Hearing loops and assistive listening compliance
Hearing loop compliance, testing and maintenance
Make sure your assistive listening systems work when people need them, and that your organisation can evidence inspection, testing, staff usage and maintenance.
A fitted loop is not the same as a working loop
Many venues already have a hearing loop or assistive listening system somewhere in the building. The harder question is whether it is switched on, performing correctly, signed clearly, understood by staff and supported by current records.
A loop that was installed years ago but never tested can quietly fail. Cables get damaged, amplifiers are adjusted, rooms change, background noise increases and signage disappears. The result is a system that exists on paper but excludes the person who needs it at the reception desk, in the chamber, at the counter or in the meeting room.
Compliance is not just equipment. It is a working system, tested against the right benchmark, supported by visible information, operated by trained staff and backed by evidence.
Your legal obligations and the standards that apply
Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people and to avoid discrimination. For service providers, that duty is anticipatory. A missing or faulty loop does not create an automatic fine, but it can create exclusion, complaints, discrimination claims, reputational harm, procurement risk and potential legal exposure depending on the circumstances.
BS EN 60118-4 and IEC 60118-4
BS EN 60118-4, the UK and European adoption of IEC 60118-4, is the recognised performance standard for audio-frequency induction loop systems. It is used to test field strength, frequency response and background noise so the loop can deliver an intelligible signal without overloading hearing aids.
BS 7594
BS 7594 is the code of practice for audio-frequency induction loop systems. It supports good practice in design, installation, commissioning, testing, documentation and management.
BS 8300 and Approved Document M
BS 8300 and Building Regulations Approved Document M provide guidance for accessible and inclusive built environments, including hearing enhancement provision in relevant settings. Standards and guidance help show good practice. They are not the same as the Equality Act.
What duty-holders should know
A hearing loop can be present and still fail a compliance review. Installed once is not enough. Systems drift, components fail and spaces change. Signage is not cosmetic. If users cannot see that a hearing loop is available, they may not ask for it or switch their hearing aid to the right setting.
Staff usage matters
Staff need to know how to switch the system on, check it is working, assist users and record routine checks.
Records matter
Current test records, maintenance notes, signage checks and staff usage records help show the provision is managed.
Usability matters
The system must be discoverable and usable in the place where the conversation or service actually happens.
Do you know if your system actually works?
- Is there evidence of annual inspection and compliance review?
- Are current test certificates, maintenance records and fault logs available?
- Are staff training records available from the last 12 months?
- Are there audit records showing signage has been inspected where users arrive, wait and request support?
- Do you have annual evidence for field strength, frequency response and background noise levels?
- Is there a recorded route for access complaints, faults and remedial action?
The Altus inspection and compliance review
Altus Critical Systems provides a hearing loop inspection and compliance review for organisations that need a practical, evidenced answer.
We inspect the installed system on site, test performance against BS EN 60118-4, check signage and user information, review your records and report what is compliant, what is unclear and what needs action. You receive a written compliance report with clear findings and priorities.
Where needed, we provide staff training on operating and using the systems correctly to stay compliant. This is operational system-usage training, not Equality Act or legal training. It covers switching the system on, checking it works, carrying out routine checks, keeping signage visible, assisting users and maintaining records.
If gaps are found, Altus can install a new system, remediate a faulty installation or provide ongoing maintenance and recertification. The outcome is simple: assess, test, evidence, train and maintain.
Inspection and compliance review
On-site assessment of installed systems, user routes, signs, controls and records.
Testing to BS EN 60118-4
Performance checks for magnetic field strength, frequency response and background noise.
Maintenance and recertification
Periodic checks, fault investigation, retesting and updated records.
Installation and remediation
New systems, repairs, replacement components and practical upgrades where existing provision is not enough.
Staff system-usage training
Practical instruction for the people who switch on, check, explain and record the service.
Common venues and settings
We support council chambers, courts, theatres, healthcare settings, education, reception desks, public counters, meeting rooms, boardrooms, places of worship and community buildings.
Why systems fail
Common failures include no commissioning to the right standard, no maintenance plan, missing test records, damaged loop cable, incorrect amplifier settings, unclear signage and staff who do not know the system is there.
Book a hearing loop inspection and compliance review
Use the form below to tell us about your site, venue type and what you need checked.