NIKOS – Festival

Emergency Announcements for Wacken Open Air

autonomous reliable cost-effective

NIKOS is not a conventional PA system, but a radio-based public address, alarm and control system for large events, construction sites and crisis situations, which you can rent by the day through certified partners and either integrate into your PA or use on its own.

Challenge

Deliver warnings across the entire site despite stage noise

At Wacken Open Air, stage operations, dense crowds and changing weather conditions come together within a temporary festival infrastructure. In a hazardous situation, emergency announcements must remain clearly intelligible despite high sound levels and significant visitor movement. The high visitor density puts a strain on public mobile networks, while power and data connections are particularly susceptible to disruption in a temporary setup.

Solution

One unified solution for everyday use and emergencies

Instead of multiple separate solutions: NIKOS unites visitor information, system monitoring, visitor guidance and control in a single network-independent platform. Quickly deployable, wireless units replace long cable runs and the installation of separate announcement points. NIKOS [audio]² receives voice transmissions wirelessly on site and outputs them as an analogue audio signal. NIKOS [horn]² supplements the acoustic output at locations without an existing sound system. Central control via NIKOS [dispatcher]² integrates the announcement units into a unified system architecture.

FAQ

Information for planners and organisers

Do announcements made with NIKOS comply with the applicable standards?+
Yes. NIKOS meets the requirements of DIN EN 50849 (electroacoustic emergency warning systems). NIKOS was developed specifically for safety-relevant public address and alerting applications and is technically designed for use in both everyday and emergency situations. For electroacoustic emergency warning systems, DIN EN 50849 is the relevant reference framework. Unlike mobile network-based systems, NIKOS fully meets the requirements specified therein, as it does not depend on an external network and can therefore be used immediately at any time. Other standards known from safety technology, such as DIN EN 54, DIN VDE 0833-4 and DIN 14675 (voice alarm systems), do not apply to the field of use and functional scope of NIKOS and are therefore not relevant for approval. NIKOS is a public address system for temporary and mobile applications and has been successfully deployed in numerous mission-critical communication tasks since 2017. RADACOM and your regional NIKOS partner will be happy to advise you on the wide range of NIKOS functions and support you in implementing the requirements cost-effectively.
Where does using NIKOS create cost savings?+
Depending on the application, NIKOS can implement various functions through a unified communication platform. NIKOS mainly reduces the effort required for separate loudspeaker, control and communication solutions. Material requirements and cabling work are reduced, and information and emergency announcements can be made from a single location. In addition, NIKOS can reduce staff travel, operator stations and security posts because recurring tasks are centrally controlled and monitored or carried out by NIKOS. This offsets rental and installation costs through savings in personnel and other technology.
Can NIKOS be deployed at short notice and used flexibly?+
Yes. NIKOS was specifically developed for flexible outdoor deployments without fixed infrastructure. The modules can be mounted by one or two people within just a few minutes on a range of structures, such as lampposts, stages, stands or trees, and configured individually. A standard Schuko power outlet is sufficient for continuous operation.
How can different festival areas at Wacken Open Air be addressed specifically?+
NIKOS [dispatcher]² controls the announcement units as required for individual announcement locations, designated areas or the entire site. This makes it possible to inform and guide visitors wherever the situation requires, without broadcasting the same announcement everywhere at the same time. In the event of a site-wide warning, the announcements are broadcast so they can be heard across the entire site.
Emergency Announcements for Wacken Open Air: Where can NIKOS be rented?+
NIKOS is rented by the day through certified partners, including advice, instruction and technical support. Your regional partner coordinates the deployment with you. Find a partner and request a rental

Rent NIKOS for your operation

Talk to us about your requirements – we will advise you with no obligation.

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