TCVN 5738:2001

VIETNAM STANDARDS TCVN 5738:2001

Revision 1

Automatic fire alarm system – Technical requirements

1 Scope of application

This Standard is applied for automatic fire-alarm systems equipped in factories,

enterprises, storehouses, offices, hospitals, schools, cinemas, hotels, markets, trading
centers, military camps and other building works which have dangers in fire or explosion,
etc.

This Standard is not applied for construction works designed according to special
requirements.

2. Extracted standards

TCVN 2103:1994 PVC covered electric wires

TCVN 4756:1986 Norms of electric equipment Earthing (grounding) and

neutralconductor (airing)

TCVN 6612:2000 (IEC 228:1978) Conduct core of electric insulate cable.

3 Terminology and definitions

3.1 Automatic fire alarm system: A system which automatically detects and notifies
the locations on fire.

3.1.1 Conventional fire alarm system: An automatic fire alarm system without
function to announce the address of each fire alarm head.

3.1.2 Addressable fire alarm system: An automatic fire alarm system with function to
announce the address of each fire alarm head.

3.1.3 Intelligent fire alarm system: An automatic fire alarm system which, in addition
to conventional and addressable fire alarm function, can measure some fire
parameters in the region where fire alarm head is installed such as temperature,
smoke density and/or automatically change the impact threshold of fire-alarm
head as required by designer and installer.

3.2 Automatic fire detector: An equipment which is sensitive to fire-related

phenomena (such as temperature rising, smoke spreading, light radiating) and
transmits proper signals to fire alarm center.

3.2.1 Heat detector: A fire detector being sensitive to temperature rising in the
environment where fire detector is installed.
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3.2.1.1 Fixed temperature heat detector: A heat detector which operates when the
temperature at the heat detector installing location reaches a pre-fixed value.

3.2.1.2 Rate-of-rise heat detector: A heat detector which operates when the rate-rising
temperature at the heat detector installing location reaches a pre-fixed value.

3.2.1.3 Line-typed heat detector: A heat detector having line-shaped or small tube-
shaped structure.

3.2.2 Smoke detector: An automatic smoke detector being sensitive to smoke impact
created by solid or liquid particles incurred from fire process and/or heat-
disintegrated process.

3.2.2.1 Ionization smoke detector: A smoke detector being sensitive to products

incurred by fire which can have an effect upon the ionized currents inside the
smoke detector.

3.2.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector: A smoke detector being sensitive to products

incurred by fire which can have an effect upon the absorption of radiation or
scattering in infra-red area and/or ultra-violet area of electromagnetic spectrum.

3.2.2.3 Optical smoke detector: As 3.2.2.2

3.2.2.4 Projected beam-type smoke detector: A smoke detector which consists of 2

components, light spreading and light collecting heads, which will operate once in
the middle of those two head there appears smoke.

3.2.3 Flame detector: An automatic fire detector being sensitive to flame radiation.

3.2.4 Automatic Testing Function Detector – ATF): A fire detector with function of
automatically testing its properties to transmit to fire alarm center.

3.2.5 Combined detector: An automatic fire detector being sensitive to at least 2

phenomena occurred with fire.

3.3 Manual call point: An equipment which initially performs fire alarm by hand.

3.4 Electrical power supply: An equipment which supplies power for fire-alarm
system.

3.5 Conjunctive devices: consisting of components, cable systems and signal conducts
and parts which form a conjunction between the equipment of fire alarm system.

3.6 Fire alarm control panel: An equipment which supplies power for the automatic
fire detectors and performs following functions:

- receiving signals from the automatic fire detectors and issuing fire alarm signals,
indicating fire place.

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- may possibly transmit fire detection signals through a signal transmitting
equipment to receiver and/or to automatic fire-fighting systems.

- checking normal working condition of the systems, indicating system problems

such as wire broken, short circuit, etc

- can automatically control operation of other peripheral devices

4 General regulations

4.1 The design and installation of automatic fire alarm systems shall conform to the
requirements and regulations of current norm and standards concerned and shall be
approved by fire protection authorities.

4.2 An automatic fire alarm system shall meet following requirements:

- quickly detecting a fire as functioned

- transferring fire detecting signals into clear fire alarming signals so that people
involved can immediately take proper measures.

