Communication Systems

Mass
Notification & PA Systems

Emergency mass notification, voice evacuation, and facility-wide paging — engineered and installed by PCS for all occupancy types across Utah.

Overview

Every Occupant Informed. Every Time.

Powered Control Systems designs and installs mass notification and emergency communication systems for schools, hospitals, universities, government facilities, commercial buildings, and industrial sites across Utah. These systems ensure that every occupant — in every corner of a facility — receives clear, intelligible emergency communications when it matters most.

Our mass notification installations encompass voice evacuation systems (required by NFPA 72 for many occupancies), facility-wide paging systems, and distributed audio systems that serve both emergency and day-to-day communication needs. We design speaker layouts to meet NFPA 72 intelligibility requirements and coordinate with fire alarm systems for seamless integration.

For K-12 and higher education clients, our systems integrate with lockdown protocols to provide immediate facility-wide notifications — critical for school safety plans. PCS works with administrators and safety coordinators to ensure the system supports your specific emergency response procedures.

Our Capabilities

  • Voice evacuation system design and installation (NFPA 72 Chapter 24)
  • Emergency Communication System (ECS) design
  • Intelligibility testing and verification (STI-PA measurement)
  • Facility-wide paging and intercom systems
  • Distributed audio for ambient and emergency use
  • In-building wireless text and visual alert integration
  • Outdoor campus notification speakers
  • Integration with fire alarm systems
  • Lockdown and shelter-in-place notification systems
  • Multi-zone paging with priority override
  • Amplifier and speaker system design for large venues
  • Annual inspection and testing of mass notification systems
Why Choose PCS

The PCS Difference

Intelligibility-Focused Design

We use STI-PA measurement to verify that voice messages are intelligible in every space — the standard required by NFPA 72.

Fire Alarm Integration

Mass notification systems are fully integrated with fire alarm for automatic voice evacuation messaging on alarm events.

School Safety Expertise

PCS works with K-12 and university safety teams to ensure mass notification supports your specific lockdown and emergency protocols.

NFPA 72 Compliance

Our NICET IV engineers ensure every installation meets NFPA 72 Chapter 24 requirements for emergency communication systems.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

NFPA 72 requires voice evacuation systems in high-rise buildings (over 75 feet), healthcare occupancies, assembly occupancies over a certain occupant load, and other specific occupancy types. Utah's adopted IFC and NFPA editions determine exact thresholds. PCS can assess whether your facility requires a voice evacuation system.

Intelligibility measures how clearly spoken words can be understood in a space. NFPA 72 requires a minimum Common Intelligibility Scale (CIS) score of 0.70 in all occupiable areas. Poor intelligibility means occupants can't understand evacuation instructions — a critical safety failure. PCS designs speaker layouts and performs STI-PA testing to verify compliance.

Yes. Modern mass notification systems support multiple zones and priority levels, allowing the same infrastructure to serve routine paging (announcements, music) while maintaining the ability to override with emergency messages at any time. This dual-use design maximizes the return on investment.

PCS programs mass notification systems to interface with lockdown control panels or software, allowing administrators to initiate facility-wide lockdown notifications with a single action. Systems can trigger visual alerts, pre-recorded messages, and automated door locking simultaneously.

Related Services

Fire Alarm SystemsIntercom SystemsERRCS / DASLow Voltage Wiring

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Request a Quote (801) 576-6634