LIGHT CURRENT

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

THE PURPOSE OF FIRE ALARM

▪ Detect an occurrence.
▪ Alert the control panel and proper
authorities.
▪ Notify the occupants to take necessary
action.
 FIRE ALARM CODES
▪ THE EGYPTIAN CODE
▪ NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION
ASSOCIATION(NFPA)
▪ BRITISH STANDARD (BS)
Choosing the suitable type of
detectors depends on
▪ The nature of the areas that need to be
covered.
▪ The types of materials within the covered
areas.
▪ The compatibility of the selected detector to
the areas to be covered ( to avoid false
alarms)
Types of Fire Alarm System

▪ Conventional system.
▪ Addressable system.
▪ Intelligent Addressable system.
Conventional & Addressable
Conventional
▪ There is no way of define
exact location of fire.
▪ Class B
▪ Cost is cheap to buy but
more expensive to install
▪ Initial cost is low but
running cost is high due to
maintenance.
Addressable
▪ Each device has own
address so can telling
exactly location of fire.
▪ Class A
▪ More reliable because wire
connects from two sides.
Conventional & Addressable

Addressable & Conventional systems

▪ The panel is the main brain of the system and the processing
of alarms and signals are done by the panel.
▪ The field devices are only sending the signals to panel.

Intelligent Addressable system

▪ The detector includes a processor to define the type of
alarm/fault and then send the processed signal to panel to
take action directly.
▪ This system save processing time inside panel which
received from all devices.
Conventional SLD
Conventional Class B connection
Addressable SLD
Addressable Class A connection
Main System Components

▪ Automatic Detectors.
▪ Manual stations.
▪ Control / monitor modules.
▪ Fire alarm panels.
▪ Alarm / notification devices.
▪ Back up batteries.
▪ Cables.
System Components Diagram
Types of Automatic Fire
Detectors (based on the nature
of area to be covered)
▪ Smoke detectors.
▪ Heat detectors.
▪ Flame detectors.
▪ Multi -sensor detectors.
▪ Gas detectors.
Smoke Detectors

▪ Ionization smoke detectors.

▪ Optical or photo-electric smoke detectors.
▪ Beam or linear smoke detectors.
▪ Air sampling smoke detectors.
Ionization Smoke Detector

▪ As this detector produces electrically charged particles

(ions) from neutral particles, it is called ionization smoke
detector.
▪ The air between two electrodes, biased by a DC voltage,
is ionized, i.e. made conductive, Due to this ionization, a
weak electric current begins to flow in the sampling
chamber.
▪ When smoke particles penetrate the sampling chamber,
ions attach to the smoke particles, reducing the flow of
electricity.
1 Electrodes 4 Signal (electric
current)
2 Radioactive radiation source 5 Smoke Particles
3 Sampling chamber
Optical or Photo-Electric Smoke
Detector

▪ Smoke detector measures the light attenuation caused

by absorption and scattering.
▪ When there is no smoke, the photoelectric cell measures
a signal. When smoke penetrates the space between the
light source and the photoelectric cell, the signal
measured is slightly reduced. This signal reduction
caused by absorption and light scattering is proportional
to the smoke density.
1 Light source 4 Signal
2 Lens 5 Smoke Particles
3 Photoelectric cell 6 Lens
Sample of Smoke Detector
Beam or Linear Smoke Detector

▪ Linear smoke detectors work according to the extinction

principle, they measure the light attenuation caused by
smoke.
▪ The emitter sends out a focused light beam. When there
is no smoke, this light beam reaches the receiver in its un
attenuated intensity. However, if there is smoke between
the emitter and the receiver, the light is partly absorbed
when impinging the smoke particles and partly scattered
by them,
Sample of Beam or linear Smoke Detector
Air Sampling Smoke Detector

▪ In the air sampling smoke detection system,

air samples from the monitored area are
guided to the detection chamber via a pipe
network by means of a powerful suction
system.
Sample of Air Sampling Smoke Detector
Installation of Air Sampling Smoke Detector system
Types of Heat Detector

▪ Spot type heat detectors with fixed

temperature.
▪ Spot type heat detectors with rate of rise
temperature.
▪ Line-type heat detectors with fixed
temperature
▪ Line-type heat detectors with rate of rise
temperature.
Heat Detector with Fixed
Temperature

▪ a maximum temperature is defined. Upon achieving this

temperature, the detector switches to alarm mode.
▪ These detectors are based on the functional principle of a
thermistor (semiconductor element with
temperature-sensitive resistor).
▪ These detectors only react when a certain temperature is
exceeded, independent of the smoke density and other
characteristic values.
Heat Detector with Rate of
Rise Temperature

▪ The temperature increase per unit of time required to

trigger an alarm is defined (°C/min).

