Following Royal Assent of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly referred to as Martyn’s Law, the focus on how premises communicate in a fast-moving incident has sharpened significantly. BSI has now announced it is considering the development of a new British Standard Code of Practice focused on the use of audio systems for emergency communication.
The proposal is intended to provide practical guidance on the use of sound systems for emergency communication in premises where a formal communication plan is required. BSI has been seeking industry feedback and expressions of support as part of its decision on whether to take the work forward.
What BSI is proposing
BSI’s outline scope is centred on two areas where existing guidance is seen as limited or fragmented.
Firstly, Terrorism-related emergencies, supporting the communication planning expected under Martyn’s Law. This includes scenarios such as lockdown, evacuation and invacuation, where clear instructions need to be delivered quickly and understood consistently.
The second is fire emergencies in high-rise residential buildings, particularly where audio communication systems operate independently of the fire detection and alarm system and where instructions to residents may need to evolve as the situation develops.
The stated intent is a Code of Practice that focuses on communication outcomes, with guidance expected to cover planning and system design, audibility and intelligibility, testing, and ongoing operation.
Why this matters
In any emergency, audio is only useful if it delivers an intelligible message to the right people at the right time. A Code of Practice that brings together a clear, UK-focused approach to emergency audio performance and management would help duty holders, designers and maintainers align on what “effective communication” looks like, and how it should be achieved and sustained in real buildings.
We see this as a meaningful move towards clearer expectations and more consistent outcomes, and we strongly support the introduction of a British Standard Code of Practice in this area. As a business that works with voice alarm and emergency communication every day, we welcome any step that helps make emergency messaging more reliable, more intelligible, and easier to deliver well.
