Summary
Two New Zealand councils' form for audio loops as a specified system on a building's compliance schedule, setting the standards and the inspection, maintenance and reporting routine.
Key findings
- Lists the standards an audio loop may be installed and inspected against: IEC 60118-4:2014 with its 2017 amendment, AS 60118.4-2007, AS 1088.4:1987 or BS EN IEC 60118-4:2015 with its 2018 amendment, or a specifically designed solution prepared by a competent person.
- For loops installed to a standard, sets inspections every six months by an independent qualified person (IQP) only; specifically designed solutions are also inspected by an IQP only.
- Each inspection must at least test the magnetic field strength over the specified area for the values in AS 60118.4, and the magnetic background noise wherever equipment near the loop has been installed, switched on or altered since the last inspection. Loop-based sound installations are also tested for sound pressure level and distortion, and for spectrum and speech intelligibility where the room's acoustics have changed.
- The owner keeps an on-site logbook of every inspection, test and repair for the previous 24 months, with dates, faults found, remedies and who did the work, and an annual Form 12A from the IQP.
Limits
One council pair's form; other New Zealand councils publish their own sheets for the same specified system, which were not compared here (one could not be downloaded). The national regulation and the government's compliance schedule handbook could not be opened, so this record does not describe the national basis. It sets inspections, not results, so it says nothing about how often loops pass. The form shows no date (its PDF metadata gives 23 July 2021).
Read the original
Cited in
- Which systems satisfy the ADA and building codes, and does a listener's own phone count?Disputed
- How is an installed hearing loop checked against IEC 60118-4, and how often does it pass?Partly answered
- How can a venue check that its assistive listening works for listeners, day to day?Partly answered
Cite this source
Palmerston North City Council; Manawatu District Council. SS 12/1 Audio loops: compliance schedule details for a building consent application (Form 2). Palmerston North City Council and Manawatu District Council, Building Services (New Zealand). n.d. https://www.pncc.govt.nz/files/assets/public/v/2/documents/building-amp-property/specified-systems-forms/ss-12.1.pdf (accessed 9 October 2026).
Every finding here cites its source, and who funded each source is labelled. This site does not recommend products. Found an error or a missing study? Suggest a correction.