1. What is Fire Alarm System?
An automatic fire alarm system is designed to detect the
unwanted presence of fire by monitoring environmental
changes associated with combustion.
In general, a fire alarm system is classified as either
automatically actuated, manually actuated, or both.
Fire Alarm System is all about
“FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEM”.
2. What is Fire Alarm System?
Conventional System - cable line out of the control panel and
ending with a final component (end of line), usually a
resistor
Addressable System - each detector has the ability to identify
itself and its current status. The movement of information is
two-way - from the control panel to the alarm / signaling
devices and vice versa.
Types of systems
There are generally two types of fire alarm systems,
Conventional and Addressable.
3. What is NFPA 72?
Fire alarm system shall be installed and maintained as per NFPA 72.
Fire alarm system shall be installed by qualified personnel or
installation supervised by qualified personnel.
NFPA 72 (is a National Fire Alarm Code), is a standard published by the
National Fire Protection Association.
NFPA 72 will explain how a fire alarm system is supposed to be
installed.
It does not determine what type of equipment such as smoke
detectors, pull stations, horns, strobes, etc. should be used.
Rules covers the application, installation, location, performance,
inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems.
4. An approved fire alarm system means,
acceptable to the “authority having jurisdiction“.
Authority Having Jurisdiction or AHJ - is an
organization, office or individual responsible for
"approving" equipment, an installation or a
procedure.
5. What are the fundamental configuration of
a Fire Alarm System.
6. Fundamental configuration of a Fire Alarm System;
FACP – stands for Fire Alarm Control Panel, or Fire Alarm
Control Unit (FACU), is the controlling component of a Fire Alarm
System.
A system component that receives inputs from automatic and
manual fire alarm devices and may supply power to detection
devices and transponders.
The control panel may also provide transfer of power to the
notification appliances and transfer condition of relays or
devices connected to the control unit.
The fire alarm control panel can be a local unit or a
master control unit.
7. Fundamental configuration of a Fire Alarm System;
Primary power supply - Commonly the non-switched 120 or
240 Volt AC source supplied from a commercial power utility.
Secondary (backup) Power supplies - This component
commonly consisting of sealed lead-acid storage batteries,
is used to supply energy in the event of a primary power failure.
8. Initiating Devices - This component acts as an input to the fire alarm
control unit and are either manually or automatically actuated.
Examples would be devices like pull stations, smoke detectors, water
flow switch, etc.
Spot type smoke detector
Optical beam smoke detector
Aspirating smoke detector
Duct smoke detector
Heat detector
Pull station
9. There are two kinds of spot type smoke detector.
Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke
particles and invisible smoke like gases.
Initiating Devices - This component acts as an input to the fire alarm
control unit and are either manually or automatically actuated.
Examples would be devices like pull stations, smoke detectors, water
flow switch, etc.
10. - Photoelectric or optical smoke detector
- Ionization smoke detector
Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke
particles and invisible smoke like gases.
Initiating Devices - This component acts as an input to the fire alarm
control unit and are either manually or automatically actuated.
Examples would be devices like pull stations, smoke detectors, water
flow switch, etc.
Spot type smoke detectors are usually mounted in suspended ceiling, ceiling
voids,
floor voids or under raised floor and sometimes it can be in the wall.
11. - Photoelectric or optical smoke detector
- Ionization smoke detector
Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke
particles and invisible smoke like gases.
Initiating Devices - This component acts as an input to the fire alarm
control unit and are either manually or automatically actuated.
Examples would be devices like pull stations, smoke detectors, water
flow switch, etc.
- Optical beam smoke detector
Optical beam smoke detector is a device that uses a projected beam of light
to
detect smoke across large areas, and commonly used in high rise ceiling.
12. - Photoelectric or optical smoke detector
- Ionization smoke detector
Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke
particles and invisible smoke like gases.
Initiating Devices - This component acts as an input to the fire alarm
control unit and are either manually or automatically actuated.
Examples would be devices like pull stations, smoke detectors, water
flow switch, etc.
- Optical beam smoke detector
- Aspirating smoke detector
A detector that consists of a piping or tubing distribution network from the
detector
to the areas being protected.
13. - Photoelectric or optical smoke detector
- Ionization smoke detector
Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke
particles and invisible smoke like gases.
Initiating Devices - This component acts as an input to the fire alarm
control unit and are either manually or automatically actuated.
Examples would be devices like pull stations, smoke detectors, water
flow switch, etc.
- Optical beam smoke detector
Provides early detection of smoke in the air moving through heating and
ventilation AC (HVAC).
- Aspirating smoke detector
- Duct smoke detector
14. - Photoelectric or optical smoke detector
- Ionization smoke detector
Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke
particles and invisible smoke like gases.
Initiating Devices - This component acts as an input to the fire alarm
control unit and are either manually or automatically actuated.
Examples would be devices like pull stations, smoke detectors, water
flow switch, etc.
- Optical beam smoke detector
- Aspirating smoke detector
- Duct smoke detector
Detector coverage and location shall be considered as per rules and
standards
prior to installation.
15. Heat Detector - a device that detects abnormally high temperature or
rate of temperature rise.
Initiating Devices - This component acts as an input to the fire alarm
control unit and are either manually or automatically actuated.
Examples would be devices like pull stations, smoke detectors, water
flow switch, etc.
Heat detectors are usually mounted in suspended ceiling, ceiling voids, floor
voids
or under raised floors and sometimes it can be in the wall or in inside the
pit.
- Fixed heat detector – it activates if temperature reaches to 60°C, other sensors are
set 90°C.)
- Linear heat detector - a device in which detection is continuous along a path.
- Rate-of-Rise (ROR) heat detector - operate on a rapid rise in element temperature of
67° to 83°C increase per minute.
16. Initiating Devices - This component acts as an input to the fire alarm
control unit and are either manually or automatically actuated.
Examples would be devices like pull stations, smoke detectors, water
flow switch, etc.
The device must be installed in upright position, can be mounted in the
wall,
column or pedestal.
Manual call station / break glass unit - a manually operated device used to
initiate an alarm signal.
Single action mode - activates in one action, pull or break only.
Dual action mode - that requires two actions to activate, usually a
push then
pull, or lift then break.
17. Notification appliances - A fire alarm system component such as bell,
horn, speaker, strobe, etc. that provides an audible or visible output or
both.
Notification appliances can be mounted in the wall, column , or in the
ceiling.
18. 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.
To enable to control these process, fire alarm system
requires interface modules;
- Relay module or Output
module
- Monitor module or Input
module
Interface module can be installed in the ceiling, wall, or column.
19. 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.
Relay module or Addressable output module (RM /AOM) – is a relay or
dry contact interface to control the operation of;
- Pressurization fans / Smoke extract fan
- Motorized Smoke/Fire dampers
- Public Address System (PAS / PAVA)
- Building Management System (BMS)
- Electromagnetic door holder
- etc.
- Elevator, escalator, travelator
- Access controlled door
- Air conditioning unit (AHU / CRAC / MCC)
- Generator set
20. - Sprinkler flowswitch, butterfly valve & control
valves
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.
Monitor module or Addressable input module (AIM / MM) – receives dry
contact inputs from other equipment to monitor the status of;
- Remote FA power supply unit
- Jockey pump (sprinkler system)
- Gas release extinguishing panel
- Air sampling fire panel (ASFP)
- etc.
