Hearing Augmentation Systems

Hearing augmentation systems assist people with a hearing impairment to be made aware of communications associated with a building’s use.

Clause D3.7 of the BCA provides requirements for provision of hearing augmentation systems in accessible buildings. There are a number of hearing augmentation systems available. A decision on which system to use will depend on a number of factors, such as the size and use of the space, external interferences and building materials used.

Hearing augmentation coverage is not required to 100% of the floor area of rooms because such coverage could spill over into adjoining rooms and affect the operation of the system installed in those rooms, and because design considerations such as interference and building design mean that it is difficult to ensure complete coverage in any room.

Hearing augmentation systems must be provided where an inbuilt amplification system such as a microphone and speaker system is provided (other than one only used for emergency warning) in a room in a Class 9b building, in certain types of rooms such as auditoriums, conference rooms, and at ticket offices, teller’s booths, reception areas and similar areas where the public is screened from the service provider.

The requirements for a hearing augmentation system can be met by use of either an induction loop, or the use of receivers or similar systems. Where an induction loop is provided, it must cover at least 80% of the floor area of the room or space that is served by the inbuilt amplification system.

For hearing augmentation systems using audio receivers, the system must cover at least 95% of the floor area of the room or space served by the inbuilt system, and a minimum number of receivers must be provided in a ratio depending on the number of people who may be accommodated in the room (calculated by reference to Clause D1.13).

Screens or scoreboards associated with a Class 9b building that are capable of displaying public announcements must be capable of supplementing any public address system (other than a public address system used for emergency warning purposes only).