- being able to resist disturbance

- quickly and clearly signaling all cases of system failure.

- not being affected by other systems either installed in common or separately.

- not being paralyzed partly or in whole by fire prior to detecting fire.

4.3 An automatic fire alarm system shall ensure reliability. This system shall
satisfactorily perform all stated functions without making any error.

4.4 External impacts which cause failures to a part of the system shall not cause any
subsequent failures to the system.

4.5 An automatic fire alarm shall consist of basic components such as:

- fire alarm control panel

- automatic fire detector

- manual call point

- conjunctive device

- power supply source

Depending on requirements, a fire-alarm system may also have other components

such as fire-alarm signal transmitter, automatic fire-fighting equipment controller,
etc.
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5. Technical requirements for fire alarm control panel

5.1 A fire alarm control panel shall have function to automatically control signals
transmitted from channels and to eliminate faked signals. It is allowed to use fire
alarm control panel without automatic signal control function in case fire detector
with automatic signal control is used. Control panels without fire-alarm function
shall not be used as automatic fire alarm control panel.

5.2 The fire-alarm control panel shall be located in places where there are persons on
duty day and night. In the case person on duty all day is not available, the fire alarm
control panel shall be able to transmit fire and failure signals to the person or unit in
charge and take measures to prevent unauthorized people getting access to fire
alarm control panel.

The place where fire alarm control panel is located shall be equipped with telephone
lines which can directly contact the fire brigade or fire alarm receiving place.

5.3 The fire-alarm control panel shall be installed on walls, partitions or tables where
there are no risks of fire and explosion.

5.4 If a fire alarm control panel is installed on building structures made of flammable
materials, these structures shall be protected with metal sheets having a thickness
from 1mm upwards or other non-flammable materials having a thickness no less
than 10mm. In these cases, the protection sheet shall have such a dimension that
each side of the protection sheet shall exceed the control panel side at least 100 in
every direction.

5.5 The distance between fire alarm control panels and ceilings made of flammable
materials shall not be less than 1.0m.

5.6 In the case of being assembled close to each other, the distance between fire-alarm
control panels shall not be less than 50mm.

5.7 If a fire alarm control panel is installed on wall, column or machine frame, the
distance between the control unit of the panel to floor shall be from 0.8 to 1.8m.

5.8 The temperature and humidity at the place where the fire alarm control panel is
located shall be in conformity with technical requirements and using instructions of
the fire-alarm control panel.

5.9 The sound signals for fire alarm and failure alarm shall be different.

5.10 When installing the automatic fire detector to fire-alarm control panels, attention
shall be paid on the system conformity (power voltage supplied for fire detector,
fire signal type, failure detecting method and wire control unit)

6. Technical requirements for the automatic fire detector

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6.1 The automatic fire detectors shall ensure to detect fire according to designed
function and technical properties stated in Table 1. The selection of automatic fire
detector base on features of flammable materials, protection environment
characteristics and features of equipped establishment. Refer to Appendix A.

Table 1

Technical
Heat detector Smoke detector Flame (Fire) detector
properties
Activating time No more than 120 No more than 30 seconds No more than 5
seconds seconds
Activating From 40oC to 170oC Shading due to smoke* The open flame of
threshold Temperature rising From 5 to 20% for normal 15mm high, 3m away
over 5oC/min. smoke detector from fire detector
From 20 to 70% on the
distance between the issuer
and the collector/receiver of
the projected beam-typed
smoke detector
Air humidity at No more than 98% No more than 98% No more than 98%
fire detector
location
Working From –10oC to 170oC From –10oC to +50oC From –10oC to +50oC
temperature
Protection area From 15m2 to 50m2 More than 50m2 to 100m 2 ** Cone-shape with
angle of 120o and
height from 3m to 7m.

Note:
* Activating threshold of a smoke detector is calculated by the shading level due to
smoke on a pre-fixed distance.

** Protection area of a projected beam-typed smoke detector is the area limited by the
distance between the issuer and the collector/receiver 9from 5 to 100m) and the width
at both sides along the projected beam (15m): from 75 to 1500m2.

6.2 The fire detectors shall have indicator light when activating. In the case an
automatic fire detector has no indicator light when activating, its stand shall have a
light replacement.

