Following a £12.7 million renovation, Jersey Opera House needed a modern communication system that would keep teams connected while providing additional support for fire safety across the venue.
The existing analogue radios and pagers were due for replacement, creating an opportunity to introduce a digital two way radio system that could improve everyday communication and connect directly with the Opera House’s fire alarm system.
The Challenge
Previously, stewards, bar staff, security and production teams shared a single radio channel. With several departments communicating at the same time, radio traffic could become busy and important messages were more difficult to manage.
The Opera House wanted individual channels for different teams alongside a dedicated emergency channel, giving staff a clearer and more organised way to communicate.
Fire safety was another important requirement. Rather than relying on separate pagers, management wanted senior employees to receive fire alarm information directly through their radios, helping them identify and respond to incidents more quickly.
With an initial site visit not possible, MTech worked remotely with management and technical teams to understand the building, existing fire alarm system and communication requirements before developing the new setup.
Equipment and System Setup
MTech supplied 18 Motorola R5 and 12 Motorola R7 digital two way radios, programmed with dedicated call groups for front of house, bar and technical teams.
Motorola R7 radios were provided to senior managers and team leaders, giving them access to caller information as well as detailed emergency alerts.
Motorola R5 radios were supplied to other employees and volunteers, providing straightforward and dependable communication for everyday use around the venue.
Three Motorola DM4400e base stations were also installed, providing fixed communication points within the box office, administration office and alongside the fire alarm panel.
Connecting Radios with the Fire Alarm
An SMC Gateway was used to integrate the two way radio network directly with the Opera House’s fire alarm system.
When an alarm is activated, audio and text notifications are automatically sent to Motorola R7 radios. These alerts identify the affected area, giving senior staff immediate information about the location of a potential incident without needing to carry a separate pager.
Improved Communication and Fire Safety
The upgraded system gives Jersey Opera House a more reliable way to manage both everyday communication and emergency response.
Dedicated channels have reduced unnecessary radio traffic between departments while improved coverage and clear audio help employees remain connected throughout the venue. The new system has also supported changes to lone working procedures by giving staff a dependable communication link when working independently.
Bringing everyday radio communication and fire alarm notifications together in one system allows teams to respond more quickly when an incident occurs while helping provide a safe environment for patrons, performers, employees and crew.
