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Overview of Fire Alarm Systems and Maintenance. By Mr. David Goh Vice President – Fire Safety Managers’ Association Convener of Working Group for CP 10 : 2005 Er. Matthew Kwek Committee Member – Fire Safety Managers’ Association P.E., R.I.(M&E), FSE. CONTENTS.
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OverviewofFireAlarm Systemsand Maintenance By Mr. David Goh Vice President – Fire Safety Managers’ Association Convener of Working Group for CP 10 : 2005 Er. Matthew Kwek Committee Member – Fire Safety Managers’ Association P.E., R.I.(M&E), FSE
CONTENTS • FireAlarmSystems–AQuickIntroduction • WhyuseaFireAlarmSystem? • IsFireAlarmSystemamandatoryrequirement? • WhatisaFireAlarmSystemmadeupof? • TypesofFireAlarmSystemsinusetoday • Non–Addressable • Addressable • Hybrid • Maintenance • RegulartestingandInspection • FalseAlarmManagement • CommonMaintenanceProblemsAnd Troubleshooting
1.FireAlarmSystems–AQuickIntroduction WhyuseaFireAlarmSystem? • A fire alarm system is intended to enable a fire to be detected at a sufficiently early stage so that people who are at risk can be made safe either by escaping from the fire, or by the fire being extinguished (also to prevent extensive property damage). Neither of these measures can be used until people are made aware offire. • The effectiveness of the fire detection and alarm system depends on the stage of the fire at which it is operated. In order for all the occupants to escape without too much difficulty, an early alarm should operate before the escape routes becomes smoke- logged to such an extent as will cause occupants to have difficulty finding their way out of thebuilding.
WhyuseaFireAlarmSystem? 1.FireAlarmSystems–AQuickIntroduction Fire Alarm Systems are used to protect life andproperty. It protects by: detecting a fire at an earlystage alerting and evacuatingoccupants notifying the relevant personnel activating auxiliary functions e.g. smoke controls, lift homingetc identifying and guiding firefighters
IsFireAlarmSystemamandatory requirement? 1.FireAlarmSystems–AQuickIntroduction • Mandatory-Bytherelevantauthority • Non-mandatory-ByBuildingOwner,Landlord& Insuranceetc. • Therequirementsarespecifiedin: • CodeofPracticeforFirePrecautionsinBuildings2007 (FireCode2007)–bySCDF • CodeofPracticeforInstallationandServicingofElectricalFire AlarmSystem • (SSCP10-2005)–bySpringSingapore
WhatisaFireAlarmSystemmadeupof? 1.FireAlarmSystems–AQuickIntroduction ComponentsformingtheSystem-9Items Smoke/HeatDetectors(FireDetectors) AlarmPanels(ControlandIndicatingEquipment) AlarmBells(FireAlarmDevices) ManualCallPoints DECAMPanel(FireServicesSignallingTransmitter) DECAMStation(AlarmMonitoringStation) ExtinguishingPanels(Controlforautomaticfireprotectionequipment) Gas/Sprinkler(Automaticfireprotectionequipment) Charger/Battery(PowerSupplyEquipment)
1.FireAlarmSystems–AQuickIntroduction WhatisaFireAlarmSystemmadeupof? Control&Indicating FireDetectorsEquipment FireAlarmDevice AlarmMonitoring Station FireService SignallingTransmitter Fire AlarmSignal FaultSignal ManualCallPoints FIRE DECAMS Automatic FireProtection Equipment ControlforAutomatic FireProtectionEquipment PowerSupplyEquipment
Non-AddressableSystem 2.TypesofFireAlarmSystemsinusetoday • alsocommonlyknownas“conventional” • firedetectorsarewiredtothepanelingroupsknownaszone • identificationofalarmstatusbyzone • firedetectorsindicateseither“Fire”or“Normal”statusonly • systemonlyindicateeventsbutwithouteventrecording feature Zone2 Zone1 Zone 1 Zone2 Fire Fire s s s s s s s s s s Zone1 Zone2
2.TypesofFireAlarmSystemsinusetoday TypicalNon-AddressableFireAlarmSystem Configuration FS FS FS Fire Protection System Status ACPower Elevatorrecall EssentialExtractFans,pressurizationfansetc Releaseescapedoors Releasenormallyopenfiredoors PublicAddresssystem announcementsOthersasrequired
AddressableSystem 2.TypesofFireAlarmSystemsinusetoday • eachfiredetectorisprovidedwithanaddress • identificationofalarmstatusbyzoneandbyaddress • firedetectorsindicatesvariousconditionsuchassmoke level • indicatesandrecordssystemevents ZoneZone22 ZoneZone11 Zone 1Fire Detector4 s s s s s s s s s s Zone1 Zone2
2.TypesofFireAlarmSystemsinusetoday TypicalAddressableFireAlarmSystem Configuration Fire Protection System Status FS ACPower Elevatorrecall EssentialExtractFans,pressurizationfansetc Releaseescapedoors Releasenormallyopenfiredoors PublicAddresssystem announcementsOthersasrequired
HybridSystem (conventional+addressable) 2.TypesofFireAlarmSystemsinusetoday • acombinationoffeaturesfrombothaddressableand non-addressablesystems • eitherbuiltfromabasicconventionalsystemwithadd-on hardwireaddressablefeatures • orbuiltfromanaddressablesystemwithconventionalmodule • eventrecordingandalarmmanagementfeature
TypicalHybridFireAlarmSystemConfiguration (conventionalwithhardwireaddressableadd-on) 2.TypesofFireAlarmSystemsinusetoday Conventional devices – any reputablemanufacturer Addresslines ZoneSignal ColourGraphics Station RS232Cable HyBrid InterfaceOptions Hand-Held Printer Built-in Printer NoteBook PalmPDA
2.TypesofFireAlarmSystemsinusetoday TypicalHybridFireAlarmSystemConfiguration (conventionalwithhardwireaddressableadd-on) FS FS FS Fire Protection System Status ACPower Elevatorrecall EssentialExtractFans,pressurizationfansetc Releaseescapedoors Releasenormallyopenfiredoors PublicAddresssystem announcementsOthersasrequired
