U.S. Courts Design Guide
Attorney and Litigant Stations
Multiple quadriplex receptacles for general purposes
Multiple dedicated computer power receptacles
Miscellaneous Requirements
Duplex outlets located at approximately 20-foot (6100 mm) intervals along
the walls of the courtroom
Additional outlets at appropriate locations to accommodate the use of slide
and movie projectors, video monitors, video recorders, and x-ray viewers
Floor boxes for the lectern, with built-in task lighting and a microphone
outlet (and timing system--USCA only)
Outlets to accommodate the future location of video cameras
An outlet for a wall-mounted clock
Audio
Courtrooms generally require a sound-reinforcement system, which must be
integrated with the architectural and engineering design. The system serving the
courtroom must consist of an amplifier with controls located at the courtroom
deputy clerk station or judge's bench. Any courtroom in which the listener is more
than approximately 30 feet (9150 mm) from a speaker requires an audio system.
The system must have loudspeakers, sized and located to provide an even level of
sound reinforcement throughout the room. For some applications, desktop speakers
are needed. All loudspeakers must project the majority of their energy into the
direct field. To reduce contributions from adjacent speakers, overlap is calculated
at least 6 decibels (dB) below the on-axis contribution from the speaker nearest the
listener.
Microphones for courtroom participants must be placed and the sound mixed
properly so that an automated audio record of the trial proceedings is of sufficient
quality to serve as an archive of the proceedings. Therefore, microphone outlets
must be capable of supplying accurate voice transmission signals to the public
address system amplifier, electronic voice recording system, and videotape sound
recorder.
4-68
12/19/97
Previous Page
