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YOUR SECURITY PARTNER

GUIDE TO PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM DESIGN &

INSTALLATION

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Engineering Basic Sound Systems

Sound Systems for commercial use have little in common with
those found in domestic environments, the function they are
required to perform being entirely different.
Wherever numbers of people have to be informed or paged
there is a need for Public Address. The person required is
invariably on the move or working, so the ability to contact
them will aid operating efficiency and may even, in the event
of an emergency, save lives. It will be the only way to speak
to everyone at the same time and it is important that the
sound character is as natural as possible. Clear, natural voice
reproduction is achieved by good planning, by the quality
of the equipment used and the care taken in ensuring that
all areas where a listener could be have adequate sound
coverage.

Public Address
Gardiner Public Address Division
Transpennine Trading Estate, Rochdale, Lancs. OL11 2PX
Contact - G. Davies, Product Manager. Tel: 01706 343343. Fax: 01706 344294.

Illustrations within this Guide are used with the kind permission
and are Copyright of COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY.

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Guide to Public Address

In order to be effective, any sound system has to overcome the

multitude of noises which make up the ambient noise in the
listening environment; in an office the sound of computers,
people talking, telephones; on the shop floor machinery / fork
lift trucks or any number of other noises. All calculations of
speaker quanitities relate to the varying levels of background
noise and illustrations will help you make a judgement of what
is required. Some typical systems are included at the end of
this Guide to assist in your assessment.

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The Acoustic Environment

The term acoustics refers to the way sound behaves within a
room or bulding. This will be a major factor in determining the
quality of the sound received.
With the exception of concert halls and theatres, few buildings
are designed with much attention being paid to the acoustic
environment.
A sound does not just travel in the direction of the listener but
radiates in all directions and is reflected many times from the
walls, floor and ceiling of the room.
Each reflection removes some of the sound energy by
absorption until, for practical purposes, there is none left.
The time that the sound takes to die away in any particular
room is called the reverberation time. Different surfaces and
materials absorb different amounts of the sound and therefore
affect reverberation times.
It is the amount and quality of the reflected sound that gives
a particular room or building its characteristic sound.
Good acoustics are important in ensuring that the reproduced
sound is of an acceptable clarity. Too much reverberation
produces a confusing and unintelligible sound, whilst too
little produces an uncomfortable deadness.

To avoid the echo effect we have recommended that

distances greater than 15m between successive loudspeakers,
the original sound source and the listener should be avoided.
The arrival of electronic sound must be coincident with the
arrival of the original sound to have maximum reinforcement
effect and listener intelligibility.

50m

HE
LP
!

50m

HE
LP
!

50m

HE

LP
!

30m

HE
LP

ELP!
ELP!
HH
P!
HEHLELP!

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Nature of Sound

Having explained reverberation we can also say that in a

reinforcement system, sound from a loudspeaker reaching the
listener more than a fraction of a second after the original
sound, produces an echo effect which at its worst, will result
in complete unintelligibility.

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Ambient Noise
In order to be effective
any sound system has to
overcome the multitude of
noises which make up the
ambient noise in the
listening environment.

Nature of Sound

In an office this could be

people in discussion,
telephones ringing, the noise
of computers; in a factory
the plant or processing
equipment, or in a restaurant
the customers in discussion
and kitchen noise.

All calculations of speaker

quantities relate to varying
levels of ambient noise and
the illustration on the
following page (Fig C) will
help you make a judgement
of what is required for your
specific needs. Some typical
sounds are indicated to
assist your assessment in
conjunction with the floor
area chart on pages 17-18.

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Measurement of Sound

30dB
Easy
Conversation

65dB

120

Pain Threshold

115
110

Pneumatic Drill, Express Train passing through

station, Car Horn at 1m
Discotheque venue, on dance floor

105

Orchestra Live

100

Inside tube train

Difficult
to
Converse

95

Machine Workshop, Garage, Print Shop

90

Club, three piece group

85

Supermarket

80

Traffic noise, Church Choir

75

Noisy office

70

Conversation at 30cm, Restaurant, Typing pool

65

Converation speech at 1m

60

Typical office

55
50

Background Music, Restaurant,

Hotel Lobby
Light traffic at 30m, Quiet office

45

Tearing paper at 1m

40

Quiet house, average residential area

35

Soft Music, Countryside

30

Countryside

25

Library

20

Leaves rustling

15

Broadcasting studio

10

Quiet whisper at 1m

90dB
120dB

Impossible
to
Converse

5
0

Threshold of hearing

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(Fig C)

Nature of Sound

0dB

Normal
Conversation

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Wall Loudspeakers
Wall speakers can be used for isolated sound requirements or
where it is not possible to install ceiling units - inaccessibility
for wiring, unknown behind ceiling obstructions, or where
very high ceilings are present.
An SWS10 wall cabinet loudspeaker provides general, forward
projectional distribution useful for only a few metres - four
optimally; using them over greater distances means that
those closest will hear more loudly than those at the
furthest distance.
SWS10 Wall Cabinet Loudspeaker

Installation

4m

1.8 - 2.0m

12m

8 - 12m

8m

12m

In a large room with walls

more than 4m apart but not
greater than 8m to 9m, wall
speakers could be placed on
opposite walls to provide
sound coverage. Try not to
place them facing each other
but to be staggered.

