BELFAST — Lisburn-based Zest Audio has recently completed the installation of a Community sound system for the demonstration facilities of Lightstep Technologies at their Belfast headquarters. Lightstep works to simulate life-threatening situations so people have a better chance of surviving if they are unfortunate enough to ever face the real thing. Drawing on lessons learned in the wake of many well publicized disasters in recent years with disasters striking high rise buildings, nightclubs, underground stations and at sea, Lightstep has developed systems to improve and coordinate the response and ability of the fire, ambulance, police and other emergency services.
By designing integrated visual systems that can go beyond simple signage in directing those who are trapped toward safety, Lightstep hopes to increase the chances of survival for those who are faced with burning buildings, gas leaks, underground blackouts, explosions on land or at sea, capsizing vessels or collapsing tunnels.
Night clubs continue to be a serious concern around the world, high rise buildings over seven stories high remain out of reach of the rescue services and nothing has previously emerged which can guide the occupants from these environments other than photoluminescent strips on stairwell step treads. But how to find those stairwells?
Standard signs above doors can be quickly obscured by smoke and are not capable of determining whether the exit is actually safe to go through, or if it will lead into a greater risk area.
Lightstep developed its Intelligent Evacuation System to gather information from real-time sensors throughout areas and entire buildings, no matter how high or complex, to guide people out to safety.
“There still remains a gap between understanding a need and actually investing in systems that cannot be seen and, hopefully, will never be used,” said Lightstep’s director of communications, John Morrissey. The company’s demonstration facility is designed to overcome that resistance to the idea. It “leaves visitors in no doubt of the need and of the effectiveness of a real life-saving system,” Morrissey said.
Lightstep built two demonstration suites — an underground railway station and a stairwell, as would be found in any public building, from an office to a hotel or nightclub. Both are simulators in which visitors can experience real-life disasters. The lights go out, sound tracks play at real-life levels and smoke fills the environment.
“Understanding the need for real impact, we based the audio system on eight Community R.25 loudspeakers for power and quality,” said Zest Audio MD, David Honeyford. “These give astounding sound levels with absolute clarity, and no distortion to reduce the illusion. Four Community CLOUD4 ceiling speakers provide additional coverage and the system is powered and controlled by two Panasonic BX-500 receivers, with two Panasonic DVD players providing the source. This is a dual demo suite and is installed in a 7.1 configuration, with three Audica Professional active MICROsubs.
“We wanted a facility that could truly shock,” noted Morrissey, “and Zest has supplied the audio for this beyond expectations. The realism is frightening. You can feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and your chest tighten as with a sense of real panic. The sound effects are absolutely real and the subs are positioned tight against the stairwell, so you can feel the low frequency rumble in the building as well as hear it. By creating this very real disaster simulation we most effectively prove our systems.”
For more information, please visit www.communitypro.com.
