SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships. By gaining SOLAS approval from Germanischer Lloyd - specifically in the C, EMC1 and EMC2 environmental categories - the Praesideo is certified suitable for use on cruise ships, other merchant vessels and offshore gas and oil drilling platforms. It meets the strict safety and reliability criteria demanded by the treaty, which deal with issues such as monitoring of loudspeaker lines and resistance to corrosion from saltwater. It can therefore be used on-board for broadcasting general information and background music as well as specific evacuation messages. The Praesideo is characterized by flexibility in system configuration, simplicity in installation and high-quality audio reproduction. Its high output power and ability to be configured for many different zones makes it ideal for such large ocean-going ships or rigs. Bosch is already the market leader in cruise ship sound management systems, largely due to the Praesideo's predecessor, the SM40.
The Praesideo was the world's first fully digital public address and emergency sound system, and, after receiving TÜV approval in April 2003, became the first IEC 60849 certified voice alarm system. The certification was issued by the renowned German quality and safety organization after three months of intensive testing. The IEC60849 is a European standard for voice alarm systems. The Praesideo has also been certified by the TÜV organization to BS 5839 ; the only public address or voice alarm system to have independent certification to this standard.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
