The VSBA is doing great things to offer clarity regarding what audio needs to be augmented when a new School is being designed and built. The National Construction Code is not as definitive as stakeholders including Access and Disability Consultants, Audiologists, Architects, Electrical Consultants and Electricians want.
From page 127 of the 2022 VSBA Building Quality Standards Handbook:
“Fixed amplification systems requiring hearing augmentation include installed or mounted:
- public address or paging systems (excluding PA systems used exclusively for emergency warnings)
- voice capture technologies
- ceiling or wall mounted data projectors
- LCD screens, or
- interactive whiteboards within a contained or open plan teaching space
- any sound source with mounted speakers, or
- video conferencing systems”
The VSBA rules give us clear guidance about what is considered audio that needs to be augmented to hard of hearing learners, visitors and teachers. Hard of Hearing Australians need to be delivered the same audio that all other people receive to their ears acoustically.