2.TypesofFireAlarmSystemsinusetoday TypicalHybridFireAlarmSystemConfiguration (addressablewithconventionalmoduleadd-on) Fire Protection System Status FS ACPower Elevatorrecall EssentialExtractFans,pressurizationfansetc Releaseescapedoors Releasenormallyopenfiredoors PublicAddresssystem announcements Othersasrequired
5.Maintenance Maintenance • Regular Testing andInspection • False AlarmManagement • Common Maintenance Problems And Troubleshooting
5.Maintenance Maintenance • Objectives • a. to ensure continuous reliability of the fire alarm system • Responsibility • a. building owner or ownerrepresentatives • to engage manufacturer’s representativeor • competent contractor • owner representative with suitable experience and special training
5.Maintenance RegularTestingandInspection As per SS:CP10-2005 Requirements • DailyCheck • WeeklyTest • MonthlyTest • AnnualTest
5.Maintenance RegularTestingandInspection • DailyChecks • Checks to ensure system is operatingnormally. • Rectify and record any faultsfound • Weekly Tests • Checks to ensure signal to monitoring station arefunctioning • Check battery and voltageconditions • Rectify and record anyfaults • Monthly Tests • Simulate fire and fault conditions on all zones • Check that power supply, indicator, alarm outputs etc are operating correctly • Rectify and record anyfaults • Yearly Tests • All monthlytests • Test 20 percent of all detectors over as many zones as possible such that all detectors will be check over a 5 yearperiod • Test interlocking circuits to ancillaryequipment • Check and cleaning of dirtydetectors • Rectify and record anyfaults
5.Maintenance LogRecord BuildingName Address
5.Maintenance FalseAlarmManagement • false alarm causes disruption to the normaloperation of business and create a drain to the fireservices • responsibility for reducing false alarms restwith every party involvedin • specification • design • installation • commissioning • management at the operationlevel • maintenance • of the fire alarmsystem
5.Maintenance FalseAlarmManagement Category of FalseAlarms Unwanted Alarms / FalseAlarm environmentalinfluences fire like phenomena inappropriate action by people inbuilding accidentaldamage alarms arising out of faultyequipment
5.Maintenance FalseAlarmManagement • Common Causes of FalseAlarms • fumes from cookingprocess • steam from bathrooms, showersetc • tobacco smoke • dust ( whether built up over time ornot) • insects • incense,candle • highhumidity • accidental damage (manual callpoint) • aerosol spray • high airvelocities • wateregress • testing or maintenance of the system withoutproper disablement. • arises from fault inequipment
5.Maintenance FalseAlarmManagement Recommendations system designer should ensure that that the system design takes into account of the guidance provided the Code of Practices installer identifies any circumstances that might lead to a high rate of false alarm and inform the designer, or user accordingly at commissioning, checks should be carried out to ensure there is no obvious potential for an unacceptable level offalse alarms the designer and supplier should jointly providesufficient information to user who may not be familiar with the technology of the Fire Alarmsystem.
5.Maintenance FalseAlarmManagement • Recommendations – cont’d • the user should arrange for suitable investigation and if appropriate, action to be taken on every occasion thata false alarm occurs and record the details which should include the following details: • date &time • identity and location ofdevice • category of falsealarm • reason for false alarm (ifknown) • activity in the area ( if the reason of false alarm is unknown) • actiontaken • the person responsible for recording theinformation
5.Maintenance FalseAlarmManagement SomeUsefulToolstohelp minimizeFalseAlarms
5.Maintenance FalseAlarmmanagement SensitivitySettings HIGH 4 3 2 1 LOW • This is a feature normally in both addressable andnon addressable type Fire AlarmSystem. • Addressable – Adjusted fromPanel • Non-Addressable – Physical DeviceSelection
5.Maintenance FalseAlarmManagement To reduce the effects of transient environmental conditions which may cause various types of detectors to be activated, an automatic fire alarm system may be provided with an alarm verification feature, subject to the approval of the relevantauthority. Receiptof 1st alarm signal Auto reset Of 1st alarm signal Time(s) 140(min) 320(max) 0 20 The following components of the fire alarm system shall notbe subject to thisfeature; Alarm Zone facilities containing only manual callpoints; Circuit between sub-alarm panels and the main alarmpanels; Detectors used to activate fire suppressionsystems; Detectors installed in high risk areas;and Alarm zone circuits from fire suppressionsystems.
5.Maintenance FalseAlarmManagement Sensor Auto ContaminationAdjustments Auto adjusted alarmlevel Initial alarm point Risingidle level due to Contamination ANALOGUE LEVEL Initial idle level TIME MONTHS
5.Maintenance CommonMaintenanceProblems 4 Storey High Atrium that is protected by point type smoke detectors Problem: Detectorscannotbetested Faultydetectorscannotbereachforreplacement Detectorinsensitiveduetothemountingheightexceeding 10metre Solution: Selectanalternativedetectionsystem AbletocomplywiththeListedInstallationRequirements Easytomaintainwithouthavingtoaccessfromtheatrium Floor
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