▪ If the measured temperature increase per unit of time

exceeds this threshold, an alarm is triggered.
Sample of Heat detector
Flame Detector
▪ Infra-red flame detectors.

▪ Ultra-violet flame detectors.

▪ Flame detectors convert the electromagnetic radiation

emitted by flames into an electric signal.

▪ To rule out faults and deception by sunlight, reflected

light, lamps and other light sources as far as possible, the
detection range of the detectors is shifted from the
visible to the invisible range. Most flame detectors
therefore operate in the ultraviolet or infrared range.
Infra-Red Flame Detector

▪ IR flame detectors make use of the maximum intensity of

the infrared-active flame gases in a frequency range of
4.3μm, occurring during the combustion of carbonaceous
materials (emission spectrum of hot CO2).
▪ The flame irradiation on the IR flame detector is filtered
by the infrared filter in such a way that only radiation
with a wavelength between 4 and 5μm impinges on the
pyro-electric sensor.
▪ This sensor only responds on a change of the radiation
intensity (energy change) and generates an electric
current proportional to that value.
Ultra-Violet Flame Detector

▪ UV flame detectors react on the electromagnetic

radiation emitted by an open flame in the short-wave
range of UV radiation (at a wavelength of approximately
0.2μm).
▪ High-voltage is applied between the cathode and the
anode. As soon as UV rays impinge on the cathode, its
surface emits electrons. These electrons hit the gas
molecules in the tube, ionizing them and thus initiating a
snowball-type electron flow from the anode to the
cathode. The result of this process is a striking increase of
the current flow that is proportional to the intensity of
the UV radiation emitted by the fire.
Gas Detector

▪ The gas sensors used in fire detectors detect

either carbon monoxide (CO) that is
produced in case of incomplete combustion
or carbon dioxide (CO2) produced in case of
complete combustion.
Manual Station

▪ Designed for the purpose of raising an

alarm manually once verification of a fire or
emergency condition exists, by operating the
push button or break glass the alarm signal
can be raised.
▪ Install manual station beside exit doors,
stairs, main areas.
▪ Travel distance from any point should be not
exceed 30M.
Sample of Manual Station
Control Module

▪ Interface with HVAC / Smoke Control System

(Supply fans, Exhaust fans, smoke fans and
smoke dampers).
▪ Interface with public address & voice alarm
system to broadcast the Evacuation Message
/ Alarm Tone in the zones / areas
corresponding to fire alarm zones in case of
fire alarm condition.
▪ Interface with Elevators to Recall the
elevators to the Entry Floor Level.
Monitor Module

▪ Interface with all Fire Fighting Control Panels

(FM200, CO2,…etc).
▪ Fire Water Pump Monitoring & Alarm (Pump
Running, Pump Power Failure & Pump Phase
Reversal).
▪ Low / High Water Level inside the Fire Water
Tank Monitoring.
▪ Emergency Diesel Generator Monitoring (Diesel
Generator Running & Diesel Generator Fail to
Start).
▪ Fuel Level inside Fuel Tank Monitoring.
Sample Control/monitor Module
Fire Alarm Panels

▪ Main Fire Alarm Control Panel

▪ Satellite Fire Alarm Control Panel
▪ Fire Alarm Repeater Panel
Sample of Fire Alarm Control Panel
Fire Alarm Panel Components

▪ Main Fire Alarm & Voice Evacuation Control

Panel (MFACP).
▪ Master fireman’s microphone.
▪ Main fire fighter telephone Handset
▪ Auto Dialer Module
▪ Color Graphic Display.
▪ System Printer.
▪ Backup battery & Battery
▪ Main Fire Alarm & Voice Evacuation Control
Panel (MFACP).
▪ Master fireman’s microphone.
▪ Main fire fighter telephone Handset
▪ Auto Dialer Module
▪ Color Graphic Display.
▪ System Printer.
▪ Backup battery & Battery
Alarm / Notification Devices

▪ Fire Alarm Sounder : Provide alarm sounders

in the areas, Sounder Tone shall be selectable.
▪ Horn: it’s sound is higher than bell so used in
areas that already has a high noise like
machine rooms, car parking.
▪ Speakers : used to provide pre-recorded and
manual message.
▪ Strobe light : used to produce regular flashes
of light.
Fire Alarm Bell Speaker With Speaker
strobe light

Horn Strobe Light

Cables

▪ Fire Alarm System Cables shall be fire

resistant cable .
▪ Voltage drop calculation
Rmax= Vdrop/Imax
D=Rmax/Rpair
Sample of Cause & Effect
Matrix