FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMSfor

Lancashire County Council.

Presented by

Mike Turner

ECA Fire and Security Sector

AGENDA• UNDERSTANDING OF:

• Changes to BS5839 pt 1 :2002• Cable grades and requirements• Detection selection• Detector coverage• Differences between Non addressable and Addressable• EN54 / BS5839 2002• False alarm management• Mains fire Alarms• Warning for people with impaired hearing and sight• Certification for:

– Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance

Change to BS 5839 PT 1: 2002

CATEGORIES

• Categories previously known as Types• Designer alone can not select Categories• Risk Assessment

End userbuilding Control / Fire OfficerDesignerInsurance

CATEGORIES M and L1 to L4(Previously known as Types)

Cat Activation method Alarm devices

M MCP Throughout

L4 MCP + AFD on escape routes only Throughout

L3 MCP + AFD on escape routes AFD in rooms opening onto*

Throughout

L2 MCP + AFD as L3+ specified areas

Throughout

L1 MCP + AFD throughout Throughout

AFD on escape routes should be optical smoke detection or CO mix

CATEGORY L5 –Fire safety engineering

• For category L5, the person or organisation doing the risk assessment takes on the legal responsibility

• This requires serious design ability, risk assessment procedures, knowledge of fire safety engineering, professional indemnity insurance

Cat Activation method Alarm devices

L5 AFD where specified Throughout

L5/M AFD where specified + MCP Throughout

CATEGORIES P1 and P2

Cat Activation method Alarm devices

P1 AFD throughout Where required

P1/M AFD throughout + M Throughout

P2 AFD where specified Where required

P2/M AFD where specified + M Throughout

COMMUNICATIONS WITHTHE FIRE SERVICE

• Designer to ascertain if automatic comms required• For Cat P, Communications recommended unless

continuously occupied• BS 5979 for ARC• Communication unit to be protected by AFD• Communication cables routed through:

– Areas of low fire risk; OR– Areas protected by AFD or extinguishing; OR– Using fire resistant cables

SITING THE Control and Indicating Equipment

• Consult user / fire authorities• Near entrance – repeaters may be required at other

entrances – consultation• Adequate light – normal and emergency• Low ambient noise – fault buzzer• Low fire hazard• AFD – unless continually occupied or negligible fire

hazard• Accessible for servicing if necessary.

VARIATIONS from BS 5839-1

• Variations were previously deviations• Not an excuse for ignoring non-compliances to BS 5839-1• Most jobs will not need variations• Variations apply to intentional and appropriate aspects,

following a risk assessment• Features found by installer not known to designer should

be documented for action / agreement• All variations to be agreed with interested parties

– owner/user/client/insurer/fire authority

MCP ZONES - LANDINGS

• MCP in accommodation zone, not in stairway zone, at that level (in main area or on landing)

Zone 2

Zone 3

Z4 Z5

Zone 1 Z1

Z2

Z3

EITHER OR

PREFERABLE

MANUAL CALL POINTS

• BS EN 54-11, single action, RED• Breaking frangible element operates switch• All the call points must be similar

– do not mix hammer and thumb push types

• Use plastic element (not glass) in food prep areas if requested (consultation)

• If necessary, use drip proof, waterproof or hazardous area types

• Some shops do not have public call points

SITING manual call points

Final exit to open air

Landing

Stairway

1.4mExit

15mm projection

Escape route

Up to 90m

SITING manual call points

Paint booth

45m

30m

Travel distance up to 45m

Stairway

ALARM warning devices

• Large qty of low power, not small qty high power

• 65dBA generally, or 5dBA above ambient noise (30s)

• 75dBA to awake at bed head• 120dBA max• 500 TO 1000Hz• 20 to 30dBA loss at doors

20dBA30dBA

125dBA

85dBA

95dBA

ALARMS

• 65dBA is the general recommendation

• 2 or 3dBA is not noticeable to the human ear

• May be relaxed to 60dBA:– stairways, offices up 60sq m,

limited points

• Similar sounds, i.e. not mixing bells/sounders

65dBA CORE AREA,

IGNORE 0.5m

BORDER

ROOM

VISUAL ALARMS

• Visual alarms if ambient noise more than 90dBA, or ear protection is worn

• Readily visible, different from other visual indicators

• 30 to 100 flashes per minute• Preferably red light flash• Attracts attention, but not

glare, min 2.1m Height and no closer than 150mm to ceiling

2.1mmin

height

150mm min

FIRE ALARMS DEVICES

Meeting rooms, 60dBA Bedrooms, 75dBA

general quiet offices, greater than 60sq m area,

65dBA

Limited area 60dBA min

Press shop, 95dBA noise,

65dBA + VISUAL

Machine shop, 78dBA noise, 83dBA

Stairs,60dBA

Stairs,60dBA

External audio/visual for Category P

Cable grades and requirements

WIRING: fire resistance

• All cables for critical signal paths and mains supply should be fire resistant for 30 minuets

• (Fire shock and water spray resistant tests)• Specification for cable performance Clause 26.2.d• GRADES OF FIRE RESISTANT CABLE• Most premises – Standard grade, BS 7629

