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Fire alarm system

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"Fire alarm" redirects here. For the Looney Toons cartoon, see The Fire Alarm.

A fire alarm notification appliance that is used in the United States and Canada, a Wheelock MT-24-LSM
horn/strobe.
A fire alarm system has a number of devices working together to detect and warn people
through visual and audio appliances when smoke, fire, carbon monoxide or other emergencies
are present. These alarms may be activated automatically from smoke detectors, and heat
detectors or may also be activated via manual fire alarm activation devices such as manual call
points or pull stations. Alarms can be either motorized bells or wall mountable sounders or
horns. They can also be speaker strobes which sound an alarm, followed by a voice evacuation
message which warns people inside the building not to use the elevators. Fire alarm sounders can
be set to certain frequencies and different tones including low, medium and high, depending on
the country and manufacturer of the device. Most fire alarm systems in Europe sound like a siren
with alternating frequencies. Fire alarm electronic devices are known as horns in the United
States and Canada, and can be either continuous or set to different codes such as Code 3. Fire
alarm warning devices can also be set to different volume levels. Fire Alarm systems in the
United Kingdom are tested at a weekly basis in compliance with the BS-fire 2013 regulations.[1]

Contents
 1 Design
 2 Parts
 3 Initiating devices
 4 Notification appliances
 5 Emergency voice alarm communication systems
 6 Mass notification systems/emergency communication systems
 7 Building safety interfaces
 8 UK fire alarm system categories
 9 Zoning
 10 See also
 11 References
 12 External links

Design[edit]
After the fire protection goals are established – usually by referencing the minimum levels of
protection mandated by the appropriate model building code, insurance agencies, and other
authorities – the fire alarm designer undertakes to detail specific components, arrangements, and
interfaces necessary to accomplish these goals. Equipment specifically manufactured for these
purposes is selected and standardized installation methods are anticipated during the design. In
the United States, NFPA 72, The National Fire Alarm Code is an established and widely used
installation standard. In Canada, the ULC is the standard for the fire system. The equivalent
standard in the United Kingdom is BS 5839 Part 1.

EN 54 is a mandatory standard for fire detection and fire alarm systems in the European Union,
aiming to establish harmonized technical standards against which products in the field should be
benchmarked and certified by a qualified testing house known as a Notified Body. Every product
for fire alarm systems must achieve the standards laid out in EN 54 in order to properly carry a
CE mark, which is in turn required if the product is to be delivered and installed in any country
of the EU. It is a standard widely used around the world.[2]

Edwards/EST 270-SPO manual pull station, commonly used in Canada & USA

Parts[edit]

A Honeywell DeltaNet FS90 fire alarm control panel

 Fire alarm control panel (FACP) AKA fire alarm control unit (FACU); This component, the hub of
the system, monitors inputs and system integrity, controls outputs and relays information.
 Primary power supply: Commonly the non-switched 120 or 240-volt alternating current source
supplied from a commercial power utility. In non-residential applications, a branch circuit is
dedicated to the fire alarm system and its constituents. "Dedicated branch circuits" should not
be confused with "Individual branch circuits" which supply energy to a single appliance.
 Secondary (backup) power supplies: This component, commonly consisting of sealed lead-acid
storage batteries or other emergency sources including generators, is used to supply energy in
the event of a primary power failure. The batteries can be either inside the bottom of the panel
or inside a separate battery box installed near the panel.
 Initiating devices: These components act as inputs to the fire alarm control unit and are either
manually or automatically activated. Examples would be devices such as pull stations, heat
detectors, and smoke detectors. Heat and smoke detectors have different categories of both
kinds. Some categories are beam, photoelectric, ionization, aspiration, and duct.
A publicly accessible alarm box on a street in San Francisco

 Notification appliances: This component uses energy supplied from the fire alarm system or
other stored energy source, to inform the proximate persons of the need to take action, usually
to evacuate. This is done by means of a pulsing incandescent light, flashing strobe light,
electromechanical horn, electronic horn, chime, bell, speaker, or a combination of these
devices. Strobes are either made of a xenon tube (most common) or recently LEDs.
 Building safety interfaces: This interface allows the fire alarm system to control aspects of the
built environment and to prepare the building for fire, and to control the spread of smoke fumes
and fire by influencing air movement, lighting, process control, human transport and exit.

