HEARING LOOPS
Hearing Loops
Not everyone in your building hears the same way. Hearing loops ensure that people who wear hearing aids can pick up clear, background-free audio from your sound system.
Provision designs and installs hearing loops in public buildings, corporate offices, healthcare environments, and retail spaces throughout New Zealand, and we stay involved long after installation is done.
How Hearing Loop Technology Works
Hearing Loops are used in public buildings where sound amplification is used. People with hearing disabilities who use hearing aids can tune into the audio loop if their hearing aid has a telecoil. 90% of all hearing aids now sold in NZ have a telecoil. The same telecoil technology is used in telephones and mobile phones to improve hearing.
In practical terms, hearing loop technology uses a special copper braid laid under the floor or in the walls of a room and connected to a dedicated amplifier, which in turn is connected to the room’s main sound source, such as a movie theatre sound system. People inside this electromagnetic loop can pick up the pure sound with no background noise.
Today’s modern, well-fitted hearing instruments can, in most cases, improve a person's ability to hear. However, they do not compensate for the background noise and reverberation in crowded public places, such as cinemas, airports, or churches. Nor do they compensate for the distance a person is from the source of the sound, such as a lecture theatre.
Hearing Loops in Public Buildings: What NZ Law Requires
The Building Act 2004 requires that new or extensively renovated public buildings be accessible to people with hearing impairments by installing an assistive listening system. This includes:
Public buildings with space for at least 250 people
All theatres, cinemas, and public halls
Assembly spaces in retirement homes occupied by more than 20 people
Although under the Building Act 2004, clause G5, "Interior Environment," it is compulsory for public buildings to install assistive listening systems, this has not always been adhered to in practice. In many cases, it was considered "best practice". However, since the leaky building syndrome has been highlighted, Councils are sticking to the letter of the law in issuing building permits and building compliance certificates. This has led to an upsurge in demand for the installation of these systems.
Solution Components
ILD500
Why Choose Provision for Your Hearing Loop Installation?
Long-Term Support
We don't install your wireless hearing loop system and disappear. Our team is available for ongoing maintenance, proactive support, and fast on-site response to keep your system working and compliant.
Training Included
Every hearing loop installation includes a staff handover, so your team knows how to operate and monitor the system from day one.
Rental & Installation
Most AV companies specialise in either rental or installation. Provision does both: we can install a permanent system or supply equipment on flexible terms to suit your situation.
Custom Fabrication
Where standard mounts and cable runs won't work, we fabricate custom brackets and build clean, tailored solutions for your specific space.
Broader AV Expertise
Our team handles the full audio-visual picture. If your space also needs conference room AV, corporate AV services, or a broader commercial AV installation, we can build a solution that works together.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Under New Zealand's Building Act 2004, hearing loops in public buildings are compulsory for spaces that accommodate 250 or more people, all theatres, cinemas, and public halls, and assembly areas in rest homes with more than 20 occupants.
If your building is being newly built or extensively renovated, this requirement is typically triggered through the consent process and added to your Building Warrant of Fitness.
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Hearing loop technology uses an electromagnetic field generated by a copper loop to transmit audio directly to hearing aids with a built-in telecoil (T-coil).
The user simply switches their hearing aid to the "T" position and receives clear sound from the room's audio source, with no background noise, regardless of where they're sitting in the space. Around 90% of hearing aids sold in NZ today include telecoil functionality.
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Where a fixed induction loop isn't suitable, for example, in a temporary event space or a room where cabling under the floor isn't an option, we can recommend and supply a wireless hearing loop system. These deliver the same clear audio to telecoil-equipped hearing aids without the need for permanent installation. We'll help you decide which approach best fits your space.
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Hearing loops on a Building Warrant of Fitness must be maintained and periodically tested to stay compliant. Provision provides ongoing support, maintenance checks, and responds quickly if any issues arise. We're an AV installer in Auckland that stays involved well beyond the installation, and that's what sets us apart.
Contact the Provision Team to Learn More
Need to install hearing loop technology into your building? Provision’s team can assess your space, recommend the right system, and handle installation, testing, and ongoing support. Get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements.