Click here for our range of broadband products. Alternativly see our broadband sound (bbs-tek) site.
What is white sound?
Broadband (shh) sound: The bbs-tek BACKALARM uses a pleasant broadband sound instead of the irritating single frequency sound of outmoded reversing alarms.
The source of bbs-tek sound is instantly locatable. bbs-tek sound is directional, is localised in the danger zone and dissipates rapidly.
As a result:
No more complaints of noise pollution. No more reversing alarm disconnects by irritated drivers Instant location of the reversing vehicle, no more head-spinning and confusion Broadband sound is known colloquially as "white sound".
Broadband sound is known colloquially as "white sound". The "white" description derives from white light which is composed of all the colours in the spectrum. White sound is, similarly, composed of all frequencies in the audio spectrum. White sound has the unique characteristic of its source being instantly locatable. White sound does not have to rely on high sound pressure (decibels) in order to be heard because, being multi-frequency, competing single frequencies cannot mask it.
As a result a white sound alarm is equally effective at lower decibels than outmoded single-frequency alarms.
Below are 2 demonstrations of the bbs-tek backalarm in action.
Testimonials
| "We worked with residents from the village to see which alarms would be most suitable and the bbs-tek won their vote as it simply eliminated the problem. Importantly we also carried out a risk assessment and were satisfied that it would meet our safety criteria. Our own people noticed the difference too as the bbs-tek is far "easier on the ear" for those working with alarms all day." Jeff Pugh - Site Manager WBB Group |
| "After successful trials at a number of our depots throughout the UK, we have found that noise pollution was cut by the bbs-tek BACKALARM to the satisfaction of local residents and neightbours." Duncan Mclean - Transport Manager Travis Perkins plc |
| "We trialled the Brigade manufactured bbs-tek BACKALARM as we had issues with noise pollution. Due to our commitment to and obligations under the Health & Safety at Work act, after trialling the Brigade alarm we were relieved to find it a winner on all fronts." Bob Pryce - Supervisor Bredero |
| "As you aware we have recently tested your sound reversing alarms and have found them to be an exceptional product. We have in one stroke eradicated all complaints from our neighboors with regard to vehicle noise. We have made our company engineer aware of our views and I have also demonstrated the product to our forklift supplier Lacing Linde Ltd., who is very interested in the product." Phil Cassidy - Works Manager Tarmac Topblock Ltd |
| "We have now carried out trials with your broad reversing alarm at our Elterwater quarry. This quarry is in a confined valley in the Lake District with a large timeshare development only a few hundred yards away. The results have been very successful with virtually no sound leaving the boundary of the quarry but sufficient warning being given to personel within the working area. We intend fitting a further alarm to a machine operating in similar circumstances. Because the majority of our quarries are inside the National Park, we obviously come under greater scrutiny from the public and these systems have helped to eliminate at least one of our problems." Mike Dickinson - Quarries & Environment Director Burlington Slate Ltd |
Health & Safety Executive statement:
Reversing Audible Alarms Whilst not technically an aid to addressing sight line limitations, the use of appropriate reversing audible alarms has an important role in reducing mobile plant accidents. The fitment of reversing alarms is required to comply with certain legislation and standards.
There is one development with regard to reversing alarms which is noted. This concerns the use of wideband sound localisation technologies to aid pedestrians in locating from which direction a vehicle is approaching. Conventional single tone alarms have intrinsic spatial ambiguity and do not offer useful localisation cues. The process of localisation is a complex process of perception [Elfner and House 1987, Searle 1982].
The head-related transfer function (HRTF) is important when locating sound which is emanating from in front of, or behind, the subject. The larger the frequency content, the easier and faster can the sounds be localised. The University of Leeds has undertaken extensive research in this field and has commercialised a generic technology through Sound Alert Technology Limited.
In HSE trials a prototype reversing alarm based on this technology fitted to a CAT966D earth-moving vehicle (conducted in August 2000), it was observed that the detectable threshold level was ~5 dB(A) lower than for a conventional single tone reversing alarm. It is thus speculated that reversing alarms based on broadband noise localisation will have a part to play in reducing mobile plant accidents, by increasing vehicle localisation capability, together with offering reduced audible nuisance.
bbs-tek BACKALARMS for Australia
A £10,000 initial order for bbs-tek BACKALARMS from Australia was delivered for a wide variety of vehicle applications including forklift trucks, goods vehicles and quarry plant. Conventional backalarms are on their way out in Australia due to heavy pressure from environmentalists and from vehicle/plant drivers themselves who can’t stand the noise.
