What are the hearing loop requirements under the Equality Act?
The Equality Act 2010 does not mention hearing loops by name; it places a duty on service providers and employers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, and a hearing enhancement system (usually an induction loop) is the accepted adjustment wherever speech is delivered to the public: reception desks, meeting and interview rooms, lecture rooms, places of worship and performance spaces. The detail of where a loop is expected and how well it must perform comes from Building Regulations Approved Document M, BS 8300-2:2018 and BS EN 60118-4:2015 rather than from the Act itself.
From the floor. A loop that has never been tested is the most common finding on an access audit. The cable is in the floor, the sign is on the door, and the field strength is a fraction of what BS EN 60118-4 asks for because the driver was never commissioned or the furniture plan changed. Keep the commissioning certificate with the fire risk assessment and have the loop re-tested every year. (David Corker, Technical Sales Director)
Requirements, sources and what they mean in practice
| Requirement | Source | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Reasonable adjustments for disabled customers, visitors and staff; the duty on service providers is anticipatory | Equality Act 2010, sections 20, 29 and 39 | Where the public is spoken to across a counter or in a room, provide a hearing enhancement system; the duty is to the outcome, not to a product |
| Hearing enhancement system in rooms for meetings, lectures, classes and performances, and at reception or service counters with a glazed screen or background noise | Approved Document M, Volume 2 (buildings other than dwellings) | New builds, extensions and material alterations should include a loop, infrared or RF system; an existing building is caught when it is altered |
| Design guidance on coverage, overspill, metal loss and specification | BS 8300-2:2018 | Specify the system at design stage, survey for metal in the structure and plan the coverage area and its signage |
| Performance: field strength, frequency response and background magnetic noise, recorded on a certificate | BS EN 60118-4:2015 | Commission with a calibrated field strength meter, keep the certificate, re-test annually and after any layout change |
| Signage where a loop is fitted | BS 8300-2:2018 and Approved Document M | Display the standard ear symbol with a T at the entrance and the counter so hearing aid users know to switch to the T position |
| Alternatives where a loop is impractical | Approved Document M and BS 8300-2:2018 | Infrared, RF or Wi-Fi assistive listening with receivers and neck loops, with the same coverage and signage expectations |
The reasonable adjustments duty is proportionate: a two-person consultancy is not expected to loop every room, but any organisation with a public counter, a meeting room used by clients or a hall used for services or events should expect a hearing enhancement system to be considered reasonable, given the installed cost set out in the hearing loop installation cost FAQ. A loop is usually fed from the room's existing audio system or video conferencing bar so that remote participants are covered too.
What to keep on file
- The commissioning certificate to BS EN 60118-4, with the measured field strength, frequency response and background noise for each loop.
- Annual test records and the date of the last re-test after any refurbishment or furniture change.
- A coverage plan showing which rooms and counters are looped and a photo of the signage in place.
- A note in the access audit or equality policy stating what hearing enhancement is provided and how staff switch it on.
Design, commissioning and certification are described on the hearing loop systems page.
Quick reference: Equality Act 2010 = reasonable adjustments, no product named; Approved Document M Volume 2 = hearing enhancement in meeting, lecture, class and performance rooms and at glazed or noisy counters; BS 8300-2:2018 = design guidance; BS EN 60118-4:2015 = performance standard and commissioning certificate; ear symbol sign displayed; IR, RF or Wi-Fi acceptable where a loop is impractical.
Related solution: Commercial audio systems.
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