CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

A fire alarm system includes components operating together to detect and alarm people by

visual and audio methods when smoke, fire or other dangers occurred. It also can notify the fire

department and control all the fire alarm devices in the area. That is how we see it nowadays.

However, fire alarm system has not only been around recently, but it has been existed for a

long time. According to Life Safety Consultants website, the first fire alarm system was invented

on 1852 by Dr. William F. Channing and Moses Farmer. The system comprised of two fire alarm

boxes that had a telegraphic key and a hand leach. If a fire was found in a home or business,

somebody would need to reach inside one of the boxes and wrench the handle so that it can send

an alert to a close-by alarm station.

An operator at the station would then take the message and notify the fire department so that

they could send help. It was a significant procedure and required several steps.

Francis Robbins Upton was the man responsible for designing the first electric fire alarm, but

when he patented the design in 1890, the patenting office mistakenly recorded it as the “Portable

Electric Tire Alarm”.

Surprisingly, the plan for his system was not that popular when it was first presented, but

after some time, people started to understand the need for a more developed fire alarm system like

1
this one.

The alarms of today, It was not until the 21st century that modern day systems were introduced

and with the introduction of the British Standards Specifications Alarm Systems are more and

more vital to business and everyday life. The feeling of total security in both home and business

can’t be measured in pounds and pence or dollars and cents. Knowing that if the worst happens

and a fire breaks out, lives and the possessions inside the building are given the best advantage

possible must surely rate high on the ‘must have’ list.

1.2 Motivation of the Study

There is need and necessity to save lives and properties, the reason to have a fire alarm. A

combination of smoke and heat detectors, sirens and bells, and strobe lights detect fires and alert

building occupants, giving them ample time to evacuate in an orderly fashion. The strobe lights

and sirens do not actively put out fires but alert the people who can. The fire control process

begins when trained personnel attack a small fire with an extinguisher and bystanders, guests, or

call the fire department. Monitored Fire Alarm Systems automatically notify emergency

responders and fire trucks dispatch to your location without delay. The faster these responses

happen, the sooner the fire is extinguished and the less damage the building sustains.

1.3 Statement of Problems

The Problem statements among the others include:

a) Structure damage. Buildings provide the "shell" that safeguards collections, operations and

occupants from weather, pollution, vandalism and numerous other environmental elements.

2
A fire can destroy walls, floors, ceiling/roof assemblies and structural support, as well as systems

that illuminate, control temperature and humidity, and supply electrical power. This can in turn

lead to content harm, and expensive relocation activities.

b) Injury or loss of life and properties. The lives of people and properties can be endangered but

with Fire Alarm System that gives an Alert, swift action is taken to control the fire outbreak.

1.4 Aim and Objective of the Study

The aim of this project is to construct Fire Alarm System. The objectives include:

a) To build new fire alarm and smoke detector sensor using image analysis.

b) To differentiate smoke using image analysis.

1.5 Research Questions

Few among the research questions includes;

a) What is the height of the building; is it classified as a high-rise

b) Does the code require a Building Fire Alarm System or possibly just a dedicated function

system?

c) Will the system be utilized solely for fire alarm notification or will it provide other

messages?

d) Who will be providing the inspection, testing and maintenance?

e) everything) Are there any special considerations in the building or specifications?

3
1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

There are two main parts of fire alarm systems:

(a) The public fire alarm system

(b) The private fire alarm system.

The public fire-alarm boxes are connected to the fire station by dedicated lines. These alarms

boxes also perform the function of relaying calls initiated from private fire detection system to the

fire station automatically. The private fire alarm detections system is used to monitor particular

limited properties. They are installed in among other places, offices and business premises,

industrials and commercial undertakings, theatres, cinemas department stores, schools, old people

homes, hospitals and hotels.

Fire detection system consist of the control center including its power supply (mains

equipment and battery) with the principal functions of indication control activating alarms and

system management, the alarm units connected through call circuits, the monitored and

unmonitored lines for controlling the local alarm and information equipment, the fire protection

equipment and the circuit to the fire brigade.

Smoke detectors, even when working properly, have sensing limitations. Detectors that have

photo-electronic sensing chambers tend to detect smoldering fires better than flaming fires, which

have little visible smoke. Detectors that have ionizing-type sensing chambers tend to detect fast

flaming fires better than smoldering fires. Because fires develop in different ways and are often

unpredictable in their growth, neither type of detector is necessarily best and a given type of

4
detector may not provide adequate warning of a fire.