12m

8 - 12m

24m
1.8 - 2.0m

Four loudspeakers on opposite walls arranged in a

staggered layout to provide sound coverage over the
entire room.

Simple paging in a quiet office; note that the reception area

by the office entrance and the opposite corner managers
area are not directly covered by the two wall speakers.

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Loudspeaker Choice

4 - 6m

Always mount wall speakers

on the longest wall of the
room at an approximate
height of 1.8m to 2m and at
equal spacing of between
4m to 6m.

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Ceiling Loudspeakers
These are ideal for use in
areas where a smooth, even
spread of sound is required,
for example in a restaurant
where point sources of sound
from wall loudspeakers
would intrude on those
closest to them.

Selecting ceiling
loudspeakers such as
the DL06-165/T means
that there must be access
above the ceiling to
install cabling to all the
loudspeakers and to
the amplifier.

They should also be used in

large open plan office areas,
where the sound coverage
from wall loudspeakers
would not be sufficient.

DL06-165/T Ceiling Loudspeaker

Installation
6m

The footprint of a ceiling

loudspeaker - how much
floor it will cover evenly - is
dependent upon its height
above the floor.
Ceiling loudspeakers should
preferably be mounted in a
grid pattern at equal
distances apart. Assuming a
ceiling height of 2.5m/3.5m
speakers should be spaced
no less than 5.0m apart or
more than 7.0m apart
consistent with the heights
detailed.

6m
12m

Please Note:
12m

12m

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Some fire authorities and

fire regulations do not permit
the installation of ceiling
loudspeakers without a rear
protective cover which, in
the event of a fire, will stop
smoke and flames being
induced into the ceiling void.
The F165 Steel Fire Dome is
available for this purpose.

Loudspeaker Choice

6m

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Suspended Loudspeakers
Where the roof structure
does not allow the use of
ceiling loudspeakers B170T
loudspeakers can be
suspended at a similar height
to produce the required
coverage.

A range of flown loudspeaker

solutions to cater for both
greater mounting heights
and higher ambient noise
levels is available. Contact
Technical Support for
assistance.

Loudspeaker Choice

B170T Loudspeaker

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Horn Loudspeakers

However, bass response is

limited by their physical size
and horn loudspeakers,
whilst being good for speech
are generally not suitable for
music reproduction.

It is important, due to the

directional characteristics of
horn speakers, to ensure
that sound is beamed at all
areas to be covered. Due to
their high efficiency it is
necessary to mount them
high above the ground to
avoid the risk of deafening
people close by. The HS-20
Paging Horn Speaker will
typically cover an area
of 15m.

HS-20 Paging Horn Speaker

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Loudspeaker Choice

The major advantages of

horn loudspeakers is that
they are directional and
are weatherproof making
them an ideal choice for
outside use.

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External Mounting Considerations

When installed outside, the effect of wind and temperature can
modify the directional characteristics of horn loudspeakers.
This will be most noticeable when installed on the flat roof of a
building in full sunlight and the following diagrams demonstrate
how the sound will be affected.

Co

ld

Air

Air
rm
Wa

Horn
Speaker
DAYTIME

Horn
Speaker

Warm Air

Cold Air
NIGHT TIME

Wind Direction
Horn Speakers

High
Low
WRONG

RIGHT

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Loudspeaker Choice

NOTE: The front of a

horn loudspeaker should
always be angled very
slightly downwards to
prevent the horn filling with
rain, leaves or other debris.

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Model room - Wall & Ceiling Loudspeakers

As a basis for your own
calculations we have taken
a model room with a ceiling
height of 3m. We have
assumed plaster walls and
a suspended (tile) ceiling,
both clear of obstructions
and an environment of an
open office.

Note that the chart refers

only to ceiling loudspeakers
in an office environment.
Some further considerations
are necessary to convert
the number of speakers
shown to that required in
your installation or if you
only require wall mounted
loudspeakers.

Clearly, more noise in the

Model room means more
sound to overcome it - in a
workshop, for example.

To illustrate the possible

effect of noise relative to
the number of speakers
required please refer to the
illustration on page 05.
Study of this will enable a
reasoned judgement to be
made quite easily.

The chart below (Fig H)

shows, from left to right, the
floor area of the Model
room, from 35m to 700m.
The left hand side is
graduated in numbers of
ceiling speakers.

