Complete Fire Alarms Installation Guide
Understanding Fire Alarms
Fire alarm systems are crucial for properly identifying and warning about a fire scenario in residential and commercial buildings. A fire alarm system’s detection and visual requirements depend on the structure’s design and intended usage. By using the right fire alarm system in your house or business firm, you can greatly reduce the chance of potential fires.Fire Alarm System Categories
Within BS 5739-1:2017, there are different fire alarm categories based on the requirements for the protection of life and property.Property Protection
Category P1 All areas of the building must have detectors installed as part of a P1 smoke alarm system. A system like this is intended to safeguard structures that are vital to a company’s operations. Category P2 This involves installing fire detectors only in high-risk areas. A system like this can identify fires before they spread, but it cannot offer the same level of protection as a P1.Life Protection
Category L1
This is the most comprehensive fire detection system available, including detectors in every location throughout a building where a fire can potentially originate. The goal of this arrangement is to guarantee that residents receive the earliest possible warning in the event of an emergency.Category L2
In this category, smoke detectors are present in all rooms that are connected to an escape route. Additionally, detectors must be put in place in all high-risk areas, including boiler rooms, kitchens, and locations with large plant gear.Category L3
This category involves installing fire detectors in all spaces that connect with an escape route. This system’s goal is to provide enough advance notice of a fire for all occupants to leave the structure before flames, smoke, or hazardous gases prevent them from doing so.Category L4
Only detectors along escape routes, such as stairwells and hallways, are included in a L4 category fire alarm system. When the location is classified as falling under this fire alarm category, any circulation areas that connect with the escape route must also be equipped with a fire detector.Category L5
These fire alarms are set up to address a particular fire danger in a particular region of a building. For instance, if a building has a room that is especially dangerous due to the things housed there or the operations that take place there.Types of Fire Alarm Systems
Fire alarms come in different types; the following are the main ones:Conventional Fire Alarm System (Four Wire)
It is one of the oldest kinds of fire alarm panels accessible in the market. It is more appropriate for smaller installations with a modest requirement for fire alarm devices. Conventional fire alarm panels, which were once installed in all shapes and sizes of buildings, are now used less frequently in larger ones. Instead, a more recent addressable fire alarm panel would be more appropriate. The fire detection system is divided into “zones”; accessible zone panels are 2, 4, and 8. Typically, each zone can host up to 32 devices. The installation expenses of this fire system are higher than those of other systems but are cheaper to buy. Its common applications include small restaurants, community centres, schools, and eateries.Addressable Fire Alarm System
In this type of fire alarm system, a loop configuration is used to place all fire alarm components, including beacons and sounders. Compared to the traditional fire alarm system, an addressable fire alarm system uses less cable. An addressable fire alarm system has a system-wide protocol that every component uses. The fire alarm panel uses a protocol to connect with each fire alarm unit. The panel gives a particular code or number to each device. This code is referred to as the device address. This code or number is used by commission engineers when they need to add a new device to the system. The components of the system constantly communicate with the fire alarm panel, which makes it possible for the panel to pinpoint the manual call point or precise gadget during an alarm situation. This results in instant reporting of system errors and the fire’s location.
Wireless Fire Alarm Systems
This system works in the same way as an addressable fire alarm system but with no cables. Wire-free technology can be specifically appealing in protected or heritage buildings where its integrity can be preserved because there is no long, intermingled wiring between sounders, detectors, and the main control panel. Instead, data is transmitted through radio frequency waves. The majority of larger commercial building applications, including those in hospitals, schools, office complexes, and warehouses, may be served by wireless installations. Using wireless fire alarm technology is becoming a more and more common choice because it can drastically save installation time, lower the cost of wiring, and prevent too much disruption during new installations and modifications to existing fire alarm systems.Certification Required for Fire Alarm Installation
There are the necessary certificates that are required for the installation of fire alarm systems:- Installation Certificate
- Design Certificate
- Modification Certificate
- Commissioning Certificate
- Maintenance Certificate
- Acceptance Certificate
- Variation Certificate