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A fire alarm system has a number of devices working together to detect and warn
people through visual and audio appliances when smoke, fire, carbon monoxide or
other emergencies are present. These alarms may be activated automatically from
smoke detectors, and heat detectors or may also be activated via manual fire alarm
activation devices such as manual call points or pull stations.
Alarms can be either motorized bells or wall mountable sounders or horns. They can
also be speaker strobes which sound an alarm, followed by a voice evacuation
message which warns people inside the building not to use the elevators. Fire alarm
sounders can be set to certain frequencies and different tones including low, medium
and high, depending on the country and manufacturer of the device.
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 the building.
It protects by :
The control panel performs supervisory functions over the initiating devices, indicating
appliances, all associated field wiring, telephone ties, and its own internal wiring and
circuit cards.
The control panel monitors the initiating device circuits at all times for shorts and open
wiring by means of the applied DC voltage. The initiating devices are normally open.
In the event of a fire they become conductive at close to zero ohms. How, then, is it
possible for the control panel to differentiate between a non-alarm state and an open
wiring fault? This is accomplished by means of an end-of-line resistor.
The control panel also monitors the functionality of its own wiring and zone cards, and
trouble is reported in the display.
Another capability of the fire alarm system is to call out in case of alarm. Two dedicated
phone lines are connected, and the system performs test calls periodically in
accordance with programmed instructions. If either phone line won’t connect, the
system goes into the trouble state, so repairs can be made.
The essence of a fire alarm system, as opposed to individual smoke detectors, even
if they are wired to indicate in concert, is that it is supervised from a central location.
The whole notion of supervision is critical.
It does not mean that a person sits at the console and watches it at all times. What it
means is that a supervisory voltage is applied to all circuitry, and current flow is
monitored electronically to verify that equipment and wiring are intact.
If the system goes into alarm and won’t silence due to touchpad malfunction, for
example, it can be disarmed after the zone is checked for fire by cutting off the power.
First, unhook one side of the battery array, then unhook the black-white-green
incoming power connector. If a fire alarm system is disabled, maintenance and
security personnel should initiate fire patrols throughout the building.
The telephone monitoring agency should be informed, and the insurance company
contacted to verify that coverage is not voided.
None. All alarms are real and are caused by a break in the electrical current passing
through the alarm system. Alarms can be sounded by someone activating a pull
station, by something as simple as toast burning near a smoke detector, or by an
actual fire.
If an alarm sounds, something caused it. It might not be a fire, but don’t bet your life
on it. All alarms should be treated as though they were caused by fire until it can be
determined otherwise by a competent authority, such as the responding Fire
Department. Over the years we have developed a dangerous complacency in
response to fire alarms due to the overuse of the term “false alarm” to characterize an
alarm not caused by actual fire.
Evacuate your building immediately and go to the area your supervisor has designated
as a meeting point. For safety reasons, you should evacuate if you hear any alarm,
even if it is not in your zone.
NFPA 72 is a prescriptive standard that applies to Fire Alarm Systems. While the
NFPA 72 standard makes no mention of gas detection, many clients are applying
NFPA 72 standards and requirements to both fire and gas detection systems.
• Allows for the combining of both fire alarm and gas detection functions
into a single safety system
• Ensures that local “authorities having jurisdiction” like fire marshals or
fire authorities have the assurance that the system complies with the
applicable codes and standards
• Allows the end-user to lower their insurance costs because they are
using a certified system
• A NFPA 72 certified solution ensures that you are complying with the
best practices in the industry as drafted by the NFPA
The choice between a PLC and Controller-based system is primarily driven by the size
of the application. PLCs are best suited for medium to large size gas detection systems
(25+ points of gas detection). For very large systems, PLCs have the advantage of
scaling fairly inexpensively to accommodate large point counts. PLCs offer the added
benefit of extensive connectivity options for communicating with other DCS or ESD
systems. Controller-based gas detection lends itself to small to medium sized systems
very effectively. A controller-based gas detection system is relatively easy to
implement, and does not require software programming tools. The hardwired nature
of a controller-based solution makes it inherently simple to troubleshoot and support.
Almost all detection, extinguishing and notification circuits of a Fire Alarm system are
not normally energized and are not “fail-safe”. In order to be sure these fire circuits are
intact and ready for use when needed these circuits are “supervised”.
Supervision is normally done using a small current or voltage passed through a field
circuit device called an “end of line device”. This small current or voltage is
continuously monitored to verify that the circuit is intact and ready for operation.
Addressable fire alarm communication devices can be used in process areas when
the operating specifications of the devices are compatible with the electrical and
environmental conditions found in these process areas.
Most commercial addressable fire alarm equipment are normally rated for operation in
general purpose environments with ambient temperatures between 0 and 50°C. Most
process area environments have operating temperature ranges outside the 0-50°C
range. Many process area environments require devices suitable for Division 1 or
Division 2 areas.