For wireless fire detector (wireless and on-the-spot detectors), in addition to the
activating indicator light, there is also another indicator on the status of supply
source.

6.3 The number of automatic fire detectors required to be installed for a protection area
shall depend on the necessity extent to detect fire on the whole area of such region
and shall also ensure to meet technical and economic requirements.

If an automatic fire alarm system (detector) is used to control an automatic fire-

fighting system, then each point in protection area shall be controlled with 2
automatic fire detectors of 2 separate channels.
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In case a building has suspension ceiling and between the ceiling layers there
installed engineering systems, power cables and signal cables, additional fire
detectors shall be installed in upper ceiling.

6.4 Smoke detectors and heat detectors shall be installed on the ceiling or roof. In case
it is impossible to install on the ceiling or roof, it is allowed to install them on the
beam or column or suspend them with wire/string under the ceiling, but the
detectors shall be kept no more than 0.3m away from the ceiling, including
dimension of the automatic fire detector.

6.5 Smoke detectors and heat detectors shall be installed in each hold of a ceiling
limited by construction components protruding underneath (beam, girder, panel
edge) more than 0.4m.

In case a ceiling has components which protrudes underneath from 0.08m to 0.4 m,
the installation of automatic fire detector shall be calculated as for ceilings without
such protruding components, but the protection area of a fire detector shall reduce
25%.

In case a ceiling has components which protrudes underneath more than 0.4m and
width more than 0.75m, additional fire detectors shall be installed on such
protruding components.

6.6 In case piles of materials, shelves, equipment and construction components have
their highest point from the ceiling a distance of less than or equal to 0.6m,
automatic fire detector shall be installed right on such positions.

6.7 The number of automatic fire detectors connected (hung) on a channel of an

automatic fire alarm system shall depend on technical features of fire-alarm control
panel, but the protection area of each channel (panel) shall not exceed 2000m2 for
open protection area or 500m2 for closed protection area. The automatic fire
detectors shall be used conforming to technical requirements, standards and their
technical features, with consideration of environmental conditions of the area
requiring protection.

Note:

Opened Protection area is an area where, once on fire, smoke and flame can be seen such as
treasury (storehouse), production workshop, hall, etc.

Closed area means an area where, once on fire, smoke and flame cannot be seen such as in
cable chamber, faked ceiling and closed rooms, etc.

6.8 In case a fire-alarm control panel has no function to indicate the address of each
automatic fire detector, then the automatic fire detectors connected (hung) on a
channel shall allow to control up to 20 rooms or an area on the same floor with
common exit to corridor, but outside of each room there shall be indicator light of
fire-alarm activation of any fire detector installed in such rooms, ensuring the
requirements in Item 6.7.
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In case the room has glass window or wall within corridor and from corridor can
see into room through those window or wall It is allowed no installation of
indicator light in such room

6.9 The distance from a fire detector to the outer edge of diffuser the bell mouth
(nozzle) of a ventilation system or air conditioner system shall not be smaller than
0.5m.

It is not allowed to place a fire detector directly in front of such diffuser (bell
mouths).

6.10 In case in a protection area where several types of fire detectors are installed, the
distance between such detectors shall ensure that each location in such area is
protected by at least one detector.

6.11 For protection areas where there are risks of explosion, anti-explosion fire detectors
shall be used.

In areas of high humidity and/or dusty, moisture and/or dust-resistant fire detectors
shall be used.

In areas where there are insects, detectors which are able to resist insects entering
into detectors shall be used or anti-insect measures shall be applied.

6.12 Smoke detectors

6.12.1 The protection area of a smoke detector, maximum distance between smoke
detectors themselves and between smoke detectors with building walls shall be
determined as shown in Table 2, but not larger than the values stated in technical
requirements and technical records of a smoke detector.

Table 2

Max. distance, m
Fire detector Protection area of a
Between fire From detector
installation height, m fire detector, m2
detectors to building wall
Under 3.5 less than 100 10 5.0
From 3.5 to 6 less than 80 8.5 4.0
More than 6.0 to 10 less than 65 8.0 4.0
More than 10 to 12 less than 55 7.5 3.5

6.12.2 In the rooms with width under 3m, the allowed distance between smoke detectors
shall be 15m.

6.12.3 Ionization smoke detector shall not be installed in places where maximum wind
velocity exceeds 10m/s.

6.12.4 Photoelectric smoke detector shall not be installed in places where the fire
materials when burned produce mostly black smoke.

