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APP’D
GAI
Genaral Revision
DESCRIPTION
ORGINATED
By: VRF
DATE: 08/06/09
Approved by the Engineering Standards Committee (ESC) on
CERTIFIED
13 Muharram 1423 ( March 27, 2002)
By: RRB/GAI
DATE: 08/06/13
APPROVED
By: A.S.
MAJHOOD
DATE: 08/06/13
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 SCOPE
2.1 General
2.2 Circuit Design
2.3 Zones
7.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
SESB001/DB PAGE: 2 OF 15
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
1.0 SCOPE
This Standard specifies the minimum technical requirements for design, installation,
testing and performance of Fire Alarm Systems intended to be used in the electrical
system of Saudi Electricity Company, Eastern Region Branch (SEC-ERB), Saudi Arabia.
The fire alarm system shall be complete with fire protective signaling panel, repeater
panel (if necessary), automatic fire detectors, manual fire alarm stations, visual and
audible alarm indicating devices, associated circuits, data printer, warning signs and
ancillary equipment.
2.1 General
The design of a Fire Alarm Systems shall incorporate and ensure the safety of
human and property of the substations, power plants, control buildings and other
critical facilities and buildings in non-critical facilities such as offices, clinics and
warehouses, etc. through fire detection and alarm system and other devices
intended to ensure the reliability of services. Definitions related to fire alarm
systems and its design and installation of all materials and equipment shall be per
NFPA 72(1999) and latest edition of NFPA 70 and SEC-ERB Materials Standard
Specifications (SMSS) referred hereunder, unless otherwise specified.
2.2.1 All components of fire alarm system shall be new and compatible with the
fire protective signaling panel and the circuits extending from this panel.
2.2.2 The number of fire alarm initiating devices (automatic fire detectors and
manual fire alarm stations) in one circuit and the connecting cable shall be
such that the reliability of operation of fire alarm system is maintained in
all respect. If signals from manual fire alarm stations and other fire alarm
initiating devices within a building are transmitted over the same
signaling line circuit, there shall be no interference with manual fire alarm
station signals when both types of initiating devices are operated at the
same time.
2.2.3 Fault in the alarm circuits shall be supervised, which shall generate a
trouble signal at the control point. Means like end-of-line resistor. shall be
provided for routine testing of wiring of each zone of the fire alarm
system where automatic indication of cable fault has not been provided.
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
2.2.6 Fire alarm system shall be designed to minimize any disruption during
maintenance and testing of any alarm initiating devices. Provisions shall
be made such that testing of individual detector shall neither sound an
alarm nor require the complete system to be disabled to prevent such an
alarm. Initiating device, notification appliance shall be connected in
respective circuits with proper DC polarity.
2.2.7 Initiating device, notification appliance and signaling line circuits shall be
designated by class or style, or both per Table 3-5, 3-6 and 3-7 of NFPA
72 and wired per applicable diagrams shown in Figures A7-2.2 (a) of
NFPA 72 depending on the capability of the circuit to continue to operate
during specified fault conditions.
2.2.8 All style of Class A circuits using physical conductors (metallic or optical
fiber) shall be installed per NFPA 72. Automatic fire detectors monitoring
different zones shall not be connected in the same signalling circuit,
except for fire extinguishing purpose.
2.2.9 Field installations that interconnect two or more fire protective signaling
panels, possibly from different manufacturers shall preserve the
reliability, adequacy and integrity of all alarm, supervisory and trouble
signals and interconnecting circuits per NFPA 72. Where interconnected
fire protective signalling panels/repeater panels are in separate buildings,
interconnecting wirings shall be protected from electrical and radio
frequency interference, or alternatively, fiber optic cable network shall be
used.
2.2.10 Where fire alarm system is used for partial evacuation or relocation of
occupants, a single notification appliance circuit shall not serve more than
one notification zone. The system shall be designed such that failure of
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
2.2.11 Alarm-initiating devices and supervisory signal initiating devices are not
permitted on the same initiating device circuit. Shorting-type initiating
devices shall not be used without an additional current or voltage-limiting
element.
2.2.12 Connections to the light and power service shall be on a dedicated branch
circuits. The circuits and connections shall be mechanically protected.
Circuit disconnecting means shall have red marking and shall be
accessible only to authorized personnel and shall be identified as FIRE
ALARM CIRCUIT CONTROL. Where fire alarm circuits are intermixed
with other circuits in terminal boxes, the same shall be identified by a tag
marked as “FIRE ALARM CIRCUIT”. All fire alarm circuits shall be
numerically tagged at termination points.
2.2.13 In substations, power plants, control buildings and other critical facilities
alarm-initiating devices circuits shall be Class A, Style D type per NFPA
72. Signalling line circuits in the same facilities shall be Class A, Style 2
type. Notification appliance circuits in the same facilities shall be Class A,
Style Z.
