EUROPEAN STANDARD EN81-73

NORME EUROPEENNE
EUROPAISCHE NORM July 2020

ICS 13.220.50; 91.140.90 Supersedes EN 81-73:2016

English Version

Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts -

Particular applications for passenger and goods passenger
lifts - Part 73: Behaviour of lifts in the event of fire
Regles de s6curit6 pour la construction et l'lnstallation
des 616\'ateurs • Applications particulleres pour les
ascenseurs et ascenseurs de charge • Partie 73 :
Fonctionnement des ascenseurs en cas d'lncendle
Slcherheltsregeln fiir die Konstruktion und den Einbau
von AufzQgen - Besondere Anwendungen filr
Personen· und Lastenaufziige • Tell 73: Verhalten von
Aufziigen Im Brandfall

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 8 June 2020.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE POR STANDARDIZATION

COMITQ EUROPtEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPAISCHES KOMITEE POR NORMUNG

CBN·CBNBLBC Manqement Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels

C 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation In any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 81-73:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
EN 81-73:2020 (E)

Contents Page

European foreword 3
111.t;J"ocl.~~Oll •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• "-
1 ~C:OIJt!•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• !j

2 ~()J9111.cl1:l~t! .. t!,.t! ..t!llC:t!!i: •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• s

3 Terms and definitions ..............••••••••••••...................•••••••••••.................•••••••••••.................••••••••••••.................. S
4 List of sipificant hazards .....•••••••••••..................••••••••••••...................••••••••••••................•••••••••••.................•••6
5 Safety' requirements and/or protectlve measures 6
5.1 Basic requirements •................•••••••••••••..................•••••••••••••.................•••••••••••................••••••••••••................... 6
5.1.1 «ienel'al 11.-0\.'i.si()n•••••..................••••••••••••...................•••••••••••.................•••••••••••.................••••••••••••..................6
5.1.2 Designated landing(s) and fnput signal(s) 6
5.1.3 Recall means ...•••••••••••••..................•••••••••••••................•••••••••••.................••••••••••••...................••••••••••••...............7
5.1.4 J\llan11al recall device ...............•••••••••••...................••••••••••••...................•••••••••••................•••••••••••..................•• 7
5.1.5 Reactlon ()f stopped lift ..........•••••••••••.................••••••••••••..................•••••••••••••.................•••••••••••.................••• 7
5.1.6 Pro h I"b"IU()n
. Sign . ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 7
5.2 Interface requirements between the recall means and the lift control system 7
5.3 Behaviour of the lift on the receipt of a signal from recall means 7
5.3.1 <ieneral ...............•••••••••••••...................•••••••••••................•••••••••••..................••••••••••••...................••••••••••••.............. ~
6 Verification of safety requirements and/or protective measures 9
7 Information f()r use •................•••••••••••.................••••••••••••..................•••••••••••••.................•••••••••••................. 10
Annex A (inf()rmadve) Lift scenarios and interfaces 11
A.1 Lift scenarios forming a basis for the application of EN 81 • 73 11
A.2 Pro\'lslon of recall means and lift Interfaces 12
Annex B (lnf()rm.atlve) Maintenance requirements 13
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the essential
requirements ofDirectlve 2014/33/EU aimed to be covered 14
Bibliogt=aphy•••••••.................•••••••••••••..................••••••••••••.................•••••••••••................•••••••••••••...................••••••••••••...... 16

2
 EN 81-73:2020 (E)

Europeanforeword

This document (EN 81-73:2020) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 10 "Lifts,
escalators and moving walks", the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by [anuary 2021, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by July 2022.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 81-73:2016.

This document is a revision of EN 81-73:2016 in order to align its Annex ZA to the new format and
requirements as laid out in the EU Commission Standardization Request "M/549 C (2016) 5884 final".
During this revision no technical changes are made and the technical requirements of this document
remain identical to EN 81-73:2016.

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).

For relationship with EU Directive 2014/33/EC amended by 2006/42/EC, see informative Annex ZA,
which is an integral part of this document.

According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.

3
EN 81-73:2020 (E)

Introduction

This document is a type C standard as stated in EN ISO 12100:2010.

The lifts concerned and the extent to which hazards, hazardous situations and events are covered are
indicated in the scope of this document.
When provisions of this type C standard are different from those which are stated in type A or B
standards, the provisions of this type C standard take precedence over the provisions of the other
standards, for lifts that have been designed and built according to the provisions of this type C standard.
The function described in this document relates to the automatic return of the car(s) to a designated
landing and the removal of the lift(s) from service.
This document deals with
a) reducing the risk of passengers being trapped in a car in the event of a fire in a building,

b) helping the firefighters/rescue teams to check that the lift contains no trapped passengers since it
will be finally parked at a designated landing,

c) reducing the risk of passengers in the car being exposed to fire and smoke.

The contents of this document are based on the following assumptions:

- recall means initiates the signal to the lift causing a specific reaction of the lift;

building designers, architects or planners give careful consideration to specifying fire recall to lifts
as this document;

there is a clear separation between the functioning of the recall means and the lift control system;
and

recall means is operating as intended.

This document assumes that negotiation has taken place between the building designer and the lift
installer on the following:
- type of recall means and its interface (see EN 81-20:2020, 0.4.2);

- type and protection of switch in case of manual recall device;

number and location of designated landing(s);

suitable maintenance and verification plan is implemented; and

whether the lift parks with doors open or closed at the designated landing.

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 EN 81-73:2020 (E)

1 Scope
This document specifies the special provisions and safety rules describing the behaviour of lifts in the
event of fire in a building, on the basis of a recall signal( s) to the lift( s) control system.
This document applies to new passenger lifts and goods passenger lifts with all types of drives.
However, it may be used as a basis to improve the safety of existing passenger and goods passenger
lifts.
This document does not apply to:
lifts that remain in use in the event of fire, e.g. firefighters lifts as defined in EN 81-72:2020,

lifts used for the evacuation of a building.

2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 81-20:2020, Safetyrules for the construction and installation of lifts - Lifts for the transport of persons
and goods - Part 20: Passenger and goods passenger lifts

EN 81-50:2020, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts - Examinations and tests -
Part SO: Design rules, calculations, examinations and tests of lift components

EN 81-72:2020, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts - Particular applications for
passenger and goods passenger lifts- Part 72: Firefighters lifts

EN 81-77:2018, Safety rules for the construction and installations of lifts - Particular applications for
passenger and goods passenger lifts - Part 77: Lifts subject to seismic conditions

EN ISO 7010:2020, Graphical symbols - Safety colours and safety signs - Registered safety signs
(ISO 7010:2019)

EN ISO 12100:2010, Safety of machinery - General principles for design - Risk assessment and risk
reduction (ISO 12100:2010)

3 Terrns and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN ISO 12100:2010,
EN 81-20:2020 and EN 81-50:2020 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
- IEC Electropedia: available at htq,://www.electropedia.org/

- ISO Online browsing platform: available at htq,s://www.iso.org/obp/ui

3.1
building responsible person
person legally responsible for the building

5
EN 81-73:2020 (E)

3.2
building management system
BMS
system capable of making decisions based on information sent to it

3.3
designated landing
floor determined by the building evacuation strategy that allows persons leaving the lift to safely exit
the building or area of the building during a fire

3.4
manual recall device
manually operated device, e.g. break glass toggle switch, button or key switch, which, upon operation,
activates a signal, causing the lift under control to operate in the desired manner

4 List of significant hazards

This clause contains all the significant hazards, hazardous situations and events, as far as they are dealt
with in this document, identified by risk assessment as significant for lifts and which require action to
eliminate or reduce the risk. See Table 1.
Table 1 - Significant hazards dealt with in this document

No Hazards as listed in EN ISO 12100:2010, Requirements and clauses in this

Annexe document
1 Mechanical hazards 5.1.4, 5.1.5, 5.3.4, 5.3.5, 5.3.6, 5.3. 7
1 Trapping hazard 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
1 Impact hazard 5.3.2
3 Thermal hazard (Contamination by heat or smoke) 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
8 Inadequate design or location of displaying units 5.1.4, 5.1.6, 5.3.5, 5.3.6

5 Safety requirements and/ or protective measures

5.1 Basic requirements
S.1.1 General provision

The lift provided with recall means shall be taken out of normal service in the event of fire, by recalling
it to one of the designated landings.
See Figure A.1 for clarification.
S.1.2 Designated landing(s) and input signal(s)

The lift shall serve one or more designated landings. For each designated landing, there shall be a
corresponding input signal to the lift control system. The signal( s) shall be provided by a recall means.
On receipt of the first activated signal, the lift shall return to the corresponding designated landing in
accordance with 5.3. Other signals from recall means shall be ignored until the first signal is reset
See A2 for clarification of interface responsibilities.

