Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act 2010 provides a new legislative framework to protect the rights of individuals updating, simplifying and strengthening previous legislation including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Act delivers a simple, modern and accessible framework of discrimination law which protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and more equal society. Part 3 of the Act came into force on the 1st October 2010 and states that service providers must undertake reasonable adjustments to avoid disabled people being substantially disadvantaged in accessing services. Examples of reasonable adjustments are:
- Putting in a ramp to replace steps
- Provisions for deaf and hard of hearing people
- Providing larger, well defined signs for people with a visual impairment
- Improving access to toilet or washing facilities
Businesses and organisations are called 'service providers' and include hotels, shops, restaurants, leisure centres and places of worship. A disabled person is covered by the Act if they have ‘a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’.
Standards
- EN61000-6-1:2001 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Generic standards. Immunity for residential, commercial and light industrial environments.
- EN61000-6-3:2001+A11:2004. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Generic standards. Emission standard for residential, commercial and light industrial environments.
BS5839-1: 2002
BS5839-1: 2002 Supplementary information about the sound of a fire alarm: The British Standard for fire alarm installation, BS5839-1: 2002, (Clause 16.2), states: The sound pressure level of alarm signals “should be not less than 75dB(A) at the bed head within rooms in which the fire alarm system is intended to rouse people from sleep.” Deafgard X receives a signal from System X Hardwired or Acoustic. System X Acoustic is listening for a continuous fire alarm of 75dBA or higher, when the fire alarm sounds the pillow pad vibrates, high intensity LED lights flash and an LCD screen displays ‘fire’. Deafgard X can also be activated by System X Hardwired, which is hardwired into the fire control panel’s fire and fault relay or loop via an I/O unit. The System X unit utilises wi-fi technology to communicate with all Deafgard X units.
BS 5446-3
Deafgard X has been designed to the relevant parts of BS 5446-3: Specification for smoke alarm kits for deaf and hard of hearing people.