Listen Technologies Corporation

California Companies Get Ready for Updates to Building Standards and Accessibility Codes 

California building and accessibility standards are changing and Listen Technologies is providing a solution set for California builders, architects, AV professionals and building owners to adapt and adopt the new standards for the Assistive Listening requirements. 

Assistive Listening Systems, which are amplification systems utilizing transmitters, receivers, and coupling devices, are required for all assembly areas, conference rooms and meeting rooms for people with hearing impairments. 

Recently, the California Building Standards Commission adopted the 2013 California Building Standards Code, which incorporates proposals by the Division of the State Architect and others to bring California codes in alignment with the federal standards outlined in Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which were revised in 2010. The new California Building Standards Code is available online as of July 1, 2013.  

“More than 17 percent of the population suffers from some form of hearing loss and California is to be praised for upgrading its state laws to align with the federal ADA standards to ensure that that large portion of society is able to participate in personal, business and cultural events,” said Cory Schaeffer, Co-Founder of Listen Technologies. “Listen Technologies has made it possible for California companies to bring their buildings and spaces up to code for Assistive Listening with a package designed to provide the right technology for the right space.” 

The three technologies used for assistive listening are RF (Radio Frequency), IR (Infrared) and IL (Induction or Hearing Loop).

The Listen RF System transmits a clear audio signal over radio frequencies to a personal receiver. The advantage of RF technology is that there are no “line-of-site” issues and the technology can cover a wide area indoors or outdoors. 

The Listen IR System uses infrared light to transmit audio to a personal receiver. The advantage of IR technology is that the system is secure—the audio signal will never leave the room, yet the listener will enjoy consistent, pristine audio.

The Listen Hearing Loop System includes an integral wire that installed around a room in a variety of ways creating an induction field that can be picked up by hearing aids equipped with a tele-coil. More than 60 percent of hearing aids and 100 percent of cochlear implants have a tele-coil. Many venues and users alike enjoy this type of an assistive listening system because the signal is directly transmitted to a user’s hearing aid.

“When designing new building, it is important for the architect to design in assistive listening solutions as early as possible into a project,” Schaeffer added. “This makes it easier and more cost-effective to be both socially responsible and compliant with the law from the very beginning of a project.”

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is responsible for enforcing the ADA standards. The DOJ may file lawsuits in federal court to enforce the ADA, and courts may order compensatory damages and back pay to remedy discrimination. The DOJ may also obtain civil penalties under Title III of up to $55,000 for the first violation and $110,000 for any subsequent violation. 

About Listen Technologies Corporation

For more than a decade, Listen Technologies has provided high-quality, easy-to-use assistive listening products to thousands of gathering places around the world including schools, houses of worship, factories, entertainment venues, government agencies and more. Listen strives to expand its legacy with products that push the boundaries of technology innovation, embracing the latest assistive listening standards and trends, and incorporating hundreds of refinements and improvements based on direct feedback from its customers. You can be assured that Listen solutions offer you even more power to cut through the clutter and overcome the challenges of hearing loss, so you can connect to pure, enhanced, and personalized audio in any setting or environment. For more information on Listen solutions, contact Listen Technologies at 877-760-9270 or visit www.listentech.com/architects.