Bells are becoming scheduled audio
Several projects treat bells as scheduled tones, music or messages inside the paging platform rather than a standalone timer.
NZ project evidence
How NZ schools are using paging systems for bells, lockdowns & emergency communication
Five published New Zealand projects show how schools are combining automated bells, zoned paging, outdoor coverage, emergency messages and — in some cases — two-way classroom communication. SmartComms compares the projects side by side, adds current lifecycle context and extracts the questions another school should ask before copying the architecture.
5 published NZ projectsSchool bellsZoned pagingLockdown messagingIntercom
Last reviewed 24 September 2026Published project analysis · not independent installation audits
Projects reviewed
5 published New Zealand school project accounts
System families
2N, FrontRow, SPON, ZYCOO and Axis
Common pattern
Bells + zoned paging + clearer emergency communication
Important caveat
Published accounts are evidence, not SmartComms installation audits
The answer in one minute
What five NZ school projects show
The projects are useful because they solve different versions of the same problem. The strongest lesson is not that one brand wins: it is that schools are increasingly asking one communications layer to handle routine scheduling, targeted announcements and urgent messages without making staff operate several unrelated systems.
Zoning is an operational requirement
Projects repeatedly separate classrooms, blocks, outdoor areas or selected groups so every announcement does not interrupt the whole school.
Emergency messages share the platform
Lockdown and other priority messages often use the same speakers and controls, but require distinct activation, priority and cancellation rules.
Outdoor coverage needs deliberate design
Three Kings, Cotswold Mātāhae and Thorndon explicitly include outdoor coverage rather than assuming classroom speakers will cover playgrounds or fields.
IP control does not mean all-IP speakers
Ormiston shows network decoders feeding amplifier-driven zones, while other projects use network endpoints directly. Mixed network-control and amplifier-fed architectures can both be valid.
Product lifecycle matters
A project can remain a useful architecture example after its original equipment has been superseded. New quotes should use current supported products, not copy an old bill of materials.
Published project comparison
What each project actually describes
A feature is marked only when the published project account establishes it. “Not stated” does not mean the installed system could not do it. This keeps project evidence separate from manufacturer capability claims.
Scroll across the table to compare all columns.
| Project | System | Project design angle | Bells | Zoned paging | Outdoor | Emergency / lockdown | Two-way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Kings Primary SchoolPublished by Edwards Sound Systems | 2N network paging | Network speakers across classrooms/common areas plus four outdoor zones, with two paging stations | Described | Described | Described | Described | Not stated |
| Ormiston Junior CollegePublished by Pacific AV | FrontRow paging and bells | Network control with 21 decoders feeding 21 conventional amplifier channels | Described | Described | Not stated | Described | Not stated |
| Lincoln High SchoolPublished by NZAV | SPON IP paging | 120-zone modular IP retrofit planned for later removal and re-installation in replacement buildings | Not stated | Described | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Cotswold Mātāhae SchoolPublished by AV Integration | ZYCOO IP paging, bells and intercom | Central IP audio server and paging phone with classroom call-back, smaller-room intercoms and outdoor horns | Described | Described | Described | Described | Described |
| Thorndon Primary SchoolPublished by CIE Group | Axis network audio | PoE network ceiling speakers and outdoor horns with reception microphone and browser-managed zoning/schedules | Described | Described | Described | Described | Not stated |
Match the problem, not the brand
Which published example is most relevant to your school?
No project here is a universal template. Use the examples that match the design problem you are trying to solve, then verify the current products, support and site conditions separately.
Replacing a basic bell with scheduled paging and emergency messages
Three Kings and Thorndon both show the shift from a simple bell/announcement problem toward scheduled audio, zoned paging and clearer emergency communication. The endpoint architecture differs, which makes the pair useful for comparing workflows rather than brands.
Relevant published examples
Moving control onto the network without putting an IP speaker in every room
Ormiston is the clearest published example here of network control and decoders feeding conventional amplifier channels. It is useful when a school wants central schedules/zoning but the loudspeaker architecture may remain amplifier-fed.
