Chicago, IL – March 26, 2025 – In fire and emergency situations, communication is critical. Whether it be a natural disaster, fire, lost child, or an act of terrorism, lives depend on clear, timely, and reliable instructions. Loudspeakers are the first and final link in any Emergency Communications System (ECS). If they fail to perform—whether due to poor quality, incorrect placement, or non-compliance with safety codes—the entire system can fail. Compliance with standards like NFPA 72 and UL 1480 starts with choosing the right loudspeakers.
Since 1930, Quam has been at the forefront of commercial loudspeaker innovation. No gimmicks. No games. No shortcuts. Quam is committed to making simple, reliable, and readily available loudspeakers that make your job easier—and keep people safe. At Quam, our goal in designing and manufacturing UL1480 speakers has always been to exceed every requirement set forth by UL and establish a new benchmark for intelligibility, as defined by NFPA 72. We are committed to setting the standard for the future of life safety communication, ensuring safer and more effective emergency notification in all applications. With lives on the line, good enough’ is not enough. Make sure you have the best loudspeakers for your project.
UL1480 Compliance and Beyond
UL Category 1480 applies to all speakers and speaker/amplifiers used in public notification systems designed for fire alarm and emergency evacuation purposes. Quam’s UL1480-certified speakers not only meet but surpass the stringent standards outlined by UL and NFPA to ensure superior clarity, durability, and reliability in critical life safety applications.
Scope of UL1480-Certified Speakers
- Application & Compliance
- Quam’s speakers are rated at 300V or less and are designed for fire alarm and signaling systems
- In the United States, all Quam UL1480-certified speakers adhere to the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) and the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72), exceeding minimum intelligibility requirements for enhanced emergency communication.
- Engineered for Performance in All Environments
- Our speakers are designed for ordinary (non-hazardous and non-corrosive) locations, ensuring consistent performance in various building types and conditions.
- For hazardous or corrosive environments, Quam speakers comply with UL1480 and the additional applicable requirements of NFPA 70, ensuring robust performance in extreme conditions.
- Integration & Innovation
- Each UL1480-compliant Quam speaker is designed as a stand-alone speaker assembly, seamlessly integrating into fire alarm and mass notification systems.
- Our DM versions are engineered to incorporate UL-approved visible signaling components, providing a complete audio-visual emergency notification solution.
By setting a new standard in emergency communication intelligibility, Quam ensures that every message is heard clearly and effectively, making emergency response faster, more reliable, and ultimately, safer.
Quam: The Trusted Leader in ECS Loudspeakers
For decades, Fire Marshals, Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), and integrators have trusted Quam to deliver the best-built ECS loudspeakers in America.
- Certified Compliance: Every product meets NFPA 72, UL 1480, and other key standards, ensuring seamless approval during inspections.
- Intelligibility First: Engineered to deliver speech clarity that exceeds industry benchmarks, even in challenging environments.
- Ease of Integration: Designed to work seamlessly with major ECS platforms, simplifying installation and system complexity.
Why Compliance Matters
NFPA 72 and UL 1480 are more than bureaucratic hurdles—they are vital to life safety. Choosing non-compliant loudspeakers can result in:
- System Approval Delays: Fire Marshals and AHJs require compliant equipment. Failure to comply leads to rejections, costly delays, or retrofits.
- Functionality During Emergencies: Compliant loudspeakers are tested and proven to perform under real-world conditions.
- Legal and Financial Risk: Non-compliance exposes building owners, integrators, and contractors to lawsuits, fines, and liability.
The UL24 Series: A Game-Changer for Fire Safety Systems
No other certified loudspeaker combines fire signaling and general paging in a single device like Quam’s UL24 Series. These loudspeakers deliver twice the performance with half the labor, making them a game-changer for fire safety systems nationwide.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Dual Functionality: Mass notification and emergency paging in a single unit.
- Space Efficiency: Designed for 2’ x 2’ lay-in ceiling tile replacement, ideal for classrooms, hospitals, and office buildings.
- Superior Acoustic Performance: Equipped with two drivers and two transformers for exceptional clarity and efficiency.
- High Durability and Compliance: Featuring powder-coated steel baffles, fire-retardant materials, and UL 1480 compliance for maximum reliability.
- Ease of Installation: Pre-assembled units reduce installation time and labor costs, ensuring quick deployment.
Intelligibility & Signaling for Every Environment
- Schools: Overcome chaotic environments to ensure emergency messages cut through background noise.
- Hospitals: Balance discretion with clarity to relay emergency instructions without causing panic.
- Office Buildings: Deliver intelligible messages in acoustically challenging workspaces.
- Warehouses & Factories: Ensure clear communication over long distances and noisy machinery.
Trusted for Reliability, Designed for Life Safety
Fire Marshals and AHJs have seen it all. Quam stands out because our loudspeakers are built for:
- Crystal-Clear Intelligibility: Overcoming background noise with high directivity for optimal speech transmission.
- Code Compliance: Every unit is rigorously tested to meet NFPA 72 and UL 1480 standards.
- Real-World Reliability: Built to endure extreme conditions, from heat and humidity to cold and corrosion.
- Energy Efficiency: High-sensitivity loudspeakers deliver louder output with less power, improving system efficiency.
Choose Quam—because life-safety compliance starts with loudspeakers. For more information, please visit https://www.quamspeakers.com/.
About Quam
Your go-to commercial loudspeaker company. Educated customers know that if you want quality loudspeakers, you go to a loudspeaker company. That’s why we’re on so many short lists industry-wide: because we make commercial loudspeakers right. More importantly, we make them right for your particular job. No gimmicks. No BS. We’re all about making simple, reliable, readily available loudspeakers that make your life easier and your clients happier. That is why those who know better, know Quam.
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Media Contact
Brandy Alvarado-Miranda
BAM Marketing & PR Agency
brandy@BamMarketingPR.com