6
 EN 81-73:2020 (E)

5.1.3 Recall means

A recall means, which creates signal(s) for the recall of the lift, shall be done by at least one of the
following:
a) manual recall device, e.g. key switch, firefighters lift switch (EN 81-72: 2020) of a firefighters lift; or

b) automatic means, e.g. BMS, fire detection system.

5.1.4 Manual recall device

Where a manual recall device is provided, it shall be

a) bi-stable in operation,

b) provided with clear visual indication on which position the switch is to avoid any error about its
position,

c) appropriately marked for its purpose. When accessible to all, the size of the sign shall be at least
50 mm and according to EN ISO 7010:2020, P020 "Do not use lift in the event of fire" without text,

d) located in the management centre of the building or at the designated landing, and

e) protected from misuse, e.g. by placing it behind a glass panel or located within a secure area. When
accessible to all, special tool is needed to reset See Introduction.

5.1.5 Reaction of stopped lift

Where a lift is stopped due to a fault condition, a signal from the recall means to the lift control system
shall not initiate starting of the lift.
5.1.6 Prohibition sign

A prohibition sign according to EN ISO 7010:2020, P020 "Do not use lift in the event of fire", shall be
displayed near the lift so that it is easily seen on all landings. The size of this sign shall be at least
50mm.
The following text may be added to the sign "Do not use lift in the event of fire".
5.2 Interface requirements between the recall means and the lift control system
Interruption of the interface connection shall initiate the fire recall of the lift as described in 5.3.
5.3 Behaviour of the lift on the receipt of a signal from recall means
5.3.1 General

The principle of the reaction of the lift in the event of fire is to return the car to a designated landing and
allow any passengers to exit
Input signals from recall means shall not override any of the following:
a) the electric safety devices;

b) the inspection operation (EN 81-20:2020, 5.12.1.5);

c) the emergency electrical operation (EN 81-20:2020, 5.12.1.6);

d) the behaviour of the lift in seismic mode (EN 81-77:2018, 5.10.4);

7
EN 81-73:2020 (E)

e) the remote alarm system.

S.3.2 When a signal is received from the recall means the lift shall react as follows:

a) all landing controls and controls in the car shall be rendered inoperative and all existing registered
calls shall be cancelled;

b) the door open and emergencyalarm buttons shall remain operative;

c) an audible signal shall sound on the car and in relevant machinery spaces immediately and while
the lift is under inspection operation, emergency electrical operation or any maintenance control.
The A-weighted sound pressure level of the audible warning shall be adjustable between 35 dB(A)
and 65 dB(A), initially set at 55 dB(A). The audible signal shall be cancelled when the lift is removed
from inspection operation, emergency electrical operation or any maintenance control;

NOTE Maintenance controls include, but are not limited to, the following functions:

prevention of movement of lift after the opening, by the use of a key, of any door providing access to the
pit;

prevention of movement of lift after return to normal operation of the lift from pit inspection station;

protection for maintenance operations; or

landing and car door bypass device(s).

d) the lift shall operate in the following way:

1) a lift parked at a landing, shall close the doors and travel nonstop to the designated landing. An
audible signal shall sound in the car until the doors are closed. At the latest when the actual
door dwell time exceeds 20 s, door protection device(s) shall be made inactive and the doors
shall attempt to close as defined in EN 81-20:2020, 5.3.6.2.2.1 b) 4);

2) a lift with manually operated or non-automatic power operated doors, if parked at a landing
with open doors, shall remain immobilised at that landing. If the doors are closed, the lift shall
travel non-stop to the designated landing;

3) a lift travelling away from the designated landing shall make a normal stop and reverse its
direction at the nearest possible landing without opening the doors and return to the
designated landing;

4) a lift travelling towards the designated landing shall continue its travel non-stop to the
designated landing. If the lift has already started stopping at a level, it is acceptable to make a
normal stop and without opening doors to continue its travel to the designated landing.

S.3.3 The automatic dispatch to the lowest landing as defined in EN 81-20:2020, 5.12.1.10, shall be
rendered inoperative.