Relevant published examples
Upgrading now while a rebuild or staged property programme is coming
Lincoln is the project to examine for relocation planning: NZAV describes a 120-zone retrofit intended to be removed and re-installed in future replacement buildings. That is a different decision from reusing existing speakers or cabling.
Relevant published examples
Adding room-level paging, outdoor coverage and two-way classroom calling
Cotswold Mātāhae is the only project in this set whose public account explicitly describes two-way classroom calling, alongside selected-room paging, outdoor horns, automated bells, emergency alerts and mobile operation.
Relevant published examples
This section maps published architecture examples to buyer problems; it is not a product ranking or a claim that the named system is the best choice for a new project.
Five published NZ examples
What another school can learn from each project
Each section separates what the publisher says from SmartComms' analysis. We do not copy the original case-study prose or reuse its photographs. Follow the evidence links for the publisher's complete account.
Published NZ project evidence
Three Kings Primary School
2N network paging
- Published by
- Edwards Sound Systems · Project/design account
- Source publication
- Published 1 March 2024
- Design angle evidenced by this project
- Network speakers across classrooms/common areas plus four outdoor zones, with two paging stations
The public account gives a publication date, not a separate installation date.
A school-wide network paging project built around everyday bells and announcements as well as fast, selectable emergency messaging across classrooms, common areas and outdoor zones.
Evidence:[3][4][5]What the published account establishes
- The project account describes a speaker in each classroom and common room plus four outdoor zones.
- Two paging stations could select zones and trigger prerecorded messages for events including fire, earthquake and lockdown-type incidents.
- The school also used scheduled music in place of a traditional bell.
SmartComms analysis
The important design question is not simply whether a school can play a lockdown message. The same operator workflow has to make routine bells, selected-zone pages and priority emergency messages distinct, quick and understandable.
Questions for a similar school
- Which indoor and outdoor areas need independent paging?
- Who can trigger priority messages, from which locations, and how are they cancelled?
- What current supported products replace the historical 2N audio components used in this project?
Current-specification note
Treat this as a historical architecture example. 2N now lists its Net Audio Systems as discontinued, and its SIP Mic stopped accepting APAC orders from 31 January 2025.
Published NZ project evidence
Ormiston Junior College
FrontRow paging and bells
- Published by
- Pacific AV · Distributor / project publisher
- Named dealer
- Australasian Audio Engineering
- Source publication
- Published 23 August 2017
- Design angle evidenced by this project
- Network control with 21 decoders feeding 21 conventional amplifier channels
The public account gives a publication date, not a separate installation date.
A network-controlled school-wide design that used FrontRow decoders and server control while still driving amplifier-fed speaker zones — a useful example of IP control without requiring a powered IP speaker in every space.
Evidence:[6][7][8]What the published account establishes
- Pacific AV describes a paging microphone, audio encoder and 21 network decoders feeding 21 amplifier channels.
- The server handled zone paging and bell schedules, while the published GUI could select zones and activate lockdown tones, strobes and external triggers.
- The project account lists 91 ceiling speakers and classroom endpoint options with local audio/control functions.
SmartComms analysis
IP paging is an architecture, not a requirement to replace every passive speaker. A school can centralise schedules, zones and emergency controls while distributing audio through network interfaces and conventional amplification where that is the better design.
Questions for a similar school
- Does each room need a powered network speaker, or would network interfaces feeding amplifiers be more appropriate?
- Which classroom-local audio functions need to keep working during a school-wide page?
- Which historical FrontRow endpoints in the original project have current replacements?
Current-specification note
The 2017 equipment list is historical. FrontRow Conductor remains a current platform, while Pacific AV identifies CM900 as the replacement for the older CM3000 endpoint used in the published architecture.