2.3 Zones
2.3.1 Protected area shall be divided into zones sufficiently limited in extent to
identify a precise location of the origin of a fire alarm initiation per NFPA
70 and NFPA 72. Accessibility, size, provisions for containment of smoke
and fire and the fire routine determined for the premises shall be
considered in determining the arrangement of zones.
2.3.2 For the purpose of alarm annunciation, each floor of the building shall be
considered as a separate zone. If a floor is subdivided by fire or smoke
barriers and the fire plan for the protected premises allows relocation of
occupants from the zone of origin to another zone on the same floor, each
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
zone of the floor shall be annunciated separately for the purpose of alarm
location.
2.3.3 A zone shall not extend beyond a single fire compartment, defined by
main walls, floor and ceiling of the compartment.
2.3.4 If a zone is subdivided into rooms, external alarm indicators shall be fitted
above the doors to indicate detectors within the room has operated. The
visible indications shall not be cancelled by the operation of an audible
alarm silencing means.
2.3.5 Visual annunciators shall be capable of displaying all zones in alarm. If all
zones in alarm are not displayed simultaneously, there shall be visual
indication that other zones are in alarm.
2.3.6 If manual fire alarm stations are included in an area, they shall be wired to
the detector circuit for that zone. If manual fire alarm stations are installed
on the staircase landing it may be preferable to wire them as a separate
zone.
2.3.7 If the alarm system serves more than one building, each building shall be
provided with a separate fire protective signaling panel. The fire
protective signaling panel at the main control building shall be considered
as “Master” and the fire protective signaling panels at the other buildings
shall be considered as “Sub-panels”. Repeater panel shall be provided in
security gate house.
All materials and equipment of the fire detection and alarm system shall be listed by
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) and/or Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FM)
or approved by an accredited testing organization acceptable to SEC-ERB.
3.1.1 Control functions for fire alarm system shall be performed by fire
protective signaling panel and remote annunciation by fire alarm repeater
panels per 90-SMSS-1. The panels shall have enclosure,
design/fabrication, marking, alarm indications by light emitting diode
(LED), supervisory buzzer and control switches per 90-SMSS-1. The
diagrams and operating instructions for the panels shall be provided per
90-SMSS-1.
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
3.1.2 Fire protective signaling panel for non-critical facilities shall be non-
microprocessor-based (conventional) type. For critical facilities such as
substations, power plants and control buildings, fire protective signaling
panel shall be microprocessor-based type.
3.1.3 For critical facilities such as power plants having multiple control
buildings, microprocessor-based fire protective signaling panel shall have
reporting terminals or graphical display unit in the control room/s and a
mimic board in the operations room of the plant fire station. Fire
protective signaling panels shall be connected by network communication
cables. The graphical unit display shall be composed of a high
performance industrial computer with text and graphic display capability
for all network events and fire alarm initiating points in the plant. The
hard-wired mimic panel shall show the status and alarm indications for
each zone of fire detection and protection systems. The graphical display
unit and mimic board shall also have provision for remote activation and
reset of fire suppression systems (if any).
3.1.4 Alarm notification appliances like bells, horns, lights, data printer, etc.
shall provide audible or visible or both notification of fire alarm on
monitored circuits per NFPA 72 and as follows:
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
3.1.5 Indoor audible alarm notification appliances like bells, buzzers and
chimes shall comply with the requirements of UL 464 and produce a
minimum sound level of 92 dB(A) at 3000mm distance or 5db(A) above
maximum background noise lasting for 60 seconds or longer measured at
3000mm distance and 1500mm above floor level, which shall be distinct
for its type from any other audible alarm at any point in the building.
Visible alarm notification appliances (flashing indicators) shall comply
with the requirements of UL 1638 and UL 1971.
3.1.6 Fire alarm sounders shall be distributed suitably throughout the building
considering the attenuation of sound by walls, floors, ceilings and
partitions. At least one fire alarm sounder per fire compartment shall be
provided and mounted above or adjacent to the entrance door. The same
shall be explosion-proof when mounted in hazardous areas like battery
room, etc. Fire alarm sounder provided in the same unit of automatic fire
detector (as base) and connected in a single loop may also be considered,
subject to review and approval by SEC-ERB.
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
a. The operation of a manual fire alarm station shall activate all fire
alarm sounders in the protected area and transmit a non-coded fire
alarm signal unless otherwise specified. The manual fire alarm station
shall be addressable/diagnostic type in critical facilities.
b. The manual fire alarm station shall be double action, pull-lever, fire-
retardant and surface-mounting type. A separate transparent,
unbreakable, lift-to-open front cover shall be provided on the manual
fire alarm station. The cover shall be weatherproof and UV stabilized
when installed outdoors. Manual fire alarm station shall be explosion-
proof when installed in hazardous areas like battery room, etc.
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
3.3.1 The primary and secondary (standby) power supply to fire protective
signalling panel and fire alarm repeater panels shall be per 90-SMSS-1.
