Public Address Loudspeaker used as Fire Alarm Device: UK26/L001
Adopted EU recommendation LSA-100. UK approved recommendation UK26/L001 on public address loudspeaker when used as fire alarm device.
Question
Can speakers forming a part of a Public Address (PA) and General Alarm (GA) system for broadcasting of PA and GA also be used for sounding of Fire Alarms?
Background
Ships under the scope of SOLAS are required by the Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) code to carry systems for the sounding of Public Address and General Alarm, and by the code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS code) to carry systems for detection and sounding of Fire Alarms.
For some systems it is possible to connect fire alarm systems to inputs of PA/GA systems for the purpose of sounding activated fire alarms through the speakers of the PA/GA systems.
UK/1.44b for “Public Address and General Alarm Systems (PAGA)- Speakers” currently includes a note stating “When used as fire alarm device item UK/3.53 shall apply”)[footnote 1]. Item UK/3.53 is for Fire alarm devices- sounders.
PA/GA speakers are loudspeakers that can produce a wide range of audio frequencies and are designed for clarity and sound quality. The audible signal is typically activated by applying an analogue signal from an audio amplifier to the input of the speaker.
The requirements for PA/GA speakers for UK/1.44b are defined in EN 50695 (2021).
Fire alarm sounders are devices that produce an attention-drawing signal with a high audible level, often with specific coded patterns (this may include voice messages). Fire alarm sounders are typically activated by enabling the power to the sounders.
The requirements for fire alarm sounders in UK/3.53 are defined in EN 54-3 (2014) incl. A1 (2019).
The scope of EN 54-3 states that it did not intend to cover “loudspeaker type devices primarily intended for emitting emergency voice messages that are generated from an external audio source”.
It is therefore presumed that it is not feasible for PA/GA speakers to comply with the requirements of EN 54-3.[footnote 2]
Recommendation
PA/GA speakers under UK/1.44b which comply only with the requirements of EN 50695 (2021) are not to be used for the purpose of sounding of fire alarms as required by the FSS code.
References:
- MSN 1874 as amended
- The Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2025
Items affected:
- UK/1.44b (Public Address and General Alarm systems)
More information
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/21
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
Telephone: +44 (0) 203 817 2000
Email: MEQA@mcga.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/mca
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A similar note is also included for UK/1.44a for PA/GA control systems. ↩
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The foreword of EN 54-3 list other parts of the EN 54-series of standards that are specifically prepared for other elements of fire detection and fire alarm systems, including Part 24: “Components of voice alarm systems – Loudspeakers”. ↩