- Visual Alarm Device ("VAD")
A Visual Alarm Device ("v.a.d." or VAD) is a type of alarm indicating device to warn occupants within or in the vicinity of a building of the occurrence of a fire or other emergency, so that they may take appropriate precautionary measures.
Australia has adopted a modified version of the international Standard ISO 7240 for the design, construction and operation of visual alarm devices, that has the designation AS ISO 7240.23:2014.
In simple terms, when an active alarm condition exists, the visual alarm device is activated and emits a white or red flashing light. The flash rate of a VAD is between 0.5 Hz and 2 Hz of between pulses with a light intensity of not less than 1 candela (cd) and not more than 500 candela.