ISO 8201:2017

Alarm systems - Audible emergency evacuation signal - Requirements

ISO 8201:2017 specifies the requirements for an audible emergency evacuation signal intended to indicate without ambiguity, to all persons within the reception area of the signal, that an emergency situation (fire, gas leaks, explosion, nuclear radiation, etc.) requires immediate evacuation. Two acoustic parameters of the audible emergency evacuation signal are defined: the temporal pattern and the required sound pressure level at all places within the intended reception area of the signal. NOTE Recognition of the signal does not require the specification of its spectral content, which can be selected to satisfy specific site requirements. The signal specified in this document is intended to be used in buildings, including but not limited to schools, hotels, residential buildings, public institutions and work places (such as factories and offices) The signal can also be used in outside areas. ISO 8201:2017 is not applicable to warning signals, to signals for public disaster control or to alarm systems on board ships or in outdoor moving vehicles, such as police cars, fire engines and ambulances. The individual signalling-system components of the signal are also out of the scope of this document.

Systèmes d'alarme — Signal sonore d'évacuation d'urgence — Exigences

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 23-Nov-2017
• ICS: 13.320 - Alarm and warning systems
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 21/SC 3 - Fire detection and alarm systems
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 21/SC 3 - Fire detection and alarm systems
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 22-Jun-2023
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO 8201:1987 - Acoustics - Audible emergency evacuation signal
• Effective Date: 26-Jul-2014

Overview

ISO 8201:2017 - Alarm systems - Audible emergency evacuation signal - Requirements - defines a standardized, unambiguous audible evacuation signal for buildings and outdoor reception areas. The standard specifies two primary acoustic parameters (the temporal pattern and sound pressure level) so that occupants recognize immediately that an emergency (fire, gas leak, explosion, radiation, etc.) requires immediate evacuation. ISO 8201:2017 does not prescribe spectral content (frequency) of the sound and is not applicable to vehicle sirens, shipboard alarms or public disaster-control signals.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Temporal pattern (three-pulse):
  • “On” (a): 0.5 s ±10%
  • “Off” (b): 0.5 s ±10%
  • Repeat once, then “On” (a): 0.5 s ±10% followed by “Off” (c): 1.5 s ±10%
  • Total cycle ≈ 4 s ±10%
  • Examples: steady tones, two‑tone high/low, frequency sweeps, or single‑stroke bell (acceptable alternative with specified timing).
• Sound pressure level (SPL):
  • During “on” phases, A-weighted SPL (Fast) must exceed the averaged background noise (60 s) by at least 10 dB and be ≥ 65 dB throughout the reception area.
  • To rouse sleeping occupants: ≥ 75 dB at bedhead with doors closed (note: may not awaken all occupants).
• Duration and control:
  • Minimum continuous activation: 180 s.
  • Permitted interruption: silence for ≤ 15 s for voice announcements or orientation.
• Supplementary voice messages:
  • Pattern repeated three times, then prerecorded voice instruction (allocated 4–12 s), followed by final off period (4–8 s); complete cycle ≤ 30 s.
• Visual and tactile signals:
  • Required where background noise averages >110 dB.
  • Temporal pattern must be imposed on tactile signals; visual signals must consider epileptic seizure risks.
• Use restrictions: Only for immediate evacuation; not for relocation-in-place strategies or non-evacuation responses.

Applications and users

ISO 8201:2017 is intended for use in:

• Buildings: schools, hotels, residential blocks, hospitals, offices, factories, public institutions
• Outdoor reception areas

Primary users:

• Fire protection engineers and alarm system designers
• Building and facilities managers
• Architects and consultants specifying life-safety systems
• Alarm manufacturers and installers
• Safety regulators and code authorities

Implementing ISO 8201 helps ensure consistent, recognizable evacuation alarms, aids integration with voice alarm systems, and supports accessibility via supplemental visual/tactile signals.

Related standards

• ISO 7731 - Auditory danger signals
• ISO 11428 - Visual danger signals
• ISO 11429 - System of auditory and visual danger signals
• IEC 61672-1 / IEC 61672-2 - Sound level meter specifications and tests

Keywords: ISO 8201:2017, audible emergency evacuation signal, evacuation signal temporal pattern, sound pressure level, fire alarm, voice alarm, visual tactile signals, alarm system standard.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 8201
Second edition
2017-11
Corrected version
2018-03
Alarm systems — Audible emergency
evacuation signal — Requirements
Systèmes d'alarme — Signal sonore d'évacuation d'urgence —
Exigences
Reference number
©
ISO 2017
© ISO 2017
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ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Requirements . 1
4.1 General . 1
4.2 Temporal pattern . 2
4.3 Recognition . 2
4.4 Sound pressure level . 2
4.5 Duration . 3
4.6 Supplementary instructions . 3
4.7 Visual and/or tactile signals . 3
Annex A (informative) Examples of application of the temporal pattern to commonly used
audible signals . 4
Bibliography . 6
Foreword
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different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
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URL: www .iso .org/ iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 21, Equipment for fire protection and fire
fighting, Subcommittee SC 3, Fire detection and alarm systems.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 8201:1987), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— the evacuation signal temporal pattern has been modified to allow for the use of signals from voice
alarm evacuation systems.
This corrected version of ISO 8201:2017 incorporates the following corrections:
— the title of the document has been corrected from Acoustics — Audible and other emergency
evacuation signals to Alarm systems — Audible emergency evacuation signal — Requirements.
iv © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Introduction
There has been a growing interest in the past decade in the development of an international audible
signal which, when heard, would unequivocally mean “evacuate the building immediately”.
In searching for an appropriate audible signal, it was considered that levels of background noise and
frequency patterns are so variable, particularly in the industry, that no signalling device would be able
to “penetrate” all background noises and frequency patterns. For this reason, it seemed prudent to select
the kind of sound best able to audibly “penetrate” a particular background noise in a given building and
then make that sound unique and understandable by imposing on it a standard recognizable pattern of
“on” and “off” times.
It is frequently found that, whatever sounding device is already in place in a building, it is there because
it has been shown to be successful. Consequently, all that is needed in many cases is to impose a
standardized temporal pattern on the existing sounding devices. For new buildings, a signal that can
“penetrate” the background noise inside that building should be selected and then the standardized
temporal pattern is imposed on that signal.
An additional advantage of using a standardized temporal pattern as the distinguishing characteristic
of the audible emergency evacuation signal is that the temporal pattern can be applied to visual and
tactile signals to aid those who have impaired hearing. Visual and tactile signals incorporating the
temporal pattern can also be applied in areas where the background noise is so intense that no signal is
capable of “penetrating” audibly.
This document is one of a series of standards covering danger signals. Other standards include ISO 7731,
ISO 11428 and ISO 11429.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 8201:2017(E)
Alarm systems — Audible emergency evacuation signal —
Requirements
1 Scope
This document specifies the requirements for an audible emergency evacuation signal intended to
indicate without ambiguity, to all persons within the reception area of the signal, that an emergency
situation (fire, gas leaks, explosion, nuclear radiation, etc.) re
...