ELV Systems

A short guide to ELV Systems

What ELV covers

ELV (extra low voltage) systems are the low voltage services of a building: CCTV, access control, building management, public address and voice alarm, TV distribution and structured cabling. They run on the same cable routes and often share the network, so planning them together saves cost and rework.

Points that need planning

• CCTV: camera positions, resolution and the days of recording needed, which decide the storage size.
• Access control: door types, reader technology and how doors behave on a fire alarm.
• Building management: the protocols the plant uses, such as BACnet or Modbus.
• Public address: voice alarm requirements for the building type.
• Cabling: copper or fibre backbone, containment routes and test certificates.

Integration

The value of ELV comes from linking systems: the fire alarm releasing access doors, the BMS reading plant status, the PA carrying evacuation messages. Agree these links at design stage and write them into the scope.

Handover

Ask for as built drawings, cable test results, user training and a clear list of what is under warranty at handover.

This is general information. The governing code, the project design and the local fire authority decide the exact requirements for your site.

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