ICC A117.1-2017 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, Section 706 Assistive Listening Systems

Summary

The technical standard that the 2024 International Building Code references for assistive listening equipment.

Key findings

• Requires receivers to have a 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) standard monaural jack, and receivers that must be hearing-aid compatible to work with hearing-aid telecoils through neck loops.
• Section 706.3 requires induction loop systems, where provided, to meet IEC 60118-4 as listed in section 106.2.2.
• Sets performance limits for assistive listening systems: 110 to 118 dB SPL with a 50 dB volume range, at least 18 dB signal-to-noise ratio for internally generated noise, and no more than 18 dB of peak clipping relative to the peaks of speech.
• Section 706.3 explicitly addresses induction-loop systems; section 706 does not mention Bluetooth or Auracast.

Limits

Applies through the building code that adopts it; the 2024 IBC references the 2017 edition. Section 706 does not print a measurement procedure for its limits, but refers induction-loop systems to IEC 60118-4. Date shows the edition year only. This audit read the archived section 706 excerpts; the saved publisher HTML is a page shell, not the full standard.

Read the original

codes.iccsafe.org/content/icca117-12017/chapter-7-communication-elements-and-features

Link checked 13 October 2026. We link to the original and do not host copies.

Cited in

• Which hearing devices can receive which systems?Open
• Which systems satisfy the ADA and building codes, and does a listener's own phone count?Disputed
• What audio level should the stream carry: -35 dBFS or louder?Disputed
• Auracast, hearing loop, infrared, RF or Wi-Fi: which suits which room?Disputed
• How is an installed hearing loop checked against IEC 60118-4, and how often does it pass?Partly answered
• Do neckloops give telecoil users good sound from FM, infrared, Wi-Fi and Auracast receivers?Not reliable yet

Cite this source

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