PA & voice alarm systems (PAVA) — clear voice evacuation and public address
A voice alarm system evacuates a building with clear spoken instructions instead of just a bell — proven to get people moving faster and reduce confusion in a fire. A public address (PA) system uses the same speakers for day-to-day announcements and background music. We design, install and maintain combined PA and voice alarm (PAVA) systems to BS 5839-8 and EN 54-16 for schools, shops, offices, places of worship and public buildings — fully interfaced with the fire alarm so a fire triggers automatic, intelligible evacuation messages zone by zone.
Pa & voice alarm systems (pava)
PA & voice alarm systems (PAVA) should be specified around the building, risk, compliance requirements and day-to-day use. DC Fire & Security surveys the site, recommends the right approach and provides a clear no-obligation quote.
What affects the price?
Survey
FreeWe confirm what the building actually needs before pricing.
Quote
Fixed scopeYou receive a clear quote with the main assumptions shown.
Support
AvailableServicing and maintenance can be added after installation.
Looking for pa & voice alarm systems (pava) near you? DC Fire & Security covers Luton, Dunstable, Hitchin, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Bedford, Stevenage, Watford, Milton Keynes, Barnet, North London and nearby towns.
For urgent quotes, send the report, photos, plans or a short description. We will tell you what can be priced remotely and what needs a site check.
High-intent searches this page answers
Who is this for?
For building owners, facilities managers, retailers, schools and venue operators whose fire strategy calls for voice evacuation — or who want combined public address and voice alarm from one intelligible speaker system.
- Retail units and shopping centres needing voice evacuation and trading announcements
- Schools and academies needing site-wide PA and voice alarm
- Offices and large open-plan workplaces where a bell alone isn't enough
- Places of worship and community venues with public occupancy
- Hotels, leisure and public assembly buildings requiring phased evacuation
- Buildings where the fire strategy or FRA specifies a voice alarm system
- Sites replacing an unintelligible or failing legacy PA/VA system
PA and voice alarm problems we resolve
- A fire strategy or FRA that requires voice evacuation, with only a bell-and-sounder system in place
- An existing voice alarm that fails intelligibility (STI) testing, so messages can't be understood where it matters
- Ageing amplifiers and speakers with no fault monitoring, so a dead zone goes unnoticed until an evacuation
- PA and voice alarm running as two separate systems, doubling the speakers and cost
- No phased or zoned evacuation, so a large or high-rise building can't stage its evacuation safely
- No EN 54 compliant equipment, so the system won't be accepted against the fire strategy
- No commissioning certificate, zone plan or maintenance regime for the insurer and fire risk assessment
What's included in our PA & voice alarm service
Design to BS 5839-8 & EN 54-16
Voice alarm designed to BS 5839-8 using EN 54-16 control equipment and EN 54-24 loudspeakers, with zoning matched to your evacuation strategy.
Speech Intelligibility (STI)
Speaker layouts designed and commissioned to achieve the required Speech Transmission Index so evacuation messages are clearly understood throughout the building.
Fire Alarm Interface
The system is interfaced to the fire alarm so activation triggers pre-recorded evacuation and alert messages automatically, zone by zone.
Phased & Zoned Evacuation
Different messages to different zones — evacuate, alert, or stand-by — supporting phased evacuation in larger and high-rise buildings.
Combined Public Address
The same speaker network delivers live announcements, paging and background music day to day, with fire messages always taking priority.
Monitoring & Certification
Fully fault-monitored amplifiers, speaker lines and microphones, handed over with a commissioning certificate, zone plan and O&M manual.
Scope of works
Our qualified engineers carry out the following as standard:
Need voice evacuation or a combined PA/VA system designed and certified? Book a survey today.
Get a Free QuoteOptional services
Fire Alarm Systems
A BS 5839-1 fire alarm designed and installed alongside the voice alarm, so detection and evacuation are engineered together.
Fire Risk Assessment
Where the voice-alarm requirement came from an FRA, we can carry out or update the assessment so the strategy is consistent.
Emergency Lighting
Escape-route and open-area emergency lighting to complement voice evacuation, closing out the wider life-safety picture.
Disabled Refuge & EVC
Emergency voice communication and refuge call points for accessible evacuation, integrated with the voice alarm strategy.
Typical project timeframes
Key benefits
Ongoing support & maintenance
Planned Maintenance
Scheduled testing of amplifiers, speaker lines, microphones and batteries to BS 5839-8 keeps the system compliant and monitored.
Reactive Response
Priority call-out for faults so a life-safety system doesn't sit with a dead zone.
Message & Zone Updates
Help updating evacuation messages, zone plans and paging as the building or occupancy changes.
How it works
Survey & Strategy
We review the fire strategy and building, confirm the zones and whether phased evacuation is required, and assess acoustics.
Design
We design the speaker layout for intelligibility, the amplifier and control equipment to EN 54-16, and the fire-alarm interface.
Installation
Our engineers install speakers, cabling, amplifiers and control equipment with minimal disruption to the building.
Commissioning & STI
We commission the system, measure and tune speech intelligibility, and verify automatic triggering from the fire alarm.
Certification & Maintenance
You receive the certificate, zone plan and O&M manual, and we maintain the system on a planned contract.
Frequently asked questions
Request a Free Site Survey
One of our qualified engineers will visit your site, assess your requirements, and provide a detailed quotation - completely free.
Book a free site survey
Pick the service you need, add details and attach a photo if you can. The more information you send, the more accurate the quote.
What happens after you contact us
We review your enquiry
A member of our team reviews your requirements and gets back to you within 24 hours.
We arrange a site survey
We schedule a convenient time to visit your site and assess your needs in person.
We prepare a quotation
You receive a clear, detailed quote with no hidden costs or obligations.
We schedule the work
Once approved, we agree a start date that works around your operations.
We provide documentation & support
On completion, you receive all certificates, reports, and ongoing support details.
Trusted by schools, care homes, warehouses, and construction sites
We work with commercial and public sector clients across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and London.
Schools & Academies
Primary schools, secondary schools, multi-academy trusts, and nurseries
Construction Sites
Active building sites, developments, and temporary site compounds
Warehouses & Industrial
Warehouses, distribution centres, factories, and industrial units
Care Homes & Healthcare
Care homes, nursing facilities, clinics, and GP surgeries
Car Garages & Workshops
MOT centres, car dealerships, vehicle workshops, and body shops
Commercial Offices
Offices, business parks, co-working spaces, and corporate HQs
Public Sector
Local authority buildings, NHS facilities, and community centres
Retail & Hospitality
Shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, and leisure venues
Design a voice alarm that people can actually understand
Combined PA and voice alarm to BS 5839-8 and EN 54, designed for intelligibility and interfaced with your fire alarm for automatic, zoned evacuation. Contact us for a survey and proposal.
Request a free quote
Free no-obligation quote · Professional engineers · Response within 24 hours