Accessible Buildings
Inclusion Means That Buildings Are Equally Accessible and Usable for Everyone
Use CasesA universally accessible building is characterised by a comprehensive design that allows everyone unrestricted use, regardless of their physical, sensory or cognitive abilities. All areas are easily accessible and comfortable to use, without the need for additional help. Particularly in the access area, great importance is placed on ensuring that every visitor and resident is welcome and can access the building effortlessly.
Legal regulations and standards such as the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA – UK) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA – USA) are encouraging a positive shift in thinking towards greater inclusion in buildings.
Requirements for Accessible
Intercom Stations
- Mounting height
- The Intercom stations should be installed so that they can be operated both by people sitting (e.g. wheelchair users) and by people standing.
- Tactility and usability
- The buttons should have tactile symbols (e.g. a bell) or Braille writing and be easy to operate without the use of excessive force.
- The buttons should be designed to be high-contrast, using colour or backlighting, to improve recognisability.
- Touchscreens must have a high resolution and provide a high-contrast display even in sunlight.
- Visual and acoustic support
- The Intercom stations should provide both visual and acoustic feedback. This means, for example, that when a button is pressed, an icon lights up and an acknowledgement tone is played.
- In addition, Intercom stations can play recorded voice messages for the waiting time or when the door is open.
- Audio induction loop
- For hearing-impaired persons, the intercom should be equipped with an induction loop amplifier. This enables the transmission of voice signals directly to hearing aids and cochlear implants.
- Acoustic intelligibility
- The Intercom system must provide clear speech intelligibility, which means that the volume should automatically adjust to the ambient noise level, be loud enough and ensure clear transmission without background noise.
Intercom Stations
for Accessible Buildings
Whether elegantly positioned behind glass with LED symbols or additionally protected against vandalism, all Intercom stations are protected against adverse weather conditions (IP-rating 65).
The buttons are backlit and visible from a distance. The lighting at od1 (round button) can also be adjusted in colour.
Customised buttons with other symbols or in Braille are available on request.
Touchscreen Intercom Stations
for Accessible Buildings
Each touchscreen Intercom station can be expanded with an induction loop amplifier. As soon as it is connected, the necessary icons are automatically displayed on the screens for assistance.
Speech Quality as the Most Important Element
Even if you (still) have good hearing, communicating in a noisy environment such as street noise can be difficult. It is even more difficult, or almost impossible, for approximately one in six people in Europe with varying degrees of hearing impairment (Source).
Therefore, the speech quality, high and dynamic volume, AI-based functions for improving the speech quality of an Intercom are all the more decisive.
