For many high-voltage, low-voltage, security and life safety installers, the NFPA 70: National Electric Code (NEC) provides critical guidelines to be followed on the job site. The problem is that many probably need a primer on these all-important codes.
Takes this quick quiz to determine how well you know the NFPA 70 National Electric Code as it pertains to speakers installed in plenum and acoustical ceiling title.
Know the Code: Hanging Speakers
Well, how did you do on the quiz? Whether installers aced this quick quiz or it revealed that they badly need a primer, pretty much all installers that work with speakers installed in plenum and acoustical ceiling title probably require some continuous brushing up.
Lencore Acoustics offers a valuable resource for bettering understand NFPA 70 related codes in a quick primer, “Know the Code: Hanging Speakers.” Find it here.
As the document states, “Whether you are designing, quoting or installing a soundmasking, audio, paging or mass notification system, you must be aware of the requirements detailed by the NEC.
Why Mass Notification and Soundmasking?
One reason Lencore is tuned into NFPA 70 related codes is its focus on solutions for soundmasking, audio, paging and mass notification. In many cases, according to Lencore VP of marketing David Smith, integrators have an opportunity to provide integrated solutions across those categories.
[related] Indeed, he explained during an interview at InfoComm 2018, the opportunity to meet demands for more integrated MNEC and soundmasking solutions is being driven, in part, by code adoption. Specifically, the NFPA 72 code, which sets standards for fire detection, signaling, and emergency communications, and is being widely adopted across the U.S. “is really helping to drive the requirement to put in mass notification systems,” he said.
“From the sound masking perspective as it relates to the code adoption that’s happening in the marketplace you actually have to mute any sort of ambient noise in order not to have competing signals when you’re trying to create a verbal communication to building occupants.
“If you have soundmasking playing and there’s a fire or a weather related emergency that you need to inform building occupants of you want to mute that masking and that’s part of the code requirement.”
Learn more about NFPA 70: National Electric Code requirements here.