Initiating devices[edit]
 Manually actuated devices; also known as fire alarm boxes, manual pull stations, or simply pull
stations, break glass stations, and (in Europe) call points. Devices for manual fire alarm
activation are installed to be readily located (near the exits), identified, and operated. They are
usually actuated by means of physical interaction, such as pulling a lever or breaking glass.
 Automatically actuated devices can take many forms intended to respond to any number of
detectable physical changes associated with fire: convected thermal energy; heat detector,
products of combustion; smoke detector, radiant energy; flame detector, combustion gasses;
fire gas detector, and release of extinguishing agents; water-flow detector. The newest
innovations can use cameras and computer algorithms to analyze the visible effects of fire and
movement in applications inappropriate for or hostile to other detection methods[3][4]

Notification appliances[edit]
Main article: Fire alarm notification appliance
A Honeywell speaker and a Space Age Electronics V33 remote light

 Notification Appliances utilize audible, visible, tactile, textual or even olfactory stimuli (odorizer)
[5][6]
to alert the occupants of the need to evacuate or take action in the event of a fire or other
emergency. Evacuation signals may consist of simple appliances that transmit uncoded
information, coded appliances that transmit a predetermined pattern, and or appliances that
transmit audible and visible textual information such as live or pre-recorded instructions, and
illuminated message displays.
 In the United States, fire alarm evacuation signals generally consist of a standardized audible
tone, with visual notification in all public and common use areas. Emergency signals are
intended to be distinct and understandable to avoid confusion with other signals.

As per NFPA 72, 18.4.2 (2010 Edition)Temporal Code 3 is the standard audible notification in a
modern system. It consists of a repeated 3-pulse cycle (.5s on .5s off .5s on .5s off .5s on 1.5s
off). Voice Evacuation is the second most common audible in a modern system. Legacy systems,
typically found in older schools and building have used continuous tones alongside other audible
schema.

 Audible textual appliances, which are employed as part of a fire alarm system that includes
Emergency Voice Alarm Communications (EVAC) capabilities. High-reliability speakers are used
to notify the occupants of the need for action in connection with a fire or other emergency.
These speakers are employed in large facilities where general undirected evacuation is
considered impracticable or undesirable. The signals from the speakers are used to direct the
occupant's response. The system may be controlled from one or more locations within the
building known as Fire Wardens Stations, or from a single location designated as the building
Fire Command Center. Speakers are automatically actuated by the fire alarm system in a fire
event, and following a pre-alert tone, selected groups of speakers may transmit one or more
prerecorded messages directing the occupants to safety. These messages may be repeated in
one or more languages. Trained personnel activating and speaking into a dedicated microphone
can suppress the replay of automated messages in order to initiate or relay real-time voice
instructions.[7]

Emergency voice alarm communication systems[edit]

 Some fire alarm systems utilize emergency voice alarm communication systems (EVAC) [8] to
provide pre-recorded and manual voice messages. Voice Alarm systems are typically used in
 high-rise buildings, arenas and other large "defend-in-place" occupancies such as hospitals and
detention facilities where total evacuation is difficult to achieve.[citation needed]
 Voice-based systems provide response personnel with the ability to conduct orderly evacuation
and notify building occupants of changing event circumstances.[citation needed]
 In high rise buildings, different evacuation messages may be played to each floor, depending on
the location of the fire. The floor the fire is on along with ones above it may be told to evacuate
while floors much lower may simply be asked to stand by.[citation needed]

Mass notification systems/emergency communication

systems[edit]
 New codes and standards introduced around 2010 especially the new UL Standard 2572, the
U.S. Department of Defense's UFC 4-021-01 Design and O&M Mass Notification Systems, and
NFPA 72 2010 edition Chapter 24 have led fire alarm system manufacturers to expand their
systems voice evacuation capabilities to support new requirements for mass notification
including support for multiple types of emergency messaging (i.e. inclement weather
emergency, security alerts, amber alerts). The major requirements of a mass notification system
are to provide prioritized messaging according to the local facilities emergency response plan.
The emergency response team must define the priority of potential emergency events at the
site and the fire alarm system must be able to support the promotion and demotion of
notifications based on this emergency response plan. Emergency Communication Systems also
have requirements for visible notification in coordination with any audible notification activities
to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Many manufacturers have made
efforts to certify their equipment to meet these new and emerging standards. Mass notification
system categories include the following:
 Tier 1 systems are in-building and provide the highest level of survivability
 Tier 2 systems are out of the building and provide the middle level of survivability
 Tier 3 systems are "At Your Side" and provide the lowest level of survivability

Mass notification systems often extend the notification appliances of a standard fire alarm
system to include PC based workstations, text-based digital signage, and a variety of remote
notification options including email, text message, RSS feed , or IVR-based telephone text-to-
speech messaging.

Building safety interfaces[edit]

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S.H. Couch F5GX non-coded fire alarm pull station below a Couch 10" bell.