10
8
6

35

70

140

210

280

350

700

SINGLE FLOOR AREA IN SQUARE METRES

(Fig H)

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Loudspeaker Choice

NUMBER OF CEILING LOUDSPEAKERS

20

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Assessing your requirements

As examples, in very noisy
areas such as a busy
supermarket add 50% - half
as many again - and for the
quiet ambiance of a library
reduce the quantity to half
that shown (20
2 = 10).
For all cases where wall
mounted loudspeakers are
chosen, divide the number
shown on the chart by a
factor of 2 and then make
allowances for ambient noise
as described above.

In areas of high ambient

noise consider the use of
horn loudspeakers and
direct towards the
specific area of the car
mechanic that is required
to hear paging messages
(for example). If so
directed, a smaller number
of loudspeakers will be
required, the number being
decided from the area
to be covered, the number
of operators to be addressed
and their usual proximity
to highest noise levels.

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Loudspeaker Choice

Use of horn loudspeakers

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Recommended Loudspeaker
Options
DLO6-165T:
F165:

DL06-165/T Ceiling Loudspeaker

HS-20 Paging Horn Speaker

Ceiling Loudspeaker 6, 3, 1.5W taps

Fire Dome for the above (optional)

SWS10AB:

Dark brown wall speaker with

volume control 10, 5, 3W taps

B170T EN:

Hanging ball loudspeaker 6, 4, 2W taps

B250T EN:

Hanging ball loudspeaker 15, 7, 5W taps

HS-20:

Horn loudspeaker 20 & 10W taps

F165 Fire Dome

B250T Omni-Directional
Suspension Speaker

SWS10AB & SWS10AI

Wall Loudspeakers

B170T Omni-Directional
Suspension Speaker

For Example:

A120 & PAM-120 Amplifier

6 x DL06-165T each set @ 3W=

18W

8 x B170T each set @ 6W =

48W

1 x HS-20 set @ 10W =

10W

Total Load =

78W

Plus 15% =

12W

Amplifier Power Required:

90W

Use either an A120 or PAM-120 Amplifier for this system

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Loudspeaker Choice

All the above loudspeakers are fitted with 100V line transformers to enable the wattage of each
loudspeaker to be set individually as required by its operating environment. The wattage of the
amplifier required to power the system being derived by the sum of the wattage tapping of each
loudspeaker plus 15%.

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Recommended Amplifier Options

PA1000B 30W Amplifier

PA-1000B:

30W amplifier, 2 microphone inputs,

1 aux input

A60:

60W amplifier, 3 microphone inputs,

2 aux inputs

A120:

120W amplifier, 3 microphone inputs,

2 aux inputs

All the above amplifiers have 100V line outputs,

microphone input 1 has automatic (vox) priority
over all other inputs.
A-60 / A-120 Public Address Amplifiers

60W amplifier, 6 universal

microphone/line inputs

PAM-120:

120W amplifier, 6 universal

microphone/line inputs

The PAM range have 5 switched 100V line outputs.

Inputs 1 & 2 have selctable automatic (vox) priority
over all other inputs together with the option to fit music
modules see below (Note: if the Radio Tuner Module
is fitted, an outside FM aerial MUST. AM radio is not
normally useable in these applications.) The user will also
require a P.R.S. Licence if music is played no matter what
the source.
PAM Series Music Module Options:

PAM-CDA: CD Player

PAM-T: Tuner

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PAM-D: Cassette Player

Loudspeaker Choice

PAM-60 & PAM-120 Amplifiers

PAM-60:

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Paging Microphone
BUD100 Buddy Desk Paging Microphone
This simple yet robust desk paging single zone microphone
Features a gooseneck mounted microphone well known for its
voice clarity in almost any operating environment. Suitable for
use with all amplifiers previously illustrated.
Ideal for applications such as shops, offices, garages,
showrooms, transport termini; wherever there is a need
for an elegant, yet strong paging microphone able to
withstand heavy duty usage.
Features:

Soft touch press-to-talk button/s, with minimal noise transfer

All steel construction, weighted base, finished in scratch and
chip resistant powder coat paint
Anti-slip feet
2.5 metre lead
(Two versions are available:
BUD100J - For use with A60 & A120 Amplifiers
BUD100X - For use with PA-1000 & PAM Range Amplifiers)

BUD100 Desk Paging Microphone

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Loudspeaker Choice

For further information or assistance please call technical

support on 01706 510501

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Example PA System & Positioning:

Restaurant/Bar

Bar

PAM-60 & PAM-120 Amplifiers

BUD100 Desk
Paqing Microphones
PAM-CDA: CD Player

DL06-165/T Ceiling Loudspeaker

Restaurant

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Bar

Example PA Systems & Positions

Restaurant

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Example PA System & Positioning:

Factory
Woodwork
Printing

Toilet

Production

Warehouse

Refectory

Reception

PAM-60 & PAM-120 Amplifiers

BUD100 Desk
Paqing Microphone
HS-20 Paging
Horn Speaker

B170T Omni-Directional
Suspension Speaker

SWS10AB Wall
Loudspeakers

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DL06-165/T Ceiling
Loudspeaker

Example PA Systems & Positions

Offices