Warum IndukTive Höranlagen? Muss man sie in öffentlichen Gebäuden wirklich einbauen? (Why induction loops? Must they really be installed in public buildings?)

Summary

A German hard-of-hearing association's brochure for building owners and planners on whether and how to provide hearing systems, with its comparison table of loops, FM and infrared, including relative costs, which entered German and Swiss standards.

Key findings

• Says it was asked whether the investment and running costs of loops, FM and infrared are known, and answers that "zu den Kosten lediglich qualitative Aussagen möglich sind" (only qualitative statements are possible on costs), adding that much can be stated more precisely project by project.
• Its comparison table rates equipment and installation cost as generally lowest for loops (cost factor 1), FM as dearer (about factor 2) and infrared as very dear (about factor 2.5). It states that its section developed the table for the association, that it entered DIN 18041 in 2004 (Table C1) and Switzerland's SIA 500 (Annex D), and that it has since been revised.
• On running effort, the table lists none for telecoil users of a loop, and an issue and return point plus regular receiver maintenance for listeners without a telecoil; for FM and infrared it lists, for every event, an issue and return point, regular maintenance of receivers, and explaining the receiver and its neckloop or audio cable to users.
• Quotes a note in DIN 18040-1:2010-10 that a loop is in general the most favourable solution for users and in construction and maintenance costs, and notes that listeners without hearing aids must borrow a receiver, against a deposit, with all three systems.
• On installation effort, it says laying loop cable in a retrofit may be laborious, FM may need a frequency licence, and infrared retrofits may be laborious, for example under heritage protection.
• For retrofits it proposes: measure interfering magnetic fields in the room; if low enough, set up a temporary loop and measure field strength and its distribution, trying layouts where reinforcement or other metal is present; tender the loop with some loan receivers as part of the sound system; measure again after the work; and add clear signs.

Limits

Advocacy guidance without cost data: the cost factors are relative and, by the association's own account, qualitative. The association advocates loops for churches, theatres, lecture halls and cinemas, and the brochure's printing was supported by companies that sell loop equipment. German standards and law as of 2013; it predates Auracast. In German; the date is the copyright date printed in the brochure (2 November 2013).

Read the original

www.schwerhoerigen-netz.de/fileadmin/user_upload/dsb/Dokumente/Information/Service/Ratgeber/refeRATgeber_04_-_Warum_indukTive_Hoeranlagen.pdf

Link checked 9 October 2026. We link to the original and do not host copies.

Cited in

• What does each system cost to install and to run over its life?Open
• What works in places of worship, and what do the rules ask of them?Partly answered

Cite this source

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