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Two-Way Communication Systems for Area of Refuge

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Two-Way Communication Systems for Area of Refuge in Los Angeles

When an emergency occurs — especially during a fire or evacuation — people who cannot use stairs rely on two-way communication systems inside Areas of Refuge (also called Areas of Rescue Assistance) to request help and stay in contact with first responders.

Volta Electrical & Fire, Inc. provides turnkey design, installation, testing, certification, and repair of Two-Way Communication Systems for all types of buildings in Los Angeles and surrounding cities.

We ensure you meet California Building Code (CBC), ADA requirements, NFPA 72, local AHJ standards, and City of Los Angeles Building Code, including LAFD.

📞 Call us today: (818)860-6638
📩 Send us a message for a FREE estimate

What Is a Two-Way Communication System (Area of Refuge)?

In publicly accessible buildings, during a fire alarm emergency, elevators are inaccessible. The “Area of Refuge” or “Area of Rescue Assistance” concept was established to provide a safe location for building occupants, who cannot traverse the stairs without assistance, to assemble and await help or instruction from first responders.  This designated space requires a ​two-way communication system for assisted rescue during an emergency.

A Two-Way Communication System for Area of Refuge or Area of Rescue includes:

  • Call stations inside Areas of Refuge
  • A dedicated master control station
  • Clear audio communication
  • Visual/audible confirmation signals
  • Battery backup for emergency power
  • Integration with your fire alarm or emergency command center

These systems are required in multi-story buildings where elevators cannot be used for egress during emergencies.

An Emergency Communication System for Rescue Assistance is required, by industry standards NFPA, IBC and ADA, at each elevator or bank of elevators, on each accessible floor above/below exit discharge, so the trapped parties can call for rescue assistance.

Who Needs a Two-Way Communication / Area of Refuge System?

Required in many:

  • Apartments & Condos (multi-story)
  • Commercial office buildings
  • Hotels & Senior Living Facilities
  • Schools & Universities
  • Hospitals & Medical buildings
  • Parking structures
  • Large assembly buildings
  • New construction projects

If your building has an Area of Refuge, you are legally required to have a working two-way emergency communication system.

We help you meet all LAFD, LADBS, and California codes.

Our Two-Way Communication Services

Volta Electrical & Fire, Inc. provides complete solutions:

✔ System Design & Engineering

We create code-compliant wiring diagrams, equipment layouts, and power/backup calculations.

✔ Installation & Wiring

All work performed by licensed C-10 electrical contractors — clean, professional, and to code.

✔ System Programming & Integration

We integrate call stations, annunciation, and monitoring equipment with your existing systems when applicable.

✔ Testing & Certification

We test every device, call station, and control unit to ensure full code compliance.

✔ Annual Inspection & Maintenance

We verify operation, battery capacity, call clarity, and fail-safe features per CBC and NFPA 72.

✔ Repairs & Troubleshooting

If your system fails testing or has a trouble signal, we diagnose and fix it immediately.

📘 Code Requirements (Simplified)

Two-Way Communication Systems must:

  • Be located in Areas of Refuge
  • Provide communication to a central control point
  • Include both audible and visual indicators
  • Have automatic failover power (battery backup)
  • Be continuously supervised
  • Meet ADA accessibility standards
  • Meet California Building Code (CBC) §1009
  • Follow NFPA 72 requirements for emergency communications

We handle all these requirements for you.

📞 Call us today: (818)860-6638
📩 Send us a message for a FREE estimate