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6.12.5 For projected beam-typed smoke detector, the distance between the straight line
connecting the issuer and the collector/receiver of the two couples shall not
exceed 14m, while the distance to a building wall or other fire detectors shall not
7m. Between the issuer and the collector/receiver of a projected beam-typed
smoke detector, no obstacle hiding the beam shall be allowed.

6.13 Heat detector

6.13.1 The protection area of a heat detector, maximum distance between heat detectors
themselves and between heat detectors with building walls shall be determined as
shown in Table 3, but not larger than the values stated in technical requirements
and technical records of a heat detector.

Table 3

Max. distance, m
Fire detector Protection area of a
Between fire From detector
installation height, m fire detector, m2
detectors to building wall
Under 3.5 less than 50 7.0 3.5
From 3.5 to 6 less than 25 5.0 2.5
More than 6.0 to 9 less than 20 4.5 2.0

6.13.2 The activating threshold of a heat detector shall be larger than the allowed
maximum room temperature, which is 20oC.

6.14 Flame detector

6.14.1 Flame detectors in the rooms or areas shall be installed either on the ceiling, walls
and other construction components or right on the equipment required to be
protected.

6.14.2 The design/arrangement of flame detector shall ensure that the protected area
shall satisfy the conditions in Table 1 and values stated in technical requirements
and technical records of flame detector.

7 Technical requirements for a manual call-point

7.1 Manual call-points shall be installed either inside or outside of a construction work or
building, on the walls and construction components at height from 0.8m to 1.5m
measured from floor or ground.

7.2 Manual call-points shall be installed on the escape route (exits) or staircase landing
where can be seen easily. If necessary, it can be installed in each room. The distance
between the manual call-points shall not exceed 50m.

7.3 If manual call-point is installed outside the building, then the maximum distance
between the manual call-points shall be 150m with clear signs. The outside-installed
manual call point shall be type of waterproof or rain-protection measures shall be
taken. Places of manual call-point shall be permanently illuminated.

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7.4 The manual call-points can be connected /installed on a separate channel of fire-
alarm control panel or on a shared channel with other fire detectors.

8. Technical requirements for conjunctive devices

8.1 The selection of conduct wires and cables for automatic fire alarm system circuits
conforming to TCVN 2103:1994 and TCVN 6612:2000, technical requirements of
this standard and technical documents for each type of specific equipment.

8.2 Signal cables of automatic fire alarm system shall be embedded in walls, ceilings,
etc. and protection measures shall be taken for conduct wires against wire contacting
or breaking (by putting through metal tubes or other protection tubes). In case of
surface placing, measures to protect cables from rodents or other mechanical causes
which may damage cables shall be taken. The ceiling/wall penetrations after
installation shall be blocked with non-flammable materials.

8.3 The signal circuits of automatic fire alarm system shall be automatically inspected
for technical status along the length of the signal circuit.

8.4 For fire-alarm signal circuits, it is required to use separate conduct wires/cables with
copper core. It is permitted to use copper-core data cable of the mixed data network
but communication channel shall be separated.

8.5 The copper core of each signal conduct wire for the automatic fire alarm detectors to
the main axis cable shall not be smaller than 0.75mm2 (equivalent to copper core
with diameter of 1mm). It is allowed to use several conduct wires plaited, but total
section area of such plaited copper wires shall not smaller than 0.75mm 2. The section
area of each copper core of the main cable shall not be less than 0.4mm 2. It is
allowed to use multi-wire cable in a shared protection cover but the copper core
diameter of each conduct wire shall not be smaller than 0.4mm.

Total resistance of every fire-alarm communication channel shall not be larger than
100 Ω and not exceeding the values required for each type of fire alarm control
panel.

8.6 The peripheral device control cable, signal conduct wire connected from fire
detectors in automatic fire-fighting system shall be of high heat-resistant type (fire
protection cable). It is permitted to use normal cable as peripheral device control
cable but protection measures against heat impact shall be taken at least in 30
minutes.

