Communication Systems

Mass Notification & PA Systems

Emergency mass notification, voice evacuation, and facility-wide paging — engineered and installed by PCS for all occupancy types across Utah.

Overview

Every Occupant Informed. Every Time.

Powered Control Systems designs and installs mass notification and emergency communication systems for schools, hospitals, universities, government facilities, commercial buildings, and industrial sites across Utah. These systems ensure that every occupant — in every corner of a facility — receives clear, intelligible emergency communications when it matters most.

Our mass notification installations encompass voice evacuation systems (required by the IBC/IFC for high-rise and large assembly occupancies), facility-wide paging systems, and distributed audio systems that serve both emergency and day-to-day communication needs. We design speaker layouts to meet NFPA 72 intelligibility requirements, install notification appliances including Gentex speaker/strobes (PCS is one of the largest Gentex integrators in the country), and coordinate with fire alarm systems for seamless integration.

For K-12 and higher education clients, our systems integrate with lockdown protocols to provide immediate facility-wide notifications — critical for school safety plans. PCS works with administrators and safety coordinators to ensure the system supports your specific emergency response procedures.

Our Capabilities

  • Voice evacuation system design and installation (NFPA 72 Chapter 24)
  • Emergency Communication System (ECS) design
  • Intelligibility testing and verification (STI-PA measurement)
  • Facility-wide paging and intercom systems
  • Distributed audio for ambient and emergency use
  • In-building wireless text and visual alert integration
  • Outdoor campus notification speakers
  • Integration with fire alarm systems
  • Lockdown and shelter-in-place notification systems
  • Multi-zone paging with priority override
  • Amplifier and speaker system design for large venues
  • Annual inspection and testing of mass notification systems
Why Choose PCS

The PCS Difference

Intelligibility-Focused Design

We use STI-PA measurement to verify that voice messages are intelligible in every space — the method described in NFPA 72 Annex D.

Fire Alarm Integration

Mass notification systems are fully integrated with fire alarm for automatic voice evacuation messaging on alarm events.

School Safety Expertise

PCS works with K-12 and university safety teams to ensure mass notification supports your specific lockdown and emergency protocols.

NFPA 72 Compliance

Our NICET IV-led engineering team ensures every installation meets NFPA 72 Chapter 24 requirements for emergency communication systems.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The International Building and Fire Codes (Section 907, as adopted in Utah) require an emergency voice/alarm communication system in high-rise buildings, Group A assembly occupancies with 1,000 or more occupants, and certain other occupancies. NFPA 72 Chapter 24 then governs how it is designed, installed, and tested. PCS can confirm exactly what your building requires.

Intelligibility measures how clearly spoken words can be understood in a space. Poor intelligibility means occupants can't understand evacuation instructions — a critical safety failure. NFPA 72 requires voice messages to be intelligible in each acoustically distinguishable space where intelligibility is required. Its Annex D test method uses an average target of 0.50 STI (0.70 CIS). PCS designs speaker layouts to that target and verifies them with STI-PA testing.

Yes. Modern mass notification systems support multiple zones and priority levels, allowing the same infrastructure to serve routine paging (announcements, music) while maintaining the ability to override with emergency messages at any time. This dual-use design maximizes the return on investment.

PCS programs mass notification systems to interface with lockdown control panels or software, allowing administrators to initiate facility-wide lockdown notifications with a single action. Systems can trigger visual alerts, pre-recorded messages, and automated door locking simultaneously.

Related Services

Fire Alarm SystemsIntercom / Nurse CallERRCS / DASLow Voltage Wiring

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