Government Case Study

Milton Keynes Magistrates

A two-phase PAVA modernisation collapsed into a single delivery — restoring public address operation and adding full EN54-compliant voice alarm capability in one programme, with comprehensive STI verification at handover.
1
Milton Keynes Magistrates Court
Client
Maywin Electrical
Project Value
£34,000
Timeframe
7 Weeks
Manufacturer
Ambient System EU
Completed
February 2026
106
SPEAKERS INSTALLED
Direct replacement using existing speaker positions.
2→1
PHASES DELIVERED TOGETHER
Two-year plan compressed into a single programme.
EN54
FULL COMPLIANCE
Power calculations, circuits and STI survey verified.
Scope of Work

Project Delivery

Speakers

Specify and supply 106 speakers, installed in the same positions as the existing units to minimise impact on the building fabric.

Head End Equipment

Supply, fabricate, deliver and commission a new system complete with fireman’s mic, paging mic, and court microphones.

Design

Full design package for a fully compliant EN54 system — specifications, power calculations, required circuits, and speaker power requirements.

Commissioning

Out-of-hours commissioning programme followed by full operator training and a comprehensive STI survey at handover.

Project Overview

The Story

Maywin Electrical approached Voxiss to develop a two-part design for updating the PAVA system at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court.

Their original plan covered two years — restoring the public address function first, then introducing a full EN54 voice alarm system. During our first site visit, however, we confirmed that the existing cabling had been recently updated and was already compliant. This meant only the head-end equipment and speakers required replacement.

That single discovery made it possible to deliver both phases together in one programme, removing a year of planned downtime and delivering full EN54 compliance in a single contract.

Working alongside the Maywin Project Manager, Voxiss set out how circuits could be zoned, where new PA circuits were needed, what cabling was required for the microphone family, and provided the full migration plan from old to new system.

After commissioning, full operator training and an STI intelligibility survey were completed before handover.

What We Solved

Challenges

Minimum Disruption to Building Fabric

Distribution had to be minimised to avoid any subsequent making-good works to walls and finishes.

Concealed Cable Routing

All new circuit routing had to remain within walls and drop ceilings — nothing surface mounted.

No As-Built Information

No drawings or records of the existing installation were available, and the existing system was not functional — all routing had to be discovered on site.

Constrained Equipment Space

Limited space available for the new central head-end equipment within the existing comms room.