Published NZ project evidence
Lincoln High School
SPON IP paging
- Published by
- NZAV · NZ project publisher
- Project timing
- Implemented in 2024
- Design angle evidenced by this project
- 120-zone modular IP retrofit planned for later removal and re-installation in replacement buildings
NZAV states the project was implemented in 2024; the project index does not show a separate publication date.
A large retrofit where installation disruption and future relocation mattered: NZAV describes a 120-zone SPON IP paging design installed outside school hours and intended to be re-installed in the school's future replacement buildings.
Evidence:[9][10]What the published account establishes
- NZAV describes the project as a 120-zone IP paging retrofit across the existing school.
- Installation had to be completed outside school hours.
- The chosen architecture was intended to be reusable in the new school planned for the same site.
SmartComms analysis
Lifecycle planning can be part of the architecture brief. A school facing staged redevelopment may value relocatable network endpoints and modular control more than a design optimised only for the current buildings.
Questions for a similar school
- Is the school likely to rebuild, relocate blocks or stage property work during the system's life?
- Which parts of the proposed system can be moved and recommissioned later?
- What does the quote include for out-of-hours installation and future reconfiguration?
Current-specification note
NZAV's public project summary identifies SPON and the 120-zone retrofit but does not publish a complete bill of materials. SPON continues to publish a current school PA platform; a new project should still identify the exact current endpoints, software and support arrangement.
Published NZ project evidence
Cotswold Mātāhae School
ZYCOO IP paging, bells and intercom
- Published by
- AV Integration · Integrator / project publisher
- Integrator
- AV Integration
- Project timing
- Completed November 2025
- Design angle evidenced by this project
- Central IP audio server and paging phone with classroom call-back, smaller-room intercoms and outdoor horns
The project page states the completion month; it does not show a separate publication date.
A recent whole-site bell and paging upgrade combining room/block paging, automated schedules, outdoor coverage, two-way classroom calling and a one-touch emergency alert workflow.
Evidence:[11][12]What the published account establishes
- AV Integration describes six teaching blocks, a library, hall and outdoor areas connected to a ZYCOO IAS-L100 server and X210 paging phone.
- The project account says classrooms support two-way calls back to the office, with separate intercoms in smaller spaces and horns for the hall and grounds.
- The same system provides automated bells, selected paging, one-touch emergency alerting and a mobile paging/alarm option.
SmartComms analysis
This project shows the benefit of specifying the operator workflow, not just endpoint counts. Daily schedules, room calls, outdoor announcements and emergency activation can share one platform while still requiring different controls and priorities.
Questions for a similar school
- Which classrooms need genuine call-back rather than one-way announcements?
- Should authorised staff be able to page or trigger alerts away from the reception desk?
- How are emergency activation, priority and all-clear actions separated from ordinary bell controls?
Current-specification note
AV Integration names the IAS-L100 platform, and ZYCOO continues to publish current IAS-L100/IP Audio Center documentation. Confirm the exact endpoint models and local support proposed for a new NZ project.
Published NZ project evidence
Thorndon Primary School
Axis network audio
- Published by
- CIE Group · Project publisher
- Integrator
- Pure Tech
- Design angle evidenced by this project
- PoE network ceiling speakers and outdoor horns with reception microphone and browser-managed zoning/schedules
The public account does not state a project completion date or publication date.
A Wellington school refurbishment that replaced a manually activated fire-bell workaround with scheduled network audio, zoned announcements, indoor/outdoor coverage and a separate emergency-lockdown communication workflow.
Evidence:[13][14][15]What the published account establishes
- The project account says the previous fire bell was being used manually for class-change timing and there was no general announcement system.
- Pure Tech installed ceiling speakers, outdoor horns, a programmable microphone and browser-managed Axis audio controls.
- The published design supports scheduled sounds, zone announcements, per-speaker volume control and rapid activation of lockdown signals/messages.
SmartComms analysis
A bell replacement can solve more than timetable automation. When a school is already changing the control layer, zoning, intelligible speech, outdoor coverage and emergency-message activation are worth evaluating together rather than adding them later as separate projects.
