Included in the specification is TOA’s new VS-900 intercom system. The Harvey Nichols store and 10 other retail units form the backbone of the transformation of the former Shambles West development in the city centre, along with a residential block. The PA and VA systems will provide secure, fail-safe and high intelligibility emergency speech broadcast to the Harvey Nichols areas and are fully compliant with BS5839 and all other relevant standards. The PA system in Harvey Nichols Department Store is capable of individual zone evacuation. A background music and spot announcement input has also been integrated into the PA/VA system.
Polaron Communications have worked closely with TOA - the world's largest manufacturers of commercial audio equipment - on a number of highly prestigious projects over the years. "We have always found the equipment to be of the highest standard and totally reliable," said managing director, Martin Marcus. "This is one of the reasons why Polaron were confident in specifying the new TOA VS-900 Intercom System for this important contract."
Polaron have chosen TOA's latest intercom system for the disabled refuge areas and landlord areas in the new store. They have incorporated nine RS-170 remote flush wall mountable 'push to call' disabled call points in the store, with the capacity to expand to up to 16 call points. 10 call points have also been located in the landlord's management areas. The flexibility of the VS-900 exchange allowed Polaron to operate two independent systems, which shared the common resource of the master control unit. Two master handsets were then able to operate autonomously with their own satellite units simultaneously.
The call points on the VS-900 are ideal as they have two-way, hands-free audio communication between the local panel and the central handsets, which have been located in the management area of Harvey Nichols and the landlord's management suite. The call points are also vandal-proof and weather resistant. The new store will open in 2003.
(Lee Baldock)
