Martyn’s Law and PA systems: what hotels, schools and public venues need to know

Hotels, schools, colleges, leisure centres, shopping centres, entertainment venues, factories, warehouses, visitor attractions, places of worship, healthcare sites and other publicly accessible premises may be affected where it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people to be present at the same time.

One of the duties covered by the Act is communication during an incident. This has understandably led some organisations to ask whether they will need to install a public address system (PA system), paging system or Tannoy system.

The short answer is:

Martyn’s Law does not state that every qualifying premises must install a PA system.

Organisations will instead need to decide what communication procedures are appropriate and reasonable for their individual premises. A PA, paging, voice alarm or lockdown system could form part of that approach, particularly at a large, noisy or complex site, but the law does not prescribe a particular product or system.

When will Martyn’s Law come into force?

Martyn’s Law received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The Government committed to an implementation period of at least 24 months to allow organisations and the regulator to prepare. Current Government guidance says that the substantive requirements are not yet in force and that further details will be provided about commencement. More recent Government material describes spring 2027 as the expected timeframe.

This means that, at the time of writing, organisations do not yet have a legal duty to comply. However, businesses and public bodies can use the implementation period to establish whether they are in scope, review their emergency plans and test how well their current communication methods would work.

Which premises are covered by Martyn’s Law?

A premises will generally be in scope if:

• it consists of a building, or a building and associated land;
• it is wholly or mainly used for one or more of the activities listed in the Act;
• it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people to be present at the same time in connection with those activities; and
• it is not covered by one of the specific exclusions in the legislation.

The number is based on the people reasonably expected to be present, including staff, rather than simply the maximum capacity shown on a fire certificate.

Activities listed in the Act include, among others:

• entertainment and leisure
• hotels and accommodation
• retail
• education
• healthcare
• places of worship
• sports grounds
• museums, galleries and visitor attractions
• public authority buildings
• certain transport premises

The legislation uses a two-tier system based on attendance levels, with additional requirements applying to larger premises and events. There are also special provisions for some education settings, which are generally treated differently from other large venues.

Does Martyn’s Law require a PA system?

No. The Act does not say that every qualifying premises must install a PA system. It simply requires the responsible person to ensure appropriate communication procedures are in place.

For some organisations, existing arrangements may be sufficient. These could include trained staff, radios, phones, messaging platforms, alarms or other reliable methods, depending on the building and the people using it.

For others, a PA or voice-based system may provide a practical way to communicate instructions quickly and clearly. This is more likely to be relevant where:

• the site covers several buildings, floors or outdoor areas
• background noise makes normal speech difficult to hear
• large numbers of visitors may be unfamiliar with the premises
• staff need to send different instructions to different parts of a site
• an ordinary alarm tone would not explain whether people should evacuate, invacuate or remain in lockdown
• mobile phone coverage or Wi-Fi is unreliable in parts of the premises
• existing speakers do not reach every occupied area clearly

How can a PA system support emergency communication?

A professionally designed public address system can help an organisation put its emergency procedures into practice by allowing authorised staff to deliver clear instructions across a site.

Depending on the design, a system could provide:

• live or pre-recorded emergency announcements
• site-wide or zoned messaging
• communication to indoor and outdoor areas
• scheduled testing and routine announcements
• integration with other communication or building systems
• clearer instructions than an alarm tone alone

A PA system can also have ordinary operational uses, such as paging, class-change announcements or background music.

Installing speakers does not, by itself, demonstrate compliance. The system needs to support a wider plan that covers who can activate it, what messages will be given, how staff will respond and what will happen if the primary communication method is unavailable.

Questions to ask when reviewing your current arrangements

Organisations preparing for Martyn’s Law can begin by testing their existing communication arrangements against realistic scenarios.

Useful questions include:

• Can we alert everyone on the premises quickly?
• Can announcements be heard and understood in busy, noisy or remote areas?
• Are toilets, stairwells, external spaces, kitchens, plant areas and outbuildings covered?
• Can we send different instructions to separate areas if the danger is localised?
• Can authorised staff make an announcement from a safe location?
• Are prepared messages available for evacuation, invacuation and lockdown?
• Is there an alternative method if the main system, network or electricity supply is unavailable?
• Have we considered people with hearing, visual, mobility or communication needs?
• Are staff trained, and are the procedures tested regularly?

How Lister can help

Lister Unified Communications designs and installs professional public address, site radio and audio systems for education, hospitality, industrial, retail and other commercial environments.

Our role is not to tell every organisation that it needs a new PA system. Instead, we can help assess whether your existing communication setup is suitable for the way your premises operates, including its layout, background noise, occupied areas and emergency procedures.

Where improvements are needed, this could include extending an existing PA system; connecting paging to suitable communications infrastructure; providing two-way radios for staff communication; or designing a more comprehensive solution.

The key point

Martyn’s Law will require qualifying premises to be prepared to communicate effectively during a terrorist attack or suspected attack. It does not impose a blanket requirement to install a PA system.

For some premises, established procedures and existing communication tools may be appropriate. For larger, noisier or more complex environments, reviewing PA coverage and emergency messaging may reveal weaknesses to address.

Starting that review before the law comes into force gives organisations time to make considered, proportionate decisions, rather than purchasing equipment simply because a deadline is approaching.

Not sure whether your current communication system reaches every part of your site?

Lister can review your existing PA and site communication arrangements and help identify gaps in coverage, clarity and control. We will recommend improvements only where they are appropriate for your premises and procedures.

Find out more about Lister’s PA and site radio solutions.

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