# Why the switch to voice fire alarms? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 5, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067 "2008-05-05T00:46:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/1 "2008-05-05T00:46:25Z")
Most fire alarms in buildings I’ve been in consist of flashing lights and a siren. When these go off, everyone knows that it’s a fire alarm, and the correct course of action is fairly obvious. The building I’m in now, though, goes like this: \ \ “An emergency has been reported in this building! Please leave the building using the nearest stairways exits. Do not use the elevators. Disabled occupants follow the building evacuation plan.” \ \ The instructions don’t say anything that people don’t already know - although I guess some idiots might have forgotten not to use the elevators. But obviously someone decided they were an improvement over a plain siren. What’s the rationale? ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/2 "2008-05-05T00:50:56Z")
[QUOTE=Absolute] everyone knows that it’s a fire alarm, and the correct course of action is fairly obvious. … The instructions don’t say anything that people don’t already know - although I guess some idiots might have forgotten [/QUOTE] Oh really? Have you ever seen an autistic person react to a loud noise? How about a 3 yr old? What about the mentally handicapped? All healthy adults know it’s a fire alarm…what about the rest of the population? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/3 "2008-05-05T00:56:55Z")
[QUOTE=IntelSoldier] Oh really? Have you ever seen an autistic person react to a loud noise? How about a 3 yr old? What about the mentally handicapped? All healthy adults know it’s a fire alarm…what about the rest of the population? [/QUOTE] Presumably they’d follow the crowd, or be given assistance by the non-handicapped. Maybe I’d see your point in a facility given exclusively to handicapped care. To give a non-snarky answer to the OP, consider that (a) it’s extra information; (b) given today’s technology it can be added “free”; (c) if you’re in charge of building facilities, and the salesman demos this system for the same price (or very little added extra), why _wouldn’t_ you choose it over something else? ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/4 "2008-05-05T01:25:13Z")
In the last building I worked in, the message that would accompany the fire alarm changed according to the location and severity of the fire, and your location. So, after the alarm and the announcement that a fire had been reported, you might be instructed to stay where you were, to move up three floors, to move down three floors, or to vacate the building. And it never hurts to remind people not to use elevators in a fire. Of course, this kind of alarm system also has the versatility to be used for non-fire emergencies as well. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/5 "2008-05-05T01:37:55Z")
NFPA 101 Life Safety Code (2000 edition) chapter 12, new assembly occupancies states: 12.3.4.1 General. Assembly occupancies with occupant loads of more than 300 and all theaters with more than one audience-viewing room shall be provided with an approved fire alarm system in accordance with 9.6.1 and 12.3.4 12.3.4.3.2 Occupant notification shall be by means of visible signals and voice announcements, either live or prerecorded, initiated by the person in a constantly attended location. This being said, the technology we use today in commercial fire alarm allows us to use voice annunciation that we can custom design for an application. Typically, in a high rise building, we send a particular evacuation message to the floor where the fire is detected, the floor above and the floor below that can contain instructions on how to safely exit the building. The rest of the facility gets an alert message explaining that there has been an emergency declared and to await instructions. This type of system will then become a paging system where the fire department can give instructions to the building using the microphone at the central fire alarm panel. Using the same amplifiers and speakers, the system can also be set up for any emergency warning needs. We often set up systems for tornado and storm warnings along with fire and evacuation. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/6 "2008-05-05T01:43:54Z")
[QUOTE=Absolute] The instructions don’t say anything that people don’t already know - although I guess some idiots might have forgotten not to use the elevators. [/QUOTE] Well, it’s nice for you that you can keep your head in an emergency and remember all the little things that you’re supposed to do in order to not die. But, a large percentage of the population is not so fortunate and can become confused and panicked in the rush to get out of a burning building; for these “idiots” having a calm voice issuing instructions can help them not die, too. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/7 "2008-05-05T03:44:59Z")
Sounds like an effort to thwart Darwin. That is short sighted and our great[sup]6[/sup]grandchildren will thank us for doing all we can to purify the gene pool. Yes, I’m kidding. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/8 "2008-05-05T06:51:07Z")
