting of Operator Worskstations & ESD Panels... the usual Control one would say.

However, due to the physical size of the Room, when any audible alarm goes off in any quadrant, this sets each and every quadrant operator into panic mode! (And you can imagine how upset they are when they are on Night Shift.)

Sticking a "rag in the horn" or lowering the volume is not an option. Therefore, I am looking at positioning "Directional Speakers" either to direct the Alarm to the Rear of the Operator's head (ears), or from false ceiling height directly above each Operator's head (preferred).

Can anyone offer any hands on advice or experiences of using such technology?

Thanks in advance.
Graham

 

Not exactly responding to your request, but have you considered using different audible alarm sounds for the different areas? If the sound is PC-based and you can use .wav files or the equivalent, it should be fairly simple to implement. Or, alarm horns come in a variety of different pitches, tones, and "sounds"; using a different alarm pitch, tone, or sound for different areas might also be another solution.

This is just a thought, which might be easier to implement than hanging new speakers and running wire and fiddling with placement, volume, etc. Some control rooms even use different sounds to indicate the severity or immediacy of response required, so the operators can decide if they have to jump up or can continue surfing the web a little longer (until the problem gets worse and the next level/sound is annunciated).

markvguy

 

Hi Markvguy

Thanks for your suggestions. Yes, I've tried different .wav files but the different Control Room alarms sounded like the "Black Eyed Peas" ;-)

Later
Graham

 

Why not use different tones for each quadrant?

Gerald Beaudoin

 

Being subjected to "Black Eyed Peas" during an entire shift might be considered cruel and a form of punishment in some parts of the world. Good thing you're considering alternatives. ;-)

markvguy

 

We used different .wav files for different zones in our project. That way, each operator knows for who the alarm rings!

... the trip alarm is a common .wav file. It goes "cock-a-doodle-do" VERY loudly... and brings everyone on their feet whatever the time be!!