EVACUATION GUIDED BY SOUNDER SYSTEM
December 1st 2004

An evacuation sounder from Klaxon Signals ensures that visitors to the top of London’s 30 St Mary Axe (often referred to as the Gherkin Building) can enjoy unobstructed views without compromising safety.

E-Z-Exits watch over diners on Level 39, while others protect those in the bar on Level 40.

Should an emergency arise, the sounders would emit a broadband, multi-frequency sound that would quickly guide the building’s occupants to the nearest exit.

Commenting on the problems posed by the tower’s top two floors, Rob Harrison, architect at Foster and Partners, says “We had to be able to identify the escape routes through the use of auditory means, in addition to conventional signage, in a visually-sensitive space.” Although LCDs and popup signs were considered, Klaxon’s acoustic system was chosen as it is invisible to visitors.

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