Fire alarm systems and their installation and testing are one of our specialities

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Fire Alarms

 

A Fire alarm system is either classified as automatic, manually activated, or both. Automatic fire alarm systems can be used to notify people to evacuate in the event of a fire or other emergency, to summon emergency services, and to prepare the structure and associated systems to control the spread of fire and smoke.Our Automatic Fire Detection Systems go a step beyond, detecting and reporting heat or smoke instantly and automatically via our 24 hour Monitoring Station.We are skilled in the commissioning of large scale networks for high rise buildings (above 75 feet), all the way down to small systems for day care centers and small commercial buildings.

Your local fire marshal may require a fire alarm system based upon the occupancy of the building. The occupancy of a building is determined by how the building or portion of the building is used. There are different requirements for schools, offices or other types of uses.

Fire Systems are designated by Letters as follows: 

The categories of fire alarm systems are L if they are designed to protect life, P to protect buildings and M if they are manual systems.
 
Manually activated devices / M Fire Alarm systems:

Manual pull station are constructed to be readily located (near the exits), identified, and operated. Manual systems e.g. hand bells, gongs etc. These may be purely manual or manual electric, the latter may have call points where recommended and raise the Alarm throughout the building, usually found on escape routes staircases etc.They rely on the occupants of the building discovering the fire and acting to warn others by operating the system. Such systems form the basic requirement for places of employment with no sleeping risk.
There is no Automatic Fire Detection built in and is operated by someone raising the alarm.

Automatically activated devices:

Smoke Detectors and Heat Detectors are automatic fire detection devices that can detect a fire condition when the fire has the right signature for the device. That is smoke is required to trigger a smoke detector and a heat detector goes off when the temperature rises at a fast rate or to a certain degree.
These 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; carbon monoxide 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.

Automated Fire Systems are Two Types:
 

L Fire Alarm Systems :

These are concerned primarily with preserving life, and enabling all occupants other than those immediately affected by the fire, to make good their escape from the building. There are several categories within the L system identified as L1 through to L5(lesser). The sub categories denote the type of Automatic sensors, sirens and beacons to be fitted and where

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 providing the earliest possible warning. A Category L1 system is likely to be appropriate for the majority of residential care premises.

L2 system is designed for the protection of life and which has automatic detectors installed in escape routes, rooms adjoining escape routes and high hazard rooms. In a medium sized premises (sleeping no more than ten residents) a category L2 system is ideal.

L3 System 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 cover than category 4.

L4 systems is dsigned to 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.

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

As these systems are designed primarily to evacuate the building and prevent loss of life/injury then the system may not automatically call for the brigade and protection of property is dealt with by

P Fire Alarm Systems :

 These Automatic Systems installed to take on the additional task on not only preserving life but protecting the building and contents as well when the building is quite and unoccupied. The system should automatically dial out to the Brigade as a matter of course. Again there are various sub categories from P1 to P5, where the type of protection from the sensors used may be varied.

Fire Systems maybe configured by mixing and matching categories to produce an alarm fit for purpose in any particular premises.Your local fire marshal may require a fire alarm system based upon the occupancy of the building. The occupancy of a building is determined by how the building or portion of the building is used. There are different requirements for schools, offices or other types of uses.

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

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

Control Panel :

The Control Panel is the central processor of the system. It produces two different outputs, an Alarm and a Trouble. It takes signals from the automatic and manual fire detection devices and causes an alarm by operating the alerting devices throughout the building. It monitors the wiring, devices, batteries, and the commercial electricity for faults which limit the capability of the system and causes a trouble by operating audible and visual indicators on its front panel.

Bells, horns, chimes, speakers and strobes are alerting devices which are triggered by the control panel to alert those present that a fire condition has been found and that they should leave the building.