Questions for a similar school
- Are existing fire-alarm sounds being used for jobs they were not designed to perform?
- Can all occupied indoor and outdoor areas hear distinct school communication signals?
- Which current Axis endpoints and management tier replace the historical products used in the published project?
Current-specification note
The project used an older Axis generation, including C3003-E horns. Axis discontinued C3003-E and named C1310-E as its replacement; current designs should be specified against today's Axis Audio Manager and endpoint families rather than the historical bill of materials.
Cross-project analysis
Patterns that are easy to miss in a single case study
The value of comparing several projects is seeing the design decisions that repeat even when the brand and integrator change.
The control workflow matters as much as the speaker
The projects repeatedly describe office consoles, GUIs, browser tools or paging phones. Ask staff to demonstrate a timetable change, a selected-zone announcement and an emergency activation before accepting the system.
IP control does not dictate one loudspeaker architecture
Ormiston uses network decoders feeding conventional amplifier channels, while other projects use network-connected endpoints. Decide what needs individual network control before assuming every room needs the same endpoint type.
Staged property work can change the architecture brief
Lincoln is specifically about equipment planned for later removal and re-installation. That is a relocation requirement, not evidence that an existing speaker or cable plant was retained.
Outdoor coverage is not just 'turn it up'
Projects that explicitly address playgrounds and grounds use dedicated outdoor zones or horn speakers. Outdoor audibility should be designed and tested rather than inferred from indoor coverage.
Emergency capability must stay tied to the emergency plan
Several projects combine normal bells with priority messages. The technology should implement the school's agreed signals and procedures rather than define the emergency plan by itself.
Safety boundary
Lockdown communication is one part of the emergency plan
A paging system can make emergency instructions easier to deliver, but it does not replace the school's emergency-management responsibilities.
Ministry of Education guidance says school boards must maintain an emergency management plan, including roles, evacuation procedures and communication arrangements. Its emergency-planning guidance also asks schools to consider whether distinct alert signals can be heard inside and outside the site. For a communications project, that means the brief should begin with the school's approved procedures and the areas/people that must receive each message — not with a brand or speaker count.
Official guidance:[1][2]Turn examples into a brief
Questions to ask before copying any of these projects
- 1Which rooms, blocks and outdoor areas must be independently addressable?
- 2Which messages are routine, priority or emergency — and who is allowed to trigger each one?
- 3Do any classrooms need two-way calling, or is one-way paging sufficient?
- 4What existing speakers, amplifiers, cabling or network infrastructure are worth keeping?
- 5What still works if the internet, a server, a switch or mains power fails?
- 6How are timetable exceptions, holidays and special-event bell schedules managed by normal school staff?
- 7Which product families in the proposal are current and supported in New Zealand today?
- 8What will the school own after commissioning: admin credentials, backups, documentation, licences and support contacts?
Buyer questions
NZ school paging project FAQs
What paging systems are New Zealand schools actually using?
Published NZ projects show several architectures in use, including historical 2N network audio, FrontRow, SPON, ZYCOO and Axis. These examples are not a market-share survey: they are projects with enough public information to compare. Current product lifecycle and NZ support still need to be checked when specifying a new system.
Can the same school system handle bells, announcements and lockdown messages?
Often yes. Several published projects use one platform for scheduled bells, live zoned paging and priority emergency messages. The school still needs an emergency management plan, distinct alert signals and clear activation/cancellation procedures; a paging system is one communication layer within that plan.
Do school paging systems need an IP speaker in every classroom?
No. The Ormiston project is a useful example of network control and decoders feeding amplifier-driven speaker zones. Whether an existing 100V speaker or cable plant can be retained is a separate site-assessment question; the Ormiston account should not be treated as evidence of infrastructure reuse. The correct architecture depends on zoning, condition, two-way requirements and what the school wants to control individually.
Can existing speakers or PA cabling be reused?
Sometimes. Reuse is project-specific. Existing passive speakers, amplifiers or cabling may remain useful where condition, coverage and zoning are suitable, while the control layer moves to IP. A site assessment should identify which assets are worth retaining before a quote assumes full replacement.