8.7 It is not allowed to install in common the electric circuits of an automatic fire alarm
system with circuit having voltage over 60V in the same closed pipe, box, bundle
and slot of a construction component.

8.8 In the case of parallel open installation, the distance between conduct wire of the
lighting and dynamic power line and the fire alarm system cable shall not be less
than 0.5m. If this distance is under 0.5m, measures against electromagnetic
disturbance shall be taken.

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8.9 In the case there is disturbance-producing source in the construction work or for
addressable fire alarm system, it is obliged to use conduct wire and anti-disturbance
cable. If conduct wire and non disturbance-resistant cable are used, it is necessary to
put them through metal pipe or metal box with earthing /grounding system.

8.10 Number of terminals of cable-connecting boxes and number of conduct wires of the
main cable shall have an spare allowance of 20%.

9 Technical requirements for electrical source and protection grounding system

9.1 A fire alarm system control panel shall have two independent power sources. One
source of 220 V alternating current (AC) and the other of standby battery.

The oscillation value of potential difference of the AC source supplied for the fire
alarm control panel shall not exceed + 10%. In the case this oscillation value exceeds
10%, a voltage stabilizer shall be used prior to supplying for the control panel.

The capacity of standby battery shall ensure at least 12 hours for the equipment to
operate in normal condition and 1 hour once on fire.

9.2 Fire-alarm control panels shall have grounding system for protection. The protection
grounding shall satisfy the requirements in TCVN 4576:1989

10 Inspection, storage and maintenance

10.1 The equipment of a fire-alarm system shall be checked for quality and category
prior to installation.

After installation, an automatic fire alarm system shall be inspected by an authority

before being put into operation.

10.2 After being put into operation, an automatic fire alarm system shall be inspected at
least once per year. When inspecting, all functions of the system as well as all fire
alarm equipment operation shall be tested . Once failure is discovered, remedial
measures shall be immediately applied.

Subject to the environmental conditions where the fire alarm system is installed, the
maintenance for the whole system shall be made at least once per two year. When
maintenance is proceeded, all fire detectors shall be checked for sensitivity. Those
detectors fail to meet sensibility requirements shall be replaced.

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ANNEX A
(for references)

Selection of automatic fire detector based on the features of buildings to be equipped

No Fire alarm detector Features of building to be equipped

A. Production building
I. Production and storage
1a Heat or photoelectric smoke Wood and wood products, textile, ready-made clothes,
detectors leather shoe, animal-skin goods, cigarette, paper, cellulose,
cotton
1b Heat or ionization smoke Synthetic plastic, synthetic fiber, polimer materials,
detectors rubber, rubber products, film and flammable X-ray film
2 Heat or flame detectors Thin oil, paint, solvent, flammable liquid, lubricant, strong
activating chemical, alcohol and alcoholic products
3 Flame detector Alkali metal, metal powder, natural rubber
4 Heat detector Cereals, synthetic food and other foods, dust-producing
materials
II. Production
5 Heat or flame detector Paper, carton, cardboard, domestic poultry/cattle food
III. Storage
6 Heat or smoke detector Non-flammable contained in package made of flammable
materials or flammable solids.
B. Specialized building work
7 Heat or ionization smoke Cable placing room, transformer room, distribution
detectors equipment and control panel.
8 Ionization smoke detectors Computer room, electronic control equipment, control
machine, automatic telephone station, broadcasting room,
circuit transfer, wire connecting rooms.
9 Heat or flame detector Equipment and flammable liquid conduct pipe store-room,
oil and grease, internal bursting engine testing room , fuel
motor testing room, burning gas feeding room.
10 Heat or ionization smoke Automobile maintenance workshop
detectors
C- Houses and public works
11 Photoelectric smoke Performance room, practice room, auditorium, library and
detectors seminar room, actor & actress room, make-up room,
clothes room, repair room, waiting room, rest room,
corridor, book-storage room, record room.
12 Heat or photoelectric smoke Tool storeroom, administration room, machine room,
detectors control room
13 Heat detector Residential room, patient’s room, warehouse, public
house, kitchen
14 Flame or photoelectric Exhibition room, materials storage room of museum,
smoke detectors showroom
Note: In a room where there are several different fire signs

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initially, when installing automatic fire detectors, it should be
determined on the economic and technical basis.

___________________________________________________________

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