IFI recognise Deaf Alerter® as the first inclusive access product for disabled people.

Feb. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- As demand increases within the leisure and fitness industry for accessible products to meet the legislative requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995 & 2005), Deaf Alerter® PLC’s DA2000 System is the first product to receive Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) Recognised Product status.

IFI Recognised Products is an exciting new opportunity for suppliers to showcase their accessibly designed products, identifying them as market leaders of quality and inclusion within the UK sport & fitness market. The IFI are working closely with the industry to recognise many different types of access products from gripping aids to gym mats, lockers to lifts and water coolers to wheelchair ramps to name a few. Deaf Alerter® has been identified as the very first IFI Recognised Product and will be listed under Fire Evacuation Safety Products within the IFI Recognsied Products portfolio which will be available on-line, free of charge.

One in seven (9 million) of the UK’s population experience some degree of hearing loss; many of these people are unable to hear fire alarms or public address announcements.

IFI Recognised Products status has acknowledged the unique and original design of the Deaf Alerter® system and the benefits it provides to both Deaf people and leisure operators in reducing the time spent evacuating a facility.

In achieving this recognition, Deaf Alerter® has met all of the specific IFI Recognised Products Specification criteria focusing on the inclusive aspects of a fire alert system for Deaf and hard of hearing people.

Liz Parslow, Marketing Director of Deaf Alerter® comments

“Deaf Alerter plc is very proud that our DA2000 fire alarm warning and messaging system is the first product to achieve IFI Recognised Product status; we consider life safety to be of the utmost priority.

By installing the DA2000 system, facilities seeking IFI Mark Accreditation will be taking extra precautions to ensure that vital evacuation procedures are at their best. Inclusive fitness also needs an inclusive environment.”

With increasing demand from IFI Mark accredited fitness facilities and the growing numbers of both public & private facilities that are working towards meeting the requirements of the IFI Mark standards it is anticipated that the portfolio of IFI Recognised Products will provide a fast, effective and trusted resource which facilities will refer to in order to source access products and enhancements.

The IFI now boasts an extensive network of IFI Mark accredited facilities throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The IFI’s strategy ‘Inclusion Works Out’ has identified a target to accredit 1000 fitness facilities throughout the UK by 2012. Leisure providers are already acknowledging IFI Recognised Products as a fantastic and welcomed addition to the support available in creating accessible and inclusive environments.

Further information about IFI Recognised Products is available at: www.inclusivefitness.org
Further informtion about Deaf Alerter  is available at : www.deaf-alerter.com

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Deaf Alerter plc is the market leading provider of radio-based emergency communication systems.

Deaf Alerter®: radio-based fire alarm warning and text messaging system for Deaf and hard of hearing people. Fully meets British Standards and helps compliance with the DDA.

Refuge Alerter®: radio-based Emergency Voice Communication (EVC) system for building refuges, which is easy to install and offers significant benefits over traditional hard-wired systems.

Staff Alerter®: radio–based two-way assistance call and man-down alarm system, providing accurate location information.