S.3.4 The breakdown of a lift in a group of interconnected lifts shall not affect the return of other lifts
to the designated landing.

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 EN 81-73:2020 (E)

S.3.S On arriving at the designated landing, lifts with power-operated doors shall open their doors
and make audible ( e.g. speech message) and/or visual indication ( e.g. text message such as "fire alarm -
lift out of service - exit now"). The A-weighted sound pressure level of the audible signal shall be
adjustable between 35 dB(A) and 65 dB(A), initially set at 55 dB(A). The lift shall then operate
according to 5.3.5 a) or b], provided the latter is permitted by national building regulations (see
Introduction):

a) At the latest when the actual door dwell time exceeds 20 s, the car and landing doors shall be closed
and the lift shall be removed from service. The door open and emergency alarm buttons shall
remain operative. To enable the fire service to check whether the car is present and persons are not
trapped, any landing call at the designated landing shall initiate opening of the doors of the lift
which is at the corresponding designated landing for maximum 20 s.

NOTE 1 In any case, the doors can be opened by hand, as required by EN 81-20:2020, 5.3.15.1.

b) According to national regulations and where a safe area is provided in front of the lift landing doors
at the designated landing( s), the lift may park there with car and landing doors open. The lift shall
be removed from service.

NOTE 2 It is recognized that lift landing doors parked open can offer no resistance to fire and so it is
essential that the building design allow for this.

S.3.6 On arriving at the designated landing, lifts with manually operated doors shall be removed from
service, unlock the door(s) and shall make audible (e.g. speech message) and/ or visual indication (e.g.
text message such as "fire alarm - lift out of service - exit now"). The A-weighted sound pressure level
of the audible signal shall be adjustable between 35 dB(A) and 65 dB(A), initially set at 55 dB(A).

S.3.7 The lift shall automatically reset to normal operation when signal(s) from recall means are
reset

6 Verification of safety requirements and/ or protective measures

Safety requirements and/ or protective measures of Clauses 5 and 7 shall be verified according to the
Table 2 below.

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EN 81-73:2020 (E)

Table 2 - Verification table

Compliance Design
Visual Functional
Subclauses with the lift document
inspection a testd
designh cheek=
5.1.1 x x
5.1.2 x x x x
5.1.3 x x
5.1.4 x x x
5.1.5 x
5.1.6 x
5.2 x x
5.3.1 x
5.3.2 x x x x
5.3.3 x
5.3.4 x
5.3.5 x
5.3.6 x
5.3.7 x
Clause 7 x
a The results of the ''Visual inspection" are only to show that something is present (a marking, a
control panel, an instruction handbook), that the marking required satisfies the requirement
and that the content of the documents delivered to the owner is in accordance with the
requirements.
b The results of the "Compliance with the lift design" are to prove that the lift is built according to
the design and that the components/devices comply with the design documents.
e The results of the "Design document check" are to prove that the design requirements of this
document have been matched "on paper'' in the design documentation (layout, specification).
d The results of the "Functional test" are to show that the lift works as intended, including the
safety devices.

7 Information for use

Instructions shall be passed to the building responsible person in the instruction handbook (owner
documentation) of the lift describing the behaviour of the lift in the event of fire, and the need to
maintain and to periodically test that the fire alarm system is in working order.
Instructions are needed to verify and periodically test the functionality independent of a signal from the
building side.

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 EN 81-73:2020 (E)

Annex A
(informative)

Lift scenarios and interfaces

At Lift scenarios forming a basis for the application of EN 81-73

start

ls the 1111 designed lo NO

be llll8d In the event of
fire?

YES

In Iha event of tire, the lft

For tlretlghlars IIIIB i.a shall be pnMlnlad from
EN 81-72. doing mora than one alngla
For 8VBal8tion use a travel lo a daslgnalad
relevant standard. landing according lo this
Bland.-d.

At least one manual l9C8II devlca

shall be provldad lo sand the 1111 lo
the main designated landing, and
than shut Iha lift down. NO Is Iha bullding equiped
If manual recal device Is not with an aulDmatlc fire
available at the time of lft Initial clelaction and alann
verification the functionality of syatem?
automalic recall shall be verified in
other means.
YES

Means shall be providad lo Does the fire alann

NO
send Iha Ifft lo the main system Indicate on
designated landing, and then which landing(s) the
shut the Ifft down tire Is located?