3.3.2 Primary power supplies for light and (audible notification appliances)
power service shall be 220/127Vac and installed per NFPA 70 with over
current protection.
3.3.3 Power supply transfer from primary to secondary (standby) source shall
be automatic per NFPA 72.
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
3.3.4 Sealed lead-acid battery for 12Vdc or 24Vdc secondary power supply shall
generally comply with the requirements of 46-SMSS-4. Calculation for
sizing secondary (standby) power supply shall be furnished.
3.3.5 Battery charger with over current protection for sealed lead-acid battery
shall be a float-equalize charging unit per NFPA 72 and recharge the
battery within 48 hours from fully discharged condition.
3.3.6 Metering and supervision of primary power supply, battery charger and
battery and their installation shall be per 90-SMSS-1.
Fire alarm system shall have the capability to perform the following
supplementary functions when required:
3.5 Wiring
SEC-ERB approved warning signs shall be provided in all critical and non-
critical facilities.
4.1 Unless otherwise specified, automatic fire detectors in critical facilities like
substation, power plant and control building shall be provided per general
guidelines given in SES-P-119.21. Automatic fire detectors in non-critical
facilities including fire station, security gate house shall be provided per NFPA
72 depending on nature of fire hazard, quantity of smoke/heat developed, room
height and the possible causes of false fire alarms.
4.2 Fast developing smoking fires shall be detected by ionization smoke detector.
Computer room may be provided with very early warning type of smoke
detectors, subject to review and approval by SEC-ERB.
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
4.3 Slow developing (smoldering) fires shall be detected by photoelectric type smoke
detector.
4.4 For both smoldering and fast-flaming fire, intelligent (works on alarm
confirmation principle), multi-sensor (photoelectric smoke and heat) type
automatic fire detectors shall be used. Turbine hall excitation room, hydrogen
generation plant control room in power plant and kitchen area shall be provided
with this type of fire detector.
4.5 For both smoldering and fast-flaming fire in large or high ceiling areas, like
warehouse, main workshop building, etc. where other smoke detectors cannot be
easily installed, projected beam smoke detectors may be used.
4.6 Heat and flame detectors of explosion-proof type for indoor application shall be
used for fast-flaming fire, developing high degree of heat in areas like pump skid
to fuel tank, fuel oil pumping/unloading station, gasoline filling station and
hydrogen production/storage room in power plant. Heat detector shall be used in
Turbine hall machine room, lube oil room and all areas beneath the turbine-
generator operating floor in power plant. Rate-of-rise heat detectors shall not be
used where sudden temperature changes normally occur.
4.7 Explosion-proof infrared flame detectors (solar blind)/heat detector shall be used
in open, hazardous outdoor areas like petroleum fuel storage and power
transformer bay (except spare transformer) having 7570 liters or more quantity of
insulating oil, in a location where views are unobstructed to actuate the sprinkler
system.
5.1.1 Manual fire alarm stations shall be distributed throughout the protected
area so that they are unobstructed, readily accessible and located in the
normal path of exit from the area such that the travel distance to the
nearest station shall not exceed 30 meters measured horizontally on the
same floor.
5.1.2 Manual fire alarm stations shall be located within 1.5 meters of the exit
doorway opening at each exit on each floor.
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
5.1.3 Manual fire alarm stations shall be securely mounted on the wall at a
height of 1.1 meter to 1.37 meters from finished floor level.
5.1.4 Manual fire alarm stations shall be installed at suitable locations for
remote yard hazard.
5.2.1 Number, location, spacing and mounting arrangement of the fire detectors
shall depend upon the type of detectors, room/area geometry (size, ceiling
height and roof structure), type of application and ambient conditions and
shall be based on the criteria given in Chapter 2 and Appendix B of NFPA
72 and per manufacturer’s recommendation or per approved listing of the
detectors.
Fire protective signaling panel and repeater panels shall be installed in the
immediate vicinity of the main entrance of the building or fire exit or in an area
of low fire risk. The fire protective signaling panel can be floor-mounted or
installed on a vertical wall at a convenient height from the floor for ease of
maintenance and operation in a clean, dry, unobstructed location.
5.5 Grounding
5.5.1 All systems shall test free of grounds, except parts of circuits or
equipment that are intentionally and permanently grounded to provide
ground-fault detection, noise suppression, emergency ground signaling,
and circuit protection grounding.
5.5.2 All metallic conduits for fire alarm system wiring shall be grounded per
NFPA 70. Fire protective signaling panel and repeater panel shall be
grounded per 90-SMSS-1.
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Eastern Region Branch Saudi Electricity Company
5.6 Painting
All conduits, manual fire alarm stations and fire protective signaling panels for
fire alarm system shall be factory painted with flame red color (RAL 3000) per
SES-H-001.
6.3 Permanent records of all testing and commissioning of fire alarm systems along
with as-built drawings of the fire alarm systems shall be prepared per NFPA 72
and preserved as a reference for future maintenance and testing.
7.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
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