1.7 Significance of the Study

There are a number of critical issues that are solved with fire alarm system. When designing a

fire alarm system, the most important issue is fast detection, notification, and evacuation.

Smoke Detectors are used in hallways, business offices, break rooms, and restrooms. They are

also used in dusty areas like warehouses, attics, basements, or in shop environments to avoid fire

outbreak.

1.8 Organization of the Study

The various stages involved in the development of this project have been properly put into

five chapters to enhance comprehensive and concise reading. In this project thesis, the project is

organized sequentially as follows:

Chapter one of this work is on the introduction to a fire alarm. In this chapter, the background,

significance, objective limitation and problem of a fire alarm were discussed.

Chapter two is on literature review of a fire alarm. In this chapter, all the literature pertaining to

this work was reviewed.

Chapter three is on design methodology. In this chapter all the method involved during the design

and construction were discussed.

Chapter four is on testing analysis. All testing that result accurate functionality was analyzed.

5
Chapter five is on conclusion, recommendation and references.

6
 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Overview of Findings

The Literature Review demonstrated that fire alarm and detection systems are a fundamental

aspect of means of escape and evacuation strategies and their importance is clearly documented in

the guidance to the fire safety requirements of Building Regulations 2010 (Approved Document

B) which governs the design of new and refurbished buildings. Furthermore, the guidance written

in support of the legislation covering fire safety in occupied buildings, (The Regulatory Reform

(Fire Safety) Order 2005), similarly recognizes the importance of early fire detection and alarm,

as did its predecessor, The Fire Precautions Act 1971. It is unsurprising therefore, that this

fundamental pillar of fire safety strategy is underpinned by a comprehensive suite of standards

which cover the detectors themselves (BS EN 54) and their design, installation, commissioning

and servicing (BS 5839) and great strides have been made in respect of both the independent

accreditation of installers and of the equipment. (Stuart Campbell, Jonathan O’Neill 2018)

2.2 Testing and Accreditation

1. Whilst the Standard for Fire Alarm and Detection Products is not a mandated Standard in

the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) which has been such a major driver for the

certification of products in the construction sector; compatibility testing to the requirements of

EN 54 (the relevant standard) is becoming more important and specifiers around Europe are

asking for test reports to show systems comprising of all the components of a fire alarm system

7
work satisfactorily with fire alarm panels.

2. The majority of fire alarm and detection systems in the UK are installed to the relevant

part of the British Standard 5839 – which states “The reliability of the system to perform its

functions on demand will be governed by the reliability of individual components. In general, it is

advisable that all components, such as manual call points, detectors, control and indicating

equipment and fire alarm devices, comply with relevant British Standards, and have undergone

type testing to these standards. It is advisable to use components having certification under a

recognised product certification scheme (comprising third -party certification of product

conformity against a relevant standard), based on testing and continuing surveillance, together

with assessment of the manufacturer’s quality assurance systems against BS EN ISO 9000).”

3. This strong endorsement of independently third party accredited and tested products plus

the introduction of CPR have resulted in much of the equipment for fire alarm and detection

systems sold in the UK being third party accredited. The LPCB/BRE scheme (LPS1014) requires

the use of such equipment whereas the British Approval for Fire Equipment (BAFE) scheme

(SP203-1) does not.

2.3 Accreditation of installers

1. The two schemes that exist both recognise the importance of providing compliant fire

detection and alarm systems and therefore assist in minimising false alarms. The Loss Prevention

Certification Board LPS1014 scheme comprises of more than 50 firms engaged in the design,

installation, commissioning and servicing of fire detection and alarm systems.

8
2. Recognizing that not all companies undertake, design, installation and commissioning and

even if they do the nature of contracting will often mean that different firms will be

commissioned to undertake different elements of the process; the British Approval for Fire

Equipment (BAFE) Fire Detection and Alarm Systems SP203-1 is a modular scheme. In line with

industry practice and demand therefore, the scheme has been split into four modules. System

Design, Installation, Commissioning/Handover and Maintenance. There are currently some 200

British Approval for Fire Equipment (BAFE) registered fire alarm installers.

3. Whilst there is a widely held belief that the use of competent third party accredited

installers should greatly assist in the reduction of false and unwanted alarms, there are no large or

major studies to justify this theory. The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), now the

National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) working with the Fire Industry Association (FIA - the trade

association representing the majority of manufacturers and installers of fire detection and alarm

equipment) and others including end users have made several attempts in recent years to

introduce protocols and codes of practice, centered on the need for properly tested and accredited

equipment, installed and maintained by third party accredited installers, similar to the approach

the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have taken with intruder systems and installers.

Unfortunately, the move to locally derived attendance standards driven by the Integrated Risk

Management Plans has resulted in a divergence of response arrangements, with virtually no two

fire and rescue services having common polices to response to automatic fire alarms throughout

the whole of the UK. Clearly this is problematic for end-users with anything but a local presence;

9
it makes gathering evidence on the effectiveness of policies such as the effect of the use of third

party accredited equipment and installers and appears to have had no discernible impact on the

levels of false or unwanted alarms.

2.4 Smoke Detections

1. It is Fire Protection Association (FPA) and RISC Authority’s view that the root of the

problem is the detection devices themselves. Whilst they are called ‘smoke detectors’ and do

indeed respond to smoke, they respond to other stimuli too, and of course not all smoke originates

from a source that demands F&RS attendance. In short, the current installed ‘single species’

measurement technology is not providing an alert that is believable enough to commit scant

F&RS resources to, or benefit any of the other stakeholder groups, and as such this is seen as the

single most important factor that needs addressing in this ABI / FPA study.

2. At the time that the current guidance on Building Regulations was written, only relatively

simple (single phenomena) heat or smoke detectors were available for supporting life safety. It is

FPA’s belief that these are the source of the problem – they are poor at exclusively recognizing a

fire and this is a view which is being increasingly recognized by international academic studies.

3. During the past 10 years, ‘multiple species’ devices have entered the market, and these

are very much more discerning with an anticipated performance of 80%-90% believability – an

amount that could radically alter the requirement for the currently adopted poor behaviors by all

parties.

4. In 2014 Fire Protection Association (FPA) lobbied hard for these devices to be mandated

in all new high-risk environments but there were too few suppliers of such at this time for the

10
initiative to gain traction. The situation has now changed, and this project sought to bring together

the three biggest providers with like-minded influential representatives from the Fire & Rescue

Service to promote their requirement in any future review of building regulation.

2.5 Multi Sensor Detectors

1. A dependable fire alarm provides the best possibility of early intervention which will have

significant benefits for the safety of personnel and preservation of property and business viability.

Fires accelerate as they grow; within the space of 2 to 5 minutes an incident may change from one

where the F&RS may have an opportunity to control the fire at source, saving the building and

where appropriate the business; to one where the only job left to do is protect adjacent properties

from radiated heat and direct fire spread.

2. ‘Reliability’ in fire detection inevitably leads to the use of devices that can sample

multiple fire emissions. Valid fire fingerprinting species include ‘heat’, ‘smoke’, ‘carbon

monoxide’, and ‘light’ (visible, UV, and IR). In isolation, none of these will describe the presence

of fire with great reliability, but if they are combined the potential for false alarms reduces

dramatically with every introduced species. A sensor capable of simultaneous measurement of

heat, smoke and carbon dioxide instantly becomes discerning enough to not trigger on the

presence of a cigarette smoker, steam production from a shower, burning of the morning toast, or

use of vehicles within the protected space, but it will respond to a fire.

3. In pursuit of reliable detection systems, industry has responded and these devices are

readily available in a format for drop in detector replacement to many modern alarm systems

commonly in use in the commercial environment requiring only in addition reprogramming of the

11
alarm panel. FPA has investigated the detectors in depth and found them to be highly dependable

for reliable alarm provision.

2.6 Immunity tests

1. The European product standards for smoke detectors comprehensively specify, test

methods and performance criteria for products used in fire detection systems installed in buildings

and whilst they are quite correctly prescriptive in the performance of tests needed to trigger a

response they are silent on the factors or scenarios that should not. Research confirms that the

majority of false or unwanted alarms are caused by a reasonably small number of common

encountered scenarios to which modern multi sensor equipment, detects / monitors but will only

alarm when a combination of factors determines the need.

2. Until recently work on these ‘immunity’ tests had been restricted to a small number of

academic institutions in the US and Germany and manufacturers own facilities and there were

concerns about the repeatability of such tests. A newly published project sponsored by the Federal

Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Building Research Establishment (BRE) Trust has confirmed

work originally undertaken by the University of Duisberg Essen and suggests a higher degree of

repeatability and expresses confidence that this could be incorporated into standard relatively

soon.

