Experienced design & installation for
Hard Of Hearing
Did You Know?
In 2010, the UK introduced the Equality Act, in place of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
This act combined a number of previous laws to ensure that businesses did not discriminate against age, disability, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. Those who wear hearing aids would be classed as having a disability, and are therefore protected by the Equalities Act 2010.
This means that businesses and other organisations are legally required to provide hearing loop systems for their service users.
The letter of the law is as follows:
“Service providers are required to make changes, where needed, to improve service for disabled customers or potential customers”.
Business owners and service providers are required to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to their premises to accommodate disabled service users, including those who wear hearing aids.
The Sound Analysts team have extensive experience in specifying systems for the hard of hearing. We’ve installed a huge diversity of systems ranging from straightforward perimeter loops to multiple arrays with cancellation zones in multi-screen cinemas – and just about every permutation in between!
There’s a legal and moral obligation for all venues to provide facilities for those with hearing difficulties. On average 50% of venues we assess, ranging from churches to concert venues, have loop systems that either don’t work at all or are significantly under performing. A properly working hard of hearing system transforms the listening experience for those with hearing difficulties. Here are the legal requirements:
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) specifies that facilities for those with hearing difficulties must be compliant and fit for purpose. The code of practice for loop systems is set out in BS7594-2011 and the performance application EN60118-4 2006. Whilst the concept of a loop system is fairly straightforward, correct application can be anything but. Incorrectly fitted systems can interact with PA and video equipment, electric guitars and backline amplification are very susceptible to interference.
Many older churches with stone floors can be challenging when it comes to loop system integration. Equally, buildings with significant structural metalwork in the same plane as a loop require specialist design to ensure an adequate and even field strength throughout.
As accredited designers and installers of hard of hearing systems, we’ll ensure that all installed systems are fit for purpose and appropriately certified.