There was a news story making the rounds a few months back. For domestic use, experiments showed that children often sleep through the typical home fire alarm, but adding a recording of one of the parents, or other, voices improved effectiveness dramatically. At my age I have lost hearing in certain higher pitched sounds, so I think a voice would probably be more effective for me also. I’ve had an ATM eat my card a couple of times bcause I was counting the money and couldn’t hear the alarm tone. It’s a PITA, but not life threatening. ---
**Author:** ![Wheeljack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/9 "2008-05-05T08:47:37Z")
I used to work at a place that had a great one. It didn’t mess around. “(BRAAAAAAP) THERE IS FIRE IN THE BUILDING. EVACUATE THE BUILDING.” The building in question was a _movie theater._ ---
**Author:** ![Osakadelica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c68b51/32.png) [@Osakadelica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osakadelica)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/10 "2008-05-05T09:29:05Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Well, it’s nice for you that you can keep your head in an emergency and remember all the little things that you’re supposed to do in order to not die. But, a large percentage of the population is not so fortunate and can become confused and panicked in the rush to get out of a burning building; for these “idiots” having a calm voice issuing instructions can help them not die, too. [/QUOTE] Doesn’t sound too healthy for the gene pool, that 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/11 "2008-05-05T09:46:39Z")
I think it’s a good idea. It should have a night mode as well. It’d start by gently clearing it’s throat then: \*psssst, wake up come on, wakey wakey there’s a fire a fire I said Come on, wake up Wake up, Fire FIRE\*\* WAKE UP FIRE!\*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/12 "2008-05-05T15:28:03Z")
[QUOTE=Absolute] The instructions don’t say anything that people don’t already know - although I guess some idiots might have forgotten not to use the elevators. But obviously someone decided they were an improvement over a plain siren. What’s the rationale? [/QUOTE] I’m on this building’s emergency team, and I can assure you that plenty of college-educated people will lose their heads when the klaxons go off and amble over to the elevators. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/13 "2008-05-05T16:34:55Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] I’m on this building’s emergency team, and I can assure you that plenty of college-educated people will lose their heads when the klaxons go off and amble over to the elevators. [/QUOTE] I’d like to see a picture of those ambling klaxons, myself. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![nofloyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nofloyd/32/2870_2.png) [@nofloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nofloyd)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/14 "2008-05-05T18:15:42Z")
There are also multiple-emergency alarms in one unit. Fire + Carbon monoxide. Remembering which sound is which is not as good as a voice that says “Fire!” or “Carbon monoxide detected.” I think the CO alert tells you to open a window before going outside. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/15 "2008-05-05T18:42:33Z")
[QUOTE=nofloyd] There are also multiple-emergency alarms in one unit. Fire + Carbon monoxide. Remembering which sound is which is not as good as a voice that says “Fire!” or “Carbon monoxide detected.” I think the CO alert tells you to open a window before going outside. [/QUOTE] In the same vein there are also so many types of hazard warnings in buildings nowdays it’s hard to know what an alarm means. Fire-evacuate now? Tornado-take shelter? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/16 "2008-05-05T18:59:11Z")
[QUOTE=Hampshire] In the same vein there are also so many types of hazard warnings in buildings nowdays it’s hard to know what an alarm means. Fire-evacuate now? Tornado-take shelter? [/QUOTE] Last week, at the office, we heard a loud, long wailing siren coming from somewhere in the neighborhood. No one knew what it meant or where it came from, so we all went back to work and ignored it. Turned out it was a tornado siren test, but how were we to know that? The real thing sounds exactly like the drill. The next time, just like the _boy that cried wolf_ story, we will probably ignore it again. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-switch-to-voice-fire-alarms/448067/17 "2008-05-05T20:01:56Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] I’m on this building’s emergency team, and I can assure you that plenty of college-educated people will lose their heads when the klaxons go off and amble over to the elevators. [/QUOTE] Heck, I used to be on my building’s fire team, and I had to stop myself (only on one occasion, but still…) from using an elevator. Similar to what **3acresandatruck** said - in our building, the voice instructed people on the floor where the alarm was triggered, and those above it, to evacuate now. Those below were told to prepare to evacuate but stay put for now. Once those at highest risk were out, everyone else was told to leave. That way we avoided the situation of 1000 people all trying to leave at once, probably unnecessarily.