Under the Equality Act, updated in 2010, it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against anyone considered to have a disability. A disability means any mental or physical impairment which has a substantial and long term effect on the ability of the person with the impairment to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
What does this mean for the Fire and Security industry and your business or premises?
What You Will Need to Comply
Certain provisions must be made to ensure that the same protection and accessibility are afforded to those with a disability as anyone else.
This will include (but not be limited to) things like making sure that access control panels are situated at an appropriate height that they are accessible to wheelchair users and ensuring that alarms have both audio and visual outputs.
Other important considerations are appropriate egress buttons, door handles and door controllers / readers.
Refuge Outstations
If your building requires it we are also able to provide you with Emergency Voice Communication Systems (EVCS) Outstations which allow contact with the main panel from any of the designated refuge points in an emergency situation.
This provides a level of protection for the person at risk and allows the speedy location of those in need of help at a time when they need it most.
Induction Loops
Induction Loops are used to allow people with hearing difficulties to hear more clearly in a particular situation.
An induction loop is a cable or tape that runs around the desired listening area and is connected to an associated amplifier.
In circumstances there are more suitable solutions, such as infrared (or line of sight) or portable devices.
By means of an electromagnetic field people wearing hearing aids set to position ‘T’ or using an induction loop listening aid can hear the original source of sound over any other noise in the room.
Accessible WC Alarms
As part of your Fire and Security solution we can install call alarms in the Accessible WC facilities within your building.
Both stand alone systems which raise the alarm near a WC or interlinked systems which will also report back to a central point such as a Reception or a Security Office are available.
These systems can also be connected directly to and form part of Emergency Voice Communication Systems.
All equipment used by IDS Fire and Security is fully compliant with the Equality Act 2010 legislature.
We Can Help
Contact IDS Fire and Security, we can assist you right from the design stages of your installation to make sure that the lives of everyone in your building are protected as best as possible.