Tyco 579-769 specifications Recommendations for Maximizing System Intelligibility

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Recommendations for Maximizing System Intelligibility

Maximizing

Use the following recommendations to maximize system intelligibility:

Intelligibility

 

 

• Ensure at least an 8 dBA signal-to-noise ratio with regard to the speech signal.

 

Note: This can result in a higher than 15 dB signal-to-noise ratio for notification tones. If

 

the notification tones become too loud for a particular location, consider reducing the volume

 

of the tone with respect to the speech signal.

 

• Ensure adequate direct sound field coverage for the type of space. Speaker layout pattern

 

selection is critical in providing sufficient coverage at a reasonable cost. In areas with high

 

reverberation times it is possible to improve intelligibility by decreasing the separation

 

between the loudspeakers and the listeners. This increases the ratio of direct to reverberant

 

sound and improves intelligibility, but usually requires more loudspeakers to provide the same

 

level of coverage.

 

• Improve signal-to-noise ratio by putting speakers where people are located. This assures

 

good coverage and minimizes stray acoustical that adds to reverberation without contributing

 

to intelligibility. In rooms with high ceilings, the areas near the edge of the room can be

 

covered more effectively with wall mount speakers.

 

• In areas with high ceilings, directional speakers should be selected to avoid multiple speaker

 

interactions.

 

• Care must be taken to avoid signal distortion. It is critical to ensure that signal levels are

 

properly adjusted so that signal distortion does not occur. Properly installed and maintained

 

emergency voice/alarm communications systems deliver low distortion by design.

 

• Apply acoustic treatments to reduce reverberation.

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Contents Fire Alarm Audio Applications Guide Page Copyrights and Trademarks Page Table of Contents Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications Systems Glossary of Terms Related Publications Chapter Speech Intelligibility Overview Speech Intelligibility Importance Designing for Topic See Page # Chapter Background InformationEquation 2-2. Ohm’s Law Equation 2-3. Power RelationshipsBasic Audio Math Equation 2-1. The DecibelEquation 2-6. Adding Decibels Equation 2-5. dB and Sound Pressure LevelsRobinson and Dadson Equal Loudness Curves Sound and HearingSpeech Pattern that Illustrates Modulations Nature of SpeechRoom Acoustics Eyring Equation, used when α Sabine Equation, used when αAreas with high ceilings, specify a more directional speaker Equation 2-8. The Inverse Square Law Speaker BasicsEquation 2-9. On-Axis SPL Calculation SPL = Sensitivity + 20 log6dB/division 87dBEquation 2-10. Directivity Factor Q for a Conical Source 51º Critical Polar Angle Calculations 104Listener Height = 1.5 Meters Ceiling Coverage Diameter Equation 2-11. Coverage Area CalculationsMinimum Overlap Layout Pattern Selection GuideSPL Variation by Layout Pattern 2x Edge-to-EdgeDistributed Wall Mounted Systems Width Opposite SpeakerWall Mounted Speakers In Meters Room Coverage Width Edge-edge Minimum-Overlap Full-Overlap Chapter Speech Intelligibility Frequency of Speech Contribution to Intelligibility Influences on IntelligibilityNo Noise With Added Noise Degradation of CIS vs. Signal-to-Noise RatioBackground Noise Reverberation Distortion Measures of Intelligibility Correlation of CIS and with STI and %ALconsALcons STI method with faster measurement times STI-CIS Analyzer Talkbox Practical Measurement of IntelligibilityTools for Predicting Intelligibility Page Chapter Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications Systems Advantages Typical Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications SystemParts of an Emergency Voice/Alarm Communications System Class a and B Speaker Circuit Wiring Chapter Regulatory Issues From Nfpa 72, 2002 Edition AudibilityHigh Background Noise Large Areas Intelligibility Intelligibility Certification Page Chapter Speaker System Design Method Determine the speaker-to-listener distance D2 Speaker Design MethodRecommendations for Maximizing System Intelligibility ITool Office Space Example Applying the MethodsOffice Space Speaker Location Guide Corridor Design Example Corridor SPL Distribution Corridor Speaker Location GuideITool Gymnasium Example 10. Gymnasium Speaker Location Guide 13. Lobby Example 15. Lobby Layout Applying the Methods Conclusion Page Chapter Glossary of Terms Glossary Glossary Page Index IN-2 Page 579-769 Rev. C