Recommendations for Maximizing System Intelligibility
Maximizing | Use the following recommendations to maximize system intelligibility: |
Intelligibility |
|
| • Ensure at least an 8 dBA |
| Note: This can result in a higher than 15 dB |
| 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 |
| 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. |