Hearing Loop Installation Criteria

Installation of a hearing loop is not appropriate in all locations. In addition, it is not as simple as laying a wire around the perimeter of a room. The following information will provide the information/criteria required for a successful installation.

Hearing Loops are the preferred assistive listening system (ALS) at UVA. Although most hearing loop installers follow the International Electrotechnical Commission's performance standard for hearing loop systems, IEC 60118-4, the quality of a hearing loop installation can vary drastically between installers.

In addition, the complexity of our venues often require an installer with significant experience and positive recommendations from customers.

The information contained on this page will help define the scope of the project and criteria necessary to hire a qualified installer for the project.

To assure a successful vendor selection process and installation and for more information, include the UVA Hearing Loop Team <assistivelistening@virginia.edu> in these decisions, installation details, and certification of the product once installed.

Use the following drop-down menus to understand what is required for the proper installation of a hearing loop system. Click on each topic to view the information/criteria necessary for a successful installation.

 

Information to get started: Determine the scope of your project and select the appropriate vendor for installation

Prior to moving forward with the selection of a vendor for this work, it is strongly advise that the project be brought in front of the University Barrier-Free Access Committee (Contact the current chair). This discussion will help in determining which rooms in the project require an assistive listening system and which may be appropriate for hearing loop installation.

Select each topic below to view the criteria

Information to be collected and provided by the UVA Project Manager to the installer/contractor
  • Prepare a list of the following
    • Location of room/venue to be looped
    • Provide size and anticipated occupancy levels
    • Indicate the type of activity that is planned for this area (e.g., classroom, auditoriums, performing arts, athletics)
    • Are there special considerations/complexities inherent in the use of this room that should be taken into consideration (e.g., flexible seating arrangements, black-box theater requirements, confidentiality)
    • Is this new construction, renovation, or an installation in an existing venue/room
    • What type of flooring product will be in this area
    • When will the area will be available for site inspection
    • Anticipated project completion date
  • Provide contact information  (including name, telephone number and email address) for:
    • UVA project manager
    • Primary contact for access to the facility
    • Primary contact for the audio equipment which will integrate with the hearing loop amplifiers
  • Indicate adjacent rooms where potential interference may occur (e.g., location of electrical conduit, large areas of metal, stages that use guitars, other rooms/venues where a loop system is already in place, or areas where other ALS systems are in place).
  • A site visit should be scheduled for potential installers. With new construction and/or when the venue is not available for inspection, a detailed set of plans for the rooms/venue in question should be readily available.
Criteria required for installers/contractor
  • Installers shall be properly licensed for installation of low voltage equipment and wiring in the Commonwealth of Virginia on the date the proposal will be submitted.
  • Installers shall be trained and certified to install hearing loop systems compliant with the IEC 60118-4 performance standard.
  • Installers must have completed within the last five years at least five hearing loop installations with the same complexities and similarities as those being proposed.

Two vendors that have completed several installations at UVA in the recent past and meet these qualifications:

Other vendors listed on the Hearing Loop Resources page may also meet the criteria, they just have not done work at UVA recently. For references and locations where each vendor has installed loop systems, send email to assistivelistening@virginia.edu.

The successful installer/contractor will agree to the following
  • The contractor must provide drawings of the wire layout and computer modeling of the magnetic field strength distribution along with test data showing compliance with IEC 60118-4 to the UVA Project Manager and Hearing Loop Team. Computer modeling images should be provided from several angles to allow for analysis of proper field strength distribution and signal coverage.
  • If applicable, the contractor must provide computer modeling of the magnetic field strength distribution and test data for areas that require low over-spill.
  • Provide to the UVA Project Manager and Hearing Loop Team photographs of the installation process and installed equipment, with room number/name and loop equipment in the A/V stack clearly identified during the installation process and after completion.
  • Assure that all proposed equipment comply with IEC 60118-4 and IEC 62489-1. All proposed installation methods must comply with IEC TR 63079.
  • The installer will provide training to the local venue staff on how to operate the system and demonstrate how to take advantage the system for a person who uses hearing aids with T-coil, cochlear implants, or a loop receiver.
  • The installer shall provide hearing loop signage for the venue, printed instructions on how to troubleshoot the hearing loop system as well as informational brochures for users of the hearing loops, unless not requested by the Hearing Loop Team.
  • The contractor must provide a certificate of conformity to certify compliance with IEC 60118-4 after completion of the installation to the Project Manager and the Hearing Loop Team.

 

Installation and Equipment Specifications

Select each topic below to view the criteria

Installation Criteria
  • Design and commission a hearing loop system to provide complete and even signal coverage across the venue area as set forth in the project details and in compliance with IEC 60118-4 standard.
  • Installation of hearing loop wire and feeder cable in appropriate locations for the proposed installation method and wire layout, including any required flooring, electrical, or other ancillary labor.
  • Assure when multiple hearing loop systems are installed in adjacent rooms/areas, they shall not interfere with each other. To limit interference, over-spill shall be no more than –40 dB (4 mA/m) at 3 feet into adjacent hearing loop systems and any sensitive rooms/areas noted below. If –40 dB is not possible, computer models must be provided showing the expected results for client approval.
  • Connection of hearing loop system to existing audio equipment and calibration of audio signal chain.
  • Installation of signage indicating presence of installed hearing loop system in accordance with the UVA Facility Design Guidelines, 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards of Accessible Design, Section 703 and any applicable state laws.
  • Hearing loop system certification according to IEC 60118-4 standard
Equipment to include, but not limited to, the following

 

Submitting a Proposal 

Select the topic below to view the criteria

Each installer shall provide the following information to the UVA Project Manager and UVA Hearing Loop Team, or as directed by the University
  • Provide the names, email addresses and phone numbers for primary contacts for the firm submitting the proposal and providing the services listed
  • Describe the firm and it's history
  • Provide the geographic location of the firm and the personnel who will be working on the project
  • Are the firm's personnel who will be involved with this project trained and certified to install phased-array hearing loop systems? Please provide copies of the training certificates.
    • NOTE: Although a phased-array type system may not be required for all installations, proper knowledge is required to evaluate the space and determine the appropriate system type and wire layout.
  • Provide a copy of your contractor's license allowing you to work in Virginia
  • List professional or trade associations in which your firm is an active member
  • Briefly describe the products that are being offered and identify manufacturers, part numbers, and quantity of each. Descriptive literature should be provided with the complete submission. All proposed equipment must comply with IEC 60118-4 and IEC 62489-1 . Please provide certifications for proposed equipment.
  • Describe the warranty provided for the offered products and installation.
  • Specify how many days the installation with take for each room/area along with proposed dates of installation.
  • Provide photographs or mockups of the proposed installation process.
  • List five comparable installations your firm has successfully completed within the last five years. Include venue name, venue contact, and contact information for the project manager (name, title, email, and phone) on these installations.
  • List any additional information or value-added services to be considered that will enhance the proposal.
  • The proposal shall be complete, covering all costs for the proposed installation.

 

Suggested Firm Evaluation Factors and Weights

Once the proposals have been received, they should be evaluated using the following factors and weights. 

Specification / Weight

  • Price / 20%
  • Firm Qualifications / 30%
  • References & Experience / 30%
  • Product Offering and Warranty / 10%
  • Time to Complete Installation / 5%
  • Value-Added Services / 5%

For more information, contact the UVA Hearing Loop Team by sending email to assistivelistening@virginia.edu

All information provided has been vetted by the University and Facility Management Procurement Offices, the Office of the University Building Official, and other key offices and individuals across Grounds.