Swiss-quality public address system

Swiss Systems is a subsidiary of the Swiss company G + M Electronics and a specialist in speech intelligibility for fifty years. "We develop and supply evacuation systems, clock systems and public address and sound systems," explains General Manager Bert Zandee of Swiss Systems B.V.. "We do this, as our name suggests, with Swiss quality." In addition to schools, Swiss Systems' installations can be found in shopping centers, restaurants, public transport, public buildings and offices, among other places.

64 speakers in different zones

"We supplied the public address system for Almende College on behalf of Binx Smartility," continued Zandee. "In early 2020, we were commissioned to supply 64 speakers and associated equipment. The speakers hang in all areas of the school building where announcements need to be easily audible. Think of the hallways, classrooms and auditorium." The public address system is divided into several zones that can be controlled separately. This makes it possible to announce something per floor.

Lesson time signaling, clocks, evacuation

In many schools, Swiss Systems supplies the public address system in combination with class time signaling. Here, instead of the school bell or buzzer, a friendly ringing signal indicates the beginning and end of class hours via loudspeakers. One of the advantages of this is that you can control the volume. The teaching hours signal can also be linked to physical clocks so that they all run synchronously with the "master clock. Zandee: "For buildings larger than 10,000 square meters, an evacuation system is mandatory. That involves a lot. For example, all speaker lines are then monitored for closure and interruption."

Spotless

"The delivery of the public address system for Almende College went smoothly," Zandee reflects. "After we obtained the order, we had the necessary equipment come from Switzerland. We delivered on demand. First the loudspeakers, so that they could be incorporated into the ceilings, and at a later stage the equipment. The installation was in the hands of Binx Smartility, who installed and commissioned everything neatly."  

Project info

2,200 m² of rubber flooring for Almende College

nora rubber floors are ideally suited for the many applications within a modern school building, whether noraplan strip material or norament tiles 3.5 mm thick. Last spring and summer, several schools were fitted with norament or noraplan flooring during COVID-19.

The Almende College in Silvolde was looking for a low-maintenance floor with a long lifespan. Of importance was that the floor should be easy to clean by the facility's own employees. Maintaining the floors with a scrubber dryer with water and a neutral cleaner fits perfectly into this vision.

The school's design is characterized by many sustainable solutions. The Almende College is not only a gas-free school building - quite a challenge with its own baking school, among other things - but also self-sufficient thanks to a large number of solar panels. Climate goals are very important. The choice of rubber floor coverings that are CO2-neutral throughout their entire product life cycle fits this perfectly. For the Almende College in Silvolde, nora by Interface was allowed to supply 2,200 m² of noraplan signa, via Floormasters in Eibergen.

Project info

Fast assembly, efficient cooperation

One kilometer of cable trays, two hundred meters of cable ladders and six hundred meters of wall trays. That is what OBO BETTERMANN B.V. Netherlands delivered at the Almende College Laudis in Silvolde. The specialist in electrotechnical materials also provided on-site assembly. 

Contractor Binx Smartility already involved OBO in the preliminary phase of the project, in order to think and calculate with them in the field of electrical engineering. "With a view to an efficient implementation, we opted for clickable, quickly assembled cable ducts," says Alwin Geertsma, Technical Commercial Advisor Region East at OBO. "What also definitely contributed to the efficiency was the integral collaboration. Binx Smartility included almost all parties in the preparations. Together we agreed on the planning and sequence of work, which we carried out like a moving train from the start of construction. And because we now know each other well, we were able to switch quickly." Geertsma looks back on the project with pride, especially since it involved a vmbo school: "Nice that we were allowed to contribute to a good, pleasant learning environment for the professionals of the future."