FIRE ