Fire Alarm System EN54 Part 23 VADS

Visual Alarm Devices (VADs) are an essential component to most fire alarm systems. They provide a visual indication of an alarm condition to those people who wouldn’t normally be alerted to a fire by standard audible-only devices, such as sounders and bells.

The Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 made the inclusion of VADs mandatory in all public buildings, specifically in areas where people with impaired hearing work in isolation. But VADs are also required in noisy environments where staff might be wearing ear defenders such as factories, foundries etc.

A new product standard, BS EN 54-23:2010 (Fire detection and fire alarm systems. Part 23: Fire alarm devices – Visual alarms devices), has been introduced primarily to standardise the requirements, test methods and performance of VADs and ensure their light output is measured in a uniform manner. This standard will be mandatory throughout Europe from 31st December 2013 and all manufacturers of VADs will be affected.