HOUSTON, Texas and WESTMiNSTER, Massachusetts (May 15, 2002) - In a technological breakthrough that will enhance fire and life safety and promote compliance with an important new NFPA code, SimplexGrinnell and Gold Line are pleased to jointly announce a simple, new and accurate instrument for measuring the intelligibility of voice emergency evacuation systems.
The new STI-CIStm Analyzer, as the new instrument is called, utilizes the world standard Speech intelligibility Index (STI) method of measuring speech intelligibility and the Common Intelligibility Scale (CIS) called for in NFPA 72 and other standards. The hand-held analyzer responds to a proprietary STI-PAtm test tone developed at the Dutch National Labs, TNO-Human Factors Group, developers of the STI method. The analyzer is subject to patents issued and/or pending by Bose Corporation, and will be manufactured under license by Gold Line.
The development and availability of the portable analyzer puts SimplexGrinnell and Gold Line at the forefront of compliance with a new NFPA code that's become a focus of attention in the fire industry. The new intelligibility requirement is intended to help ensure that the messages from voice evacuation systems can be heard and understood by the occupants of a building.
Two versions of the analyzer will be produced. Gold Line will manufacture a meter to measure both sound pressure level (dB-A scale) and speech intelligibility (CIS scale). That product will be distributed by Gold Line and SimplexGrinnell, a unit of Tyco International Ltd's Fire and Security Division and a premier provider of fire protection, life safety and integrated security. A second version of the analyzer with additional functions ( Gold Line Model DSP30 with OPT STICis ) will also be available for consultants and audio contractors directly from Gold Line.
John Haynes, Director of Marketing at SimplexGrinnell, stated: "We're delighted to provide our district offices with a practical and easy-to-use tool to verify that the voice evacuation systems we install and service are, in fact, intelligible to building occupants."
According to Mr. Haynes, SirnplexGrinnell has made a considerable investment over the past two years, working with Bose and Gold Line, to tailor the STI-CIStm Analyzer to meet the practical needs of the fire alarm industry for a portable, rugged and accurate tool that will meet the evolving requirements of NFPA 72. Initially, SimplexGrinnell considered keeping the analyzer proprietary, but decided to offer it to third parties, including competitors, because of a strong belief that the system could help save lives.
"NFPA 72 provides that all systems for emergency voice evacuation must be intelligible," Mr. Haynes said. "But up until now there has been no practical way for a technician or AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) in the field to objectively prove that a system is intelligible. This new technology is a breakthrough for our industry, and as leaders in the voice-evacuation field, we are pleased to have played a role in bringing the product to market."