Case Studies

Emergency Broadcast/PA System at Souderton Charter School

Aviom System Becomes an Educational Tool

When Montgomery County (PA) mandated that schools install an emergency notification system, it was imperative that the Souderton Charter School install a public address system. Compliance with the ordinance was an immediate challenge for the school because their building dates to 1910 and is constructed of iron and brick.

Due to the building’s age and its former uses as a movie theater and pharmaceutical packing facility, its walls are webbed with wires and old electric cables. Using A-Net to distribute the audio to the different zones of the PA system dramatically simplified the installation process and reduced labor costs, allowing installers to navigate the school’s maze of wires with the required Cat-5e. In addition, going digital with A-Net solved fidelity issues implicit in working with the old electrical system.

“We tried bringing in a wireless system,” says John Penny, a member of the board of trustees for Souderton. “Because the building has an iron frame and a literal fish net of wires in the wall, the wireless signal simply disappeared. We also looked at traditional 70-volt amplification systems, but the cable runs were too long and difficult for our facility and therefore would have been an expensive option.”

Audio Delivered To Four Zones

The system includes an AV-M8 Mic Input Module in the school’s main office, used for making announcements. The audio is distributed to four AV-P2 Output Modules, each in a different zone of the building, connected by long Cat-5 cables. The AV-P2s are connected to TOA amplifiers that run in 70-volt mode with TOA speakers covering each area in the building.

“The Aviom system works like a charm,” says Penny. “Because the system interconnects via Cat-5, we were able to find conduits and spaces enough to interconnect the four AV-P2 Output Modules spread throughout the facility to drive what are essentially four independent amplifier and speaker systems.”

While the system was built out of necessity, it has become much more important to the school, its administrators, faculty, and students than just a necessary piece of equipment. According to Wendy Ormsby, director of organizational development, “We have already put the system to good use. Just after it was installed, we received a report of some police activity in the neighborhood. The system allowed us to immediately inform everyone that we would be in lockdown mode, and it kept everyone calm and informed.”

The biggest bonus, according to Ormsby, is the ability to have students make announcements about class-sponsored activities and fundraisers. “The Aviom system has become an educational tool,” she says. “It allows students to gain public speaking experience, and they practice very seriously before they do each announcement. The Aviom system has changed the way we conduct the day-to-day business in our school by making it a more friendly and creative place to learn. We’ve also used it to implement a new, streamlined dismissal process.”