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”.
 What is Fire Alarm System?
Types of systems
There are generally two types of fire alarm systems,
Conventional and Addressable.

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.
What is NFPA 72?

NFPA 72 (is a National Fire Alarm Code), is a standard published by the

National Fire Protection Association.
Rules covers the application, installation, location, performance,
inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems.
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.
Fire alarm system shall be installed by qualified personnel or
installation supervised by qualified personnel.
Fire alarm system shall be installed and maintained as per NFPA 72.
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.
What are the fundamental configuration of
a Fire Alarm System.
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.
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.
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
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.

Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke

particles and invisible smoke like gases.

There are two kinds of spot type smoke detector.

 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.

Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke

particles and invisible smoke like gases.
- Photoelectric or optical smoke detector
- Ionization smoke detector

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.
 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.

Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke

particles and invisible smoke like gases.
- Photoelectric or optical smoke detector
- Ionization smoke detector
- 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.
 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.

Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke

particles and invisible smoke like gases.
- Photoelectric or optical smoke detector
- Ionization smoke detector - Aspirating smoke detector
- Optical beam smoke detector

A detector that consists of a piping or tubing distribution network from the

detector
to the areas being protected.
 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.

Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke

particles and invisible smoke like gases.
- Photoelectric or optical smoke detector
- Ionization smoke detector - Aspirating smoke detector
- Optical beam smoke detector - Duct smoke detector

Provides early detection of smoke in the air moving through heating and
ventilation AC (HVAC).
 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.

Smoke Detector - is a device that detects smoke. It detects visible smoke

particles and invisible smoke like gases.
- Photoelectric or optical smoke detector
- Ionization smoke detector - Aspirating smoke detector
- Optical beam smoke detector - Duct smoke detector

Detector coverage and location shall be considered as per rules and

standards
prior to installation.
 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 Detector - a device that detects abnormally high temperature or

rate of temperature rise.
- Fixed heat detector – it activates if temperature reaches to 60°C, other sensors are
set 90°C.)
- Rate-of-Rise (ROR) heat detector - operate on a rapid rise in element temperature of
67° to 83°C increase per minute.

- Linear heat detector - a device in which detection is continuous along a path.

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.
 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.

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.
The device must be installed in upright position, can be mounted in the
wall,
column or pedestal.
 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.
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.
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;
- Elevator, escalator, travelator
- Access controlled door
- Air conditioning unit (AHU / CRAC / MCC)
- Generator set
- Pressurization fans / Smoke extract fan
- Motorized Smoke/Fire dampers
- Public Address System (PAS / PAVA)
- Building Management System (BMS)
- Electromagnetic door holder
- etc.
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;
- Sprinkler flowswitch, butterfly valve & control
valves
- Jockey pump (sprinkler system)
- Gas release extinguishing panel
- Remote FA power supply unit
- Air sampling fire panel (ASFP)
- etc.