NIKOS – Festival

Evacuation Announcements for Wacken Open Air in Schleswig-Holstein

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

Clear warnings despite stage noise

At Wacken Open Air in Schleswig-Holstein, evacuation announcements present a particular challenge due to dense crowds, loud stages and the large number of international visitors. Warnings and instructions must reach all visitors clearly and understandably despite the high noise levels. The high density of visitors can also overload mobile networks. Mobile communications-based systems are therefore unsuitable for communication in a hazardous situation.

Solution

One unified solution for everyday use and emergencies

With NIKOS, announcements, system monitoring, visitor information and device control come together on a single platform — fully independent of the public network. For evacuation announcements at Wacken Open Air, NIKOS centrally combines announcements, emergency lighting via NIKOS [LED]² and the switching of external devices via NIKOS [relay]², all controlled through NIKOS [dispatcher]². This reduces the effort required for separate control units, installations and the operation of different subsystems.

FAQ

Information for planners and organisers

Do NIKOS announcements meet the relevant standard requirements?+
Yes, NIKOS fully meets DIN EN 50849 "Electroacoustic Emergency Warning Systems". The system was specifically designed for safety-relevant announcements and alerting and is technically built for both everyday and emergency use. DIN EN 50849 is the relevant standard for radio-based ELA systems such as NIKOS. Because NIKOS, unlike mobile network-based systems, operates independently of an external network, immediate usability is guaranteed at all times — fully meeting the standard's requirements as a result. Other safety-related standards such as DIN EN 54, DIN VDE 0833-4 and DIN 14675 (voice alarm systems), by contrast, do not apply to NIKOS, as they concern a different field of use and functional scope and are therefore not relevant to NIKOS's deployment. As the only public address system for temporary and mobile applications consistently designed around the demands of mission-critical use, NIKOS has been used successfully for crisis-proof 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 NIKOS provide cost benefits?+
NIKOS enables different functions to be implemented via a single, unified communications platform. These savings can quickly offset the rental and installation costs of NIKOS. You can find several specific examples of savings here. When the wide range of functions is used consistently, it not only increases the level of safety and makes employees’ work easier, but also reduces the overall budget. 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. NIKOS can also reduce staffing requirements: tasks that would otherwise require several security, reporting or operator posts distributed across the site can be controlled centrally and monitored or carried out by NIKOS. This allows personnel to be deployed more effectively at safety-critical points. The greatest savings potential arises at fenced events such as Wacken Open Air: guarding emergency exit gates can be replaced by technical monitoring of the gates with NIKOS, eliminating security posts at emergency exits or allowing them to be deployed more effectively elsewhere. This offsets rental and installation costs through savings on personnel and other technology. Particularly for temporary, time-limited events, this significantly reduces the costs of planning, installation and operation of safety technology.
Is NIKOS resilient in a crisis?+
Yes, NIKOS operates via its own autonomous radio network and is completely independent of public communications networks and their availability. This makes the system highly resistant to external influences. Since NIKOS does not rely on wired connections but communicates via radio, the connection is automatically re-established after an interruption. NIKOS is therefore significantly more resilient to disruptions of normal operations than many other systems, demonstrating the crisis resilience of this communications system. NIKOS [audio]² has an internal battery with up to 16 hours of operating time and also powers connected accessory modules. Even if the mobile network is overloaded, the internet provider has been hacked or someone has pulled the wrong plug, NIKOS continues to operate. This ensures that evacuation announcements for Wacken Open Air remain reliably functional even in the event of a power failure or disruptions to public communications networks.
Can NIKOS be deployed quickly and 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 variety of structures, such as lampposts, stages, stands or trees, and configured individually. A standard Schuko power connection is sufficient for continuous operation. NIKOS uses an existing digital radio network.
Evacuation Announcements for Wacken Open Air in Schleswig-Holstein: 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

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