“Voice Evacuation System”, or UTM (from the Swedish Utrymningslarm med Talat Meddelande), is the more formal name for an alarm system with voice functionality, something that has become a bestseller at Consilium on the Swedish market.
“It’s no surprise that many customers now want voice alarms. UTM offers so many advantages. Unlike sirens, voice alarms provide clear information about what’s happening and what actions to take. Voice messages are often perceived as calmer and more controlled than loud sirens, reducing the risk of panic. The messages can be pre-recorded or live, allowing customised instructions depending on the situation,”
says Ulf Petersson, Senior Vice President Nordics at Consilium.
UTM works particularly well in complex buildings, where different zones can receive tailored messages based on the location of the hazard. Voice instructions improve compliance during evacuation, as people are more likely to follow specific directions and avoid heading toward danger.
Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness and optimization of UTM. In one test at a large grocery store, the message “A fire has broken out. Please exit the premises via the emergency exits.” was broadcast. Customers complied, but a new issue arose: many instinctively took their shopping carts with them, leading to congestion near the emergency exits. When the message was modified to begin with “Leave your shopping cart and exit via the emergency exits,” the problem was resolved. This also makes UTM particularly suitable for environments where evacuation drills cannot be practiced, such as in shopping malls.
“It’s critical to be thorough when designing a UTM system. But when you tailor both hardware and software, the result is a safe and efficient solution,”
says Stefan Tonström, National Sales Manager UTM at Consilium.
UTM is added as a supplementary system to an existing fire alarm and is adapted to each building’s specific layout. Factors such as floor plans, furnishings, and acoustics are taken into account.
“Our UTM system also includes a unique scalability solution. We use a patented short-circuit isolator that allows us to expand the system without increasing the speaker output. Many of our clients continuously reconfigure their facilities and require cost-effective flexibility, which we can provide. Moreover, we manage all the technology in-house and have nationwide coverage, which is crucial for minimizing downtime,”
Tonström adds.
UTM is ideally suited for public spaces where many people may be unfamiliar with the layout, such as shopping centres, restaurants, schools, hotels, and conference venues.
“UTM is definitely trending, no doubt about that. And it’s clear that demand will continue to rise, both because of the system’s many benefits and due to increasingly stringent regulations. But most importantly, it saves lives,”
concludes Ulf Petersson.
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