The hooter is small, the decision is not

The wrong hooter is either ignored (too quiet, wrong tone, poor placement) or hated (too loud, fatiguing, frequent false trips). The right one cuts through noise without creating alarm fatigue. This 10-minute framework walks plant, maintenance, and HSE teams through a repeatable way to decide type, loudness, quantity, and placement ,  and how to add visual beacons when needed.

Need combined light + sound? See Flameproof Hooter with Jumbo Flasher 110 dB.

Step 1. Know your ambient (where people stand)

Measure during the shift peak. If you don’t have a meter, use a smartphone app for relative readings and confirm with a proper meter later. Mark typical operator positions, not just empty floor spaces.

Step 2. Set the audibility target

Design for +10–15 dB above ambient at ear height. This is a recognition margin, not “as loud as possible.”

Step 3. Choose tone & cadence

Short, piercing tones are recognized faster. Standardize one tone plant-wide and vary cadence for severity differences (e.g., continuous = evacuation; pulsed = caution).

Step 4. Decide quantity & spacing

1. Small rooms (≤10 m span): Usually one unit, placed near entries or operator station.
   
   
2. Medium bays (10–25 m): Two or more units at opposite ends.
   
   
3. Large halls: Multiple along aisles; one per decision point. Combine with visual flashers.
   
   

Step 5. Mounting & aiming

Height 2.5–4 m; aim at the listener’s plane; keep clear of obstructions. In corridors, lower heights improve directivity down the path.

Step 6. Visual reinforcement

If workers wear hearing protection or the space is echo-prone, add a beacon. For long sightlines and outdoor yards, pick a jumbo flasher.

Step 7. Wiring & taps (100V line)

Use rated glands; strain-relieve drops. Start at mid-tap power; walk and balance volume by ear with operators present.

Step 8. Commissioning checklist

1. Trigger during live noise
   
   
2. Walk routes; confirm both audibility and visibility (if beacon added)
   
   
3. Adjust taps/angles; label devices and record settings
   
   

Mini bill of materials (example)

1. 3× hooters for a 30×20 m bay
   
   
2. 2× jumbo flasher combos for long aisles
   
   
3. 1× spare unit + spare lens
   
   
4. Glands, brackets, marked labels, heat-shrink markers
   
   

FAQs

Q1. Can we reuse existing wiring?
If it’s in good condition and correctly rated, yes. Inspect and re-terminate with proper glands.

Q2. What’s the best place to start in a retrofit?
Walk test current coverage, keep what works, fill gaps with added units.

Q3. Should I choose the loudest model available?
Not necessarily. Uniform coverage with moderate loudness beats one painfully loud source.

Q4. Is tone customization useful?
Only if it remains consistent site-wide. Randomization confuses teams.

Want an exact count and layout for your line, corridor, or yard? Share a quick sketch and ambient readings; we’ll propose a right-sized mix of Flameproof Hooters and Hooters with Jumbo Flasher, plus mounting and tapping notes your maintenance team can implement immediately.