– soft skinned (modified plastic cable)• Higher risk – Enhanced grade, MI or equivalent

– 30m high, long evacuation or 4 stage evacuation– or as required by risk assessment

– LCC stipulate MICC for all Installations

WIRING: requirements

• Mechanical protection – Below 2m – MI or steel wire armoured self protected

• 1sq mm minimum• Segregation from other services for EMC• Same colour cable throughout – red preferred• Integrity not compromised by fixings or joints

– joints minimised– junction boxes labelled “fire alarm”

Detector selection

TYPES OF FIRE DETECTOR

• Heat– Point, fixed, rate of rise– Linear heat sensing

cable

• Smoke– Point, ionisation, optical– Linear optical beam– Aspirating, sampling

points – holes in pipe– Video, image processing

• Combustion gas, CO– Incomplete combustion,

not smoke detection

• Flame– Infra-red– Ultra-violet

• Multi-sensor– e.g. heat and optical

smoke

EXAMPLE DETECTOR CHOICES

Escape routes

Rooms opening

onto

Prot life where fire

starts

Liquid fuel

store

Category L1 L3-4 L3 L1

Heat pt. fixedHeat pt. RoRHeat linear

Optical point Ionisation point Optical beam CO mix mix Aspirating Flame

CHOICE OF FIRE DETECTION

• Speed – To suit fire hazard – min false alarms

• Heat – alcohol fire - good immunity to false alarms, easy maintenance, RoR most sensitive

• Ionisation smoke – small invisible particles

• Opt smoke – visible smoke, escape routes

• Multi-sensor fire detector• Flame – specialist e.g. atria,

range see manf. data 40m

Base area of flame

Flame detectorExample

range data

30m20m

Angle of view

0.1sq m 0.2sq m 0.4sq m

40m

Base area of flame

Flame detectorExample

range data

30m20m

Angle of view

0.1sq m 0.2sq m 0.4sq m

fixedRoR

T deg Cfixed heat det thresholds

807060

Sampling Pipes

Sampling Pipes

EndCap

Air Samples

Atmosfire

...it actively draws a continuous air sample through a sampling pipe network

ASPIRATING SMOKE DETECTION

CHOICE OF FIRE DETECTION

• Opt beam – large areas, high level

• Aspirating – aesthetics, high level, vert pipes

Tx Rx

Tx/Rx

reflector

Optical beam

Aspiratingdetector

X Samplingpoints (holes)

Detector coverage

SITING DETECTORS

• Vertical structures:• Enclosed stairways

L1,L2,L3,L4,P1,P2

– Top of stairway– Each main landing

• Flue-like structures

Lifts, Risers etc

L1,L2,L3,P1

– Top– Within 1.5m of opening

e.g.lift shaft

SITING DETECTORS - VOIDS

• Voids, smoke or heat to suit risk

• If appropriate to Category,L1,L2,L3,P1

• all voids more than 800mm deep

• Floor or ceiling voids• Consider for smaller voids

if risk assessment justifies• Lantern lights (sky lights)

more than 800mm deep

800mm or more

Less than 800mm

Data and power cables

800mmor more

COVERAGE for point detectors

• Spacings specified in BS 5839 part 1 (2002)• Any point in a room to a detector should be less

than:– 7.5m for smoke detectors– 5.3m for heat detectors

• Escape route up to 2m wide– Smoke detectors up to 15m apart, 7.5m to end

• Corridor up to 2m wide – (Category P only)– Heat detectors up to 10.6m apart, 5.3m to end

SMOKE DETECTOR: spacing

CORRIDOR 5m WIDEdetectors on centre line

5m

7.5m

14.1m

15m 7.5m7.5m

Up to 2m wide corridorarea

10.6 x 10.6= 112sq m

OPEN AREA

7.5m

10.6m5.3m

HEAT DETECTOR: spacing

5m

CORRIDOR 5m WIDEdetectors on centre line

5.3m

9.4m

area 7.5 x 7.5= 56sq m

OPEN AREA

5.3m

7.5m3.8m10.6m 5.3m5.3m

Up to 2m wide corridor

DETECTION IN ROOMS

L3 escape route

Ceiling mounted

L1 to L3.

Wall mounted

L3.

Wall mounting 150mm to 300mm below ceiling

300150

Abovedoor only

Green = o / k

Red = not allowed.

DETECTORS: partitions and walls

more than 300mm ignore

less than300mm = wall

ceiling

floor

ceiling

wall

500mm minimum from wall

500mm minimum if = wall

500mm minimum

clear space

Differences between Non addressableand

Analogue Addressable.

