Overview and requirements

OCS Facilities Services provides cleaning, catering, security, maintenance, pest control, waste management and front-of-house services to public and private sector clients globally.

OCS engaged ECS Systems to complete a critical upgrade to the Public Address and Voice Alarm (PAVA) system at Erith Leisure Centre. The existing installation had become obsolete, with replacement parts no longer available.

A PAVA system delivers voice messages (live or pre-recorded) during emergencies such as fire, flood, or evacuation. Compared with a standard audible alarm, voice messages provide clearer, more specific instructions, helping people understand what to do and where to go. As a critical emergency communication system, the PAVA upgrade needed to restore reliability and maintain operational compliance. Key benefits of a PAVA approach include reducing panic through actionable instructions and supporting occupants with hearing or cognitive challenges to follow guidance more easily.

ECS was appointed to upgrade the existing system to restore reliability and maintain operational compliance.

Key considerations

Works were completed in a live leisure centre that remained open to the public throughout the programme. The site operated long hours and hosted daily activities, so the programme needed to be planned carefully to avoid disruption. The system also supports emergency messaging. This meant the upgrade had to be managed in a controlled way, with clear sequencing and stakeholder coordination.

Solution

ECS completed a full rack and control equipment replacement for the existing PAVA system. A planned upgrade approach was adopted to restore reliability and bring the system in line with current standards, with commissioning and validation completed on handover.

Delivery

ECS worked in collaboration with OCS and the leisure centre’s management team to agree a programme that protected day-to-day operations. Installation and commissioning were delivered in phases, with works scheduled around site opening hours and lower-traffic periods. The system was fully tested and validated on completion to confirm functionality and compliance with BS 5839-8.

Outcome

The upgraded PAVA system restored reliable life safety communications across the facility and removed the risk associated with obsolete equipment. The project was delivered on time and without disruption to leisure centre operations, providing OCS and the site team with a more resilient platform that can be maintained and supported going forward.

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© ECS Systems 2026