 Magnetic smoke door holders/retainers: wall or floor mounted solenoids or electromagnets

controlled by a fire alarm system or detection component that magnetically secures spring-
loaded self-closing smoke tight doors in the open position. Designed to de-magnetize to allow
automatic closure of the door on command from the fire control or upon failure of the power
source, interconnection or controlling element. Stored energy in the form of a spring or gravity
can then close the door to restrict the passage of smoke from one space to another in an effort
to maintain a tenable atmosphere on either side of the door during evacuation and fire fighting
efforts in buildings. Electromagnetic fire door holders can be hard-wired into the fire panel,
radio controlled triggered by radio waves from a central controller connected to a fire panel, or,
acoustic, which learn the sound of the fire alarm and release the door upon hearing this exact
sound.[9]
 Duct mounted smoke detection: smoke detection mounted in such a manner as to sample the
airflow through duct work and other plenums specifically fabricated for the transport of
environmental air into conditioned spaces. Interconnection to the fan motor control circuits is
intended to stop air movement, close dampers and generally prevent the recirculation of toxic
smoke and fumes produced by fire into occupiable spaces.
 Emergency elevator service: activation of automatic initiating devices associated with elevator
operation are used to initiate emergency elevator functions, such as recall of associated elevator
cab(s). The recall will cause the elevator cabs to return to the ground level for use by fire service
response teams and to ensure that cabs do not return to the floor of fire incidence, in addition
to prevent people from becoming trapped in the elevators. Phases of operation include primary
recall (typically the ground level), alternate/secondary recall (typically a floor adjacent to the
ground level – used when the initiation occurred on the primary level), illumination of the "fire
hat" indicator when an alarm occurs in the elevator hoistway or associated control room, and in
some cases shunt trip (disconnect) of elevator power (generally used where the control room or
hoistway is protected by fire sprinklers).
 Public address rack (PAR): an audio public address rack shall be interfaced with fire alarm
system, by adding signaling control relay module to either rack power supply unit, or to the
main amplifier driving this rack. The purpose is to "mute" the BGM (background music) of this
rack in case of emergency in case of a fire initiating the true alarm.

UK fire alarm system categories[edit]

Fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises are generally designed and installed in accordance
with the guidance given in BS 5839 Part [Link] are many types of fire alarm systems each
suited to different building types and applications. A fire alarm system can vary dramatically in
both price and complexity, from a single panel with a detector and sounder in a small
commercial property to an addressable fire alarm system in a multi-occupancy building.

BS 5839 Part 1 categorizes fire alarm systems as:[10]

 "M" manual system (no automatic fire detectors so the building is fitted with call points and
sounders),
 "L" automatic systems intended for the protection of life, and
 "P" automatic systems intended for the protection of property.

Categories for automatic systems are further subdivided into L1 to L5, and P1 to P2.

Manual systems, e.g. hand bells, gongs, etc. These may be purely manual or manual electric, the
latter may have call points and sounders. They rely on the occupants of the building discovering the
M
fire and acting to warn others by operating the system. Such systems form the basic requirement for
places of employment with no sleeping risk.

The system is installed throughout the building – the objective being to call the fire brigade as early
P1 as possible to ensure that any damage caused by the fire is minimized. Small low-risk areas can be
excepted, such as toilets and cupboards less than 1m².

Detection should be provided in parts of the building where the risk of ignition is high and/or the
P2 contents are particularly valuable. Category 2 systems provide fire detection in specified parts of the
building where there is either high risk or where business disruption must be minimized.

A category L1 system is designed for the protection of life and which has automatic detectors
installed throughout all areas of the building (including roof spaces and voids) with the aim of
L1 providing the earliest possible warning. A category L1 system is likely to be appropriate for the
majority of residential care premises. In practice, detectors should be placed in nearly all spaces and
voids. With category 1 systems, the whole of a building is covered apart from minor exceptions.

A category L2 system designed for the protection of life and which has automatic detectors installed
in escape routes, rooms adjoining escape routes and high hazard rooms. In medium-sized premises
L2 (sleeping no more than ten residents), a category L2 system is ideal. These fire alarm systems are
identical to an L3 system but with additional detection in an area where there is a high chance of
ignition (e.g., kitchen) or where the risk to people is particularly increased (e.g., sleeping risk).

This category is designed to give early warning to everyone. Detectors should be placed in all escape
routes and all rooms that open onto escape routes. Category 3 systems provide more extensive
L3
cover than category 4. The objective is to warn the occupants of the building early enough to ensure
that all are able to exit the building before escape routes become impassable.

L4 Category 4 systems cover escape routes and circulation areas only. Therefore, detectors will be
placed in escape routes, although this may not be suitable depending on the risk assessment or if
 the size and complexity of a building is increased. Detectors might be sited in other areas of the
building, but the objective is to protect the escape route.

This is the "all other situations" category, e.g., computer rooms, which may be protected with an
L5 extinguishing system triggered by automatic detection. Category 5 systems are the "custom"
category and relate to some special requirement that cannot be covered by any other category.