TECHNOLOGY : non-addressable

RADIAL SOUNDER WIRING

(FIRE RESISTANT)

Z1

Z2

Z3

Non-addressable

panel (P)

RADIAL CIRCUIT

WIRING IN FIRE

RESISTANT CABLE

Ancillary (door retainer)

Single fault limit 2000sq m

TECHNOLOGY: Addressable or Analogue addressable

I/F

All loop wiring in fire resistant

cable654321

Addressableor

Analogue addressable

panel

I/F7 8 9 10 11 12

I/F

1314151618 17

Ancillary I/F

19

Max. loop area 10,000sq.m

TECHNOLOGY : states

Alarm

Pre-alarm

time

Normal

Fault

Detector output

Panel indication

Analogue addressable Non-addressable

Normal state

Fire state

Panel indication

Detector indicationDetector indication

TECHNOLOGY : comparisons

day/night sensitivity --------------- NO ------------------------------------------ YES

Disablement ----------------------- ------------------------

–multiple firesdifferent zones

–multiple firessame zone

•Location---------------–single fire

by zones

ZONES

1 2 3 4

Non-addressable

by zonesonly

ZONES

1 2 3 4

ZONES

1 2 3 4

Analogue addressable

individual detectors, zones or areas

ZONE 1, ADDRESS 33

ROOM 127, FLOOR 1

ZONE 2, ADDRESS 60

ROOM 227, FLOOR 2

ZONE 1, ADDRESS 33

ROOM 127, FLOOR 1

scroll

scroll

TECHNOLOGY : features

• Cost– non-addressable is lower cost for smaller systems

• Faults, e.g. detector removed– Addressable or analogue addressable, the address is identified– Non-addressable, identified to radial circuits (zone 0nly)

• Faulty detector or incorrect type of device– A-A identifies address - not in non-addressable

• Wiring fault– Non-addressable, radial circuit– Addressable identifies between devices if sequential

• Servicing– Contamination can be displayed on A-A panel

STANDARDS

Some legislation updates…

• BS5839 PT 1 :1988

• WILL BE WITHDRAWN ON 15 JULY 2003

• ALLSERVICING, DESIGNS AND INSTALLATIONS WILL BE TO THE NEW BS 5839PT 1:2002 FROM 15/7/2003.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS

MCPBS EN 54-

11

Heat detBS EN 54-

5

Smoke detBS EN 54-7

Optical beam detBS 5839-5

pr EN 54-12

Flame detBS EN 54-10

CIEBS EN 54-2

POWER SUPPLYBS EN 54-4

Linear heatdet draft

BS 5839-7

Interface

AlarmsBS EN 54-3

Voice alarm systems

BS 5839-8

False Alarm Management

FALSE ALARM MANAGEMENT

• Consultation with all parties

• Appoint a responsible person - RP• Supervise painting, decorating, hot work

• Record and compensate for any change of use

• Keep fire alarm logbook up to date

• Agree an acceptable rate of false alarms (e.g. less than 1 false alarm per 100 detectors per annum)

• Ensure service and maintenance carried out

• If no effort to limit – system is not compliant

CATEGORIES OF FALSE ALARM

• False alarm categories:• Equipment false alarms

– Faults in equipment

• Unwanted alarms (equipment works perfectly)– Fire-like phenomena, e.g. smoking, burning toast, hot

work, building work

• Malicious false alarms• False alarms with good intent

CAUSES OF FALSE ALARMS

• fumes• steam• tobacco smoke;• dust• insects• aerosol spray• high air velocities• hot work• bonfires

• incense

• candles

• electromagnetic interference

• high humidity

• water ingress

• temperature changes

• accidental damage

FALSE ALARMS (SEC35.2.6)

• Systems with 50 or more devices require a 1 week soak test (defined by the Designer and built into the Tender).

• If it False Alarm’s then identify the Alarm, rectify it and start the 1 week soak test again -------

• Until successful the system should not be regarded as an operational means of giving warning of a fire in the building. During this soak all MAC’S should bear an indication that it is not to be used. When all clear carry out the final hand over.

Mains fire Alarms and the Law

MAINTENANCE and the LAW

• Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations require a system of maintenance

• Systems with no battery backup are not legal– Competent Person should advise users to replace urgently

• Failure to keep the fire detection and alarms in good working order is a criminal offence

• Arranging a suitable system of maintenance is so easy to do, that neglecting to do it is blatant flouting of the law.

The HEALTH & SAFETY(SAFETY SIGNS & SIGNALS) REGULATIONS (1996)

• Require that fire alarm warning systems must be provided with a guaranteed emergency supply in the event of a power cut, unless the hazard has been eliminated.

• This means that systems not having a standby power supply (battery back up) are no longer legal.

• This is also a law, failure to comply being an offence.

MAINTENANCE - Non Routine Attention

• Special inspection on appointment of new

service company

• Attendance available 24/7 within 8h

• Tests following modifications

• Action to address unacceptable false alarms

• Tests following long periods of disconnection

Fire Alarms Warnings

BS5839 PT 1 :2002 (sec18.1&2)

• If people are moving freely around the building then visual indication preferably RED should be installed in all necessary places, and associated toilets.

• Caution consider photosensitive epileptics when using strobes.

• If they are sleeping in the building then tactile devices may be required. For example placed under a pillow wired into the fire alarm circuit.

• Other options may be vibrating pagers.

CERTIFICATION

DOCUMENTATION AND CERTIFICATION

• Documentation

• Installation Certificate

• Commissioning certificate

• Acceptance Certificate

• Verification certificate (optional)

• Maintenance Certificate

End of presentation.