YES

Means shal be provldad lo

sand the lft lo Iha main
daafgnalad landing or ID an
altamativa daslgnatad landing
(which Is not on tire) and than
shut the lift down

Figure A.1- Lift scenarios forming a basis for the application of EN 81-73

11
EN 81-73:2020 (E)

A.2 Provision of recall means and lift interfaces

Figure A.2 illustrates the interface between recall means and lift control(s).

1 I lit" A
I
I
I 3
2 • 4 e- 5
I
e-1-c
Key
A boundary
B building
c lift
1 interface wiring
2 recall means
3 lift control interface (via terminals)
4 lift control systems
5 lifts

Figure A.2 - Interfaces

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 EN 81-73:2020 (E)

Annexe
(informative)

Maintenance requirements

In order to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the lift in case of fire, it is essential that proper
planned maintenance be carried out on a regular basis.
Maintenance requires a joint effort by the building responsible person for the day-to-day operation of
the building and the lift maintenance contractor.
The building responsible person should organize regular checks of the lift to ensure it operates in
accordance with the instructions. These checks would normally include
operation of the recall means to check the lift returns to the designated landing,

on arrival at the designated landing, ensure the lift opens the doors for maximum 20 s before
closing again and keeps it closed or keeps the doors open in according with the alternative versions
of 5.3.5,

- to ensure the lift does not respond to car calls and landing calls at any other floors than
corresponding designated landing and door open button remain operative,

if the lift is connected to BMS or fire detection system to ensure that the lift respond to the signals
from the BMS.

The lift maintenance contractor should advise the building responsible person of any need to change
components or parts of the lift to ensure proper function.
The lift maintenance contractor should make the annual test as requested by the building responsible
person and record the correct operation of all aspects of the lift(s).
The building responsible person should advise the lift maintenance contractor of any changes between
BMS and lift interface or devices to ensure proper function of lift.

13
EN 81-73:2020 (E)

AnnexZA
(informative)

Relationship between this European Standard and the essential

requirements of Directive 2014/33/EU aimed to be covered

This European Standard has been prepared under a Commission's standardization request
"M/549 C(2016) 5884 final" to provide one voluntary means of conforming to essential
requirements of Directive 2014/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26
February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to lifts and safety
components for lifts (recast).
Once this standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union under that Directive
compliance with the normative clauses of this standard given in Table ZA.1 and Table ZA.2 confers,
within the limits of the scope of this standard, a presumption of conformity with the corresponding
essential requirements of that Directive and associated EFTA regulations.
Table ZA.1 - Correspondence between this European Standard and Annex I of Directive
2014/33/EU
Essential health and Clause(s)/sub-clause(s) of this EN Remarks/Notes
safety requirements of
Annex I to Directive
2014/33/EU
1.1 See below Table ZA.2
1.6.2 5.1.2 Designated landing(s) and input Control devices
signal(s)
5.1.3 Recall means

4.1 5.3.2 d) 1) Door protection against

When a signal is received from the recall crushing
means
4.4 5 Safety requirements and/or protective Prevention of entrapment in
measures case of fire
4.10 5 Safety requirements and/ or protective Preventing the usage of lift in
measures case of fire
6.2 a) 7 Information for use Instructions of the lift
describing the behaviour of
the lift in the event of fire,
maintenance

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 EN 81-73:2020 (E)

Table ZA.2 - Correspondence between this European Standard and Annex I of Directive
2006/42/EC

Essential health and Clause(s)/sub-clause(s) of this EN Remarks/Notes

safety requirements of
Annex I to Directive
2006/42/EC
1.2.2 5.1.4 Manual recall device

WARNING 1 - Presumption of conformity stays valid only as long as a reference to this European
Standard is maintained in the list published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Users of this
standard should consult frequently the latest list published in the Official Journal of the European
Union.

WARNING 2 - Other Union legislation may be applicable to the product(s) falling within the scope of
this standard.

15
EN 81-73:2020 (E)

Bibliography

[1] EN 54-1:2011, Fire detection and fire alarm systems· Part 1: Introduction

[2] EN 54-2:1997, Fire detection and fire alarm systems - Part 2: Control and indicating equipment

[3] EN 14604:2005, Smoke alarm devices

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