12
 CHAPTER THREE

3.1 Fire Alarm Circuit

The most essential electronic device at home or industry or any other place where there is

a chance of fire accident is a fire alarm circuit. The fire alarm circuit can be defined as an

electronic circuit used for identifying fire accident and alert. Thus, by using the fire alarm circuit,

we can avoid financial loss and also save people from dangerous fire accidents.

Figure 3.1: Circuit Diagram of Fire Alarm/ Smoke Detector

3.2 Components for Fire Alarm Circuit

1. Stepdown Transformer (220V/12V)

2. Voltage Regulator (LM 7805)

3. Capacitor (1000uf/25V)

4. Diode (IN4007)

5. Light Emitting Diode

6. Amplifier (LM358)

13
7. Buzzer

8. Sensor (MQ-6)

9. Switch

1. Stepdown Transformer (220V/12V)

A step-down transformer has more primary windings than the secondary side. For a step-

down transformer, the second coil has fewer windings than the first, allowing for a

decrease in voltage in the exiting electrical stream. ... The alternating current flowing in at

the primary voltage creates an alternating magnetic flux.

Figure 3.2: Stepdown transformer

2. Voltage Regulator (LM 7805)

A voltage regulator is a circuit that creates and maintains a fixed output voltage,

irrespective of changes to the input voltage or load conditions. Voltage regulators (VRs)

keep the voltages from a power supply within a range that is compatible with the other

electrical components.

14
 Figure 3.3: LM7805 Pinout Diagram

3. Rectifying Circuit

A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current, which periodically

reverses direction, to direct current, which flows in only one direction. The reverse

operation is performed by the inverter. The process is known as rectification, since it

"straightens" the direction of current.

Figure 3.4: rectifying circuit

4. Capacitor (1000uf/25V)

A capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy in an electric field. It is a passive

electronic component with two terminals. The effect of a capacitor is known as

capacitance.

15
 Figure 3.5: component diagram of a capacitor

5. Diode (IN4007)

A diode is a device which allows current flow through only one direction. That is the

current should always flow from the Anode to cathode. The cathode terminal can be

identified by using a grey bar as shown in the picture above.

For 1N4007 Diode, the maximum current carrying capacity is 1A it withstands peaks up to

30A. Hence we can use this in circuits that are designed for less than 1A.  The reverse

current is 5uA which is negligible. The power dissipation of this diode is 3W.

Figure 3.6: component and circuit diagram of a diode

6. Light Emitting Diode

Light emitting diodes, commonly called LEDs, are real unsung heroes in the

electronics world. It does dozens of different jobs and are found in all kinds of devices.

Among other things, it form numbers on digital clocks, transmit information from remote

controls, light up watches and tell you when your appliances are turned on. Collected

together, they can form images on a jumbo television screen or illuminate a traffic light.

16
 Basically, LEDs are just tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. But unlike

ordinary incandescent bulbs, they don't have a filament that will burn out, and they don't

get especially hot. They are illuminated solely by the movement of electrons in a

semiconductor material, and they last just as long as a standard transistor.

Figure 3.7: component diagram of light emitting diode

7. Amplifier (LM358)

LM358 is a dual op-amp IC integrated with two op-am ps powered by a common power

supply. It can be considered as one half of LM324 Quad op-amp which contains four op-

amps with common power supply. The differential input voltage range can be equal to that

of power supply voltage. The default input offset voltage is very low which is of

magnitude 2mV. The typical supply current is 500uA independent of the supply voltage

range and a maximum current of 700uA. The operating temperature ranges from 0˚C to

70˚C at ambient whereas the maximum junction temperature can be up to 1.

17
 Figure 3.8: LM358 Pinout Amplifier

8. Buzzer

A buzzer or beeper is an audio signaling device, which may be mechanical, electromechanical,

or piezoelectric. Typical uses of buzzers and beepers include alarm devices, timers, and

confirmation of user input such as a mouse click or keystroke.

Figure 3.9: Component diagram of a Buzzer

9. Sensor (MQ-6)

A gas detector is a device that detects the presence of gases in an area, often as part of a safety

system. A gas detector can sound an alarm.