Are older 2N school paging systems still current for new projects?
Existing installations can continue to be relevant project examples, but 2N lists its Net Audio Systems as discontinued and ended APAC orders for SIP Mic in January 2025. A new project should therefore be designed around currently supported equipment rather than copying an older 2N bill of materials.
How much does a school paging and bell system cost in New Zealand?
Cost depends on the number and type of areas, indoor/outdoor endpoints, existing cabling, intercom requirements, network readiness and what infrastructure can be reused. SmartComms provides an indicative pricing tool so schools can build a planning range before requesting a formal quote.
Can a school paging project be funded through 5YA?
Potentially, where the work forms part of an eligible fixed-property capital project and fits the school's 10YPP/5YA priorities and available allocation. SmartComms' funding checker is preliminary guidance only; actual eligibility and approval remain with the school's property process and relevant Ministry requirements.
Method and evidence
Sources and limitations
Project facts come from the linked public accounts. SmartComms adds cross-project comparison, current lifecycle checks and buyer-focused analysis. We have not independently inspected the installations or reproduced the publishers' photographs or case-study prose.
How this page handles evidence
- Project facts are limited to what the named public project account establishes; missing features stay “Not stated”.
- Publication dates and project/completion dates are kept separate so an article date is not presented as an installation date.
- Publisher, named dealer and integrator roles are shown separately where the source makes that distinction.
- Historical project equipment is checked against current manufacturer/lifecycle evidence before it is discussed as a specification reference.
- SmartComms analysis and buyer questions are editorial synthesis, not statements attributed to the original project publisher.
Evidence rechecked 24 September 2026.
Evidence register (15)
- [1] Ministry of Education — prepare for an emergency or traumatic incident (opens in a new tab)NZ government guidance · checked 24 September 2026
- [2] Ministry of Education — Planning and preparing for emergencies (April 2026) (opens in a new tab)NZ government emergency-planning guide · checked 24 September 2026
- [3] Edwards Sound Systems — Three Kings Primary project (opens in a new tab)Published NZ project account · checked 24 September 2026
- [4] 2N — discontinued Net Audio Systems (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer lifecycle notice · checked 24 September 2026
- [5] 2N — SIP Mic discontinuation notice (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer lifecycle notice · checked 24 September 2026
- [6] Pacific AV — Ormiston Junior College project (opens in a new tab)Published NZ distributor account · checked 24 September 2026
- [7] FrontRow — current Conductor platform (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer · checked 24 September 2026
- [8] Pacific AV — FrontRow networked audio devices (opens in a new tab)NZ product / lifecycle evidence · checked 24 September 2026
- [9] NZAV — Lincoln High School project (opens in a new tab)Published NZ integrator account · checked 24 September 2026
- [10] SPON — current smart PA solution for schools (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer · checked 24 September 2026
- [11] AV Integration — Cotswold Mātāhae School project (opens in a new tab)Published NZ integrator account · checked 24 September 2026
- [12] ZYCOO — current IAS-L100 / IP Audio Center documentation (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer documentation · checked 24 September 2026
- [13] CIE Group — Thorndon Primary School project (integrator: Pure Tech) (opens in a new tab)Published project account · checked 24 September 2026
- [14] Axis — current Audio Manager Edge (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer · checked 24 September 2026
- [15] Axis — C3003-E discontinuation statement (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer lifecycle notice · checked 24 September 2026
Continue planning your project
Compare school platforms
See how current school paging, bell and intercom platforms differ.
Pricing Tool
Build an indicative installed project range for your own school.
School funding
Check whether the project may have a relevant 5YA / 10YPP pathway.
School bell guide
Plan schedules, zones, announcements and replacement of older bell systems.
Emergency communication
Plan lockdown and priority-message requirements around the school's emergency procedures.
Specification checklist
Turn the lessons into a like-for-like project brief for suppliers.