18
 Figure 3.10: Component diagram of MQ-6 Sensor

10. A Switch

A switch is an electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in

an electrical circuit, interrupting the electric current or diverting it from one conductor to

another.

Figure 3.11: Circuit diagram of a Switch

3.3 System Operation

When Power cord of the fire alarm/smoke detector is plugged to 220V a.c source with power

switch turned "ON" a voltage of 12V a.c is supplied across a. c terminals of full wave bridge

rectifier for voltage rectification to 12 d.c. The 12 d.c from rectifier is smoothed by a filter

capacitor in order to obtain clean d.c voltage.The 12 d.c from rectifier is regulated to 5V d.c

for powering MQ-6 sensor. The MQ-6 sensor makes use of 5V for its operations. When there

is no smoke present around the MQ-6 sensor, the buzzer will remain silent the buzzer

19
 sound/raise an alarm when there is present of smoke around the sensor.This smoke detector/

fire alarm works with the aid of comparator and MQ-6 sensor which senses or detect smoke.

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Construction Procedure and Testing

In building this project, the following procedures were properly considered,

1. Purchasing of the entire materials/ Components needed.

2. Resistance check of the components bought with the help of Ohmmeter before making the

necessary connection with the components.

3. Drafting out a schematic diagram on how to arrange the materials/components.

4. Testing the completed system to see if the design works and

5. Finally, implementation of the design of the project.

Having procured all the materials, the arrangements of the components into the board was

carried out, properly soldering of the components then followed. The components were all

soldered into the board after which they are correctly confirmed done.

20
4.2 Casing and Packaging

The casing of this project comprises of internal and external packaging. Internal parts of the

circuit were soldered and fixed inside the case. Then after that, follow by external components

such as Sensor (MQ-6), Switch and the Indicator.

4. Mode of Operation

When Power cord of the fire alarm/smoke detector is plugged to 220V a.c source with power

switch turned "ON" a voltage of 12V a.c is supplied across a. c terminals of fullwave bridge

rectifier for voltage rectification to 12 d.c. The 12 d.c from rectifier is smoothed by a filter

capacitor in order to obtain clean d.c voltage. The 12 d.c from rectifier is regulated to 5V d.c for

powering MQ-6 sensor. The MQ-6 sensor makes use of 5V for its operations. When there is no

smoke present around the MQ-6 sensor, the buzzer will remain silent the buzzer sound/raise an

alarm when there is present of smoke around the sensor.

This smoke detector/ fire alarm works with the aid of comparator and MQ-6 sensor which

senses or detect smoke

4.4 Problem Encountered

It is known that every Engineering work goes with one or more problem, which enhances

research and probably technological advancement to engineer while endeavoring to resolve such

problem. Therefore, the project on discussion stuffers some noticeable drawback, which include;

Mechanical problem: it was found that it is difficult to install all the external components, but

after the effort was made the aim was later achieved.

21
22
 CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Conclusion

This course of undergoing this project has disclosed numerous important thing about fire alarm/

smoke detector. Ranging from its economic importance and recommendation based on the use of

fire alarm/ smoke detector. Hence with the successful design and construction of this project, a

more efficient if saving lives and properties is provided. The fire alarm/smoke detector can be

used at Factories, Homes, Hotel, Company etc.

5.2 Recommendation

This project was designed to be used in Homes, industries and some other places to detect fire

outbreak easily to avoid loss of life and properties.

One will need power the circuit with 220v power supply, and it should be out in mind that the

switch should be put ON always.

23
 REFERENCES

Electronics Technology by B. L Theraja and A. J Theraja (1995): Illustrative Edition. A textbook

of Electrical Technology. IN S. I. UNITS. Volume II. AC & DC MACHINE.

Encyclopedia of Electronics by Neil Sclater (1990). Encyclopedia of Electronics by Neil Sclater;

Stan Gibilisco;. Print book. English.

Allan R. Hambley. Electronics Second Edition, " understanding circuit" professor of Electrical

Engineering at Michigan Tech. Or

Tony R. Kuohaldt (1997): “How to Design Circuit s".

Standard Reference Designation for Electrical and Electronics parts and Equipment: IEEE 299-

1975 (Reaffirmed 1988): Section 4.1.5.3 (2). IEEE and ANSI, New York, NY. 1975.

ASME, Fairfield, NJ. (2008): Reference Designation for Electrical and Electronics parts and

Equipment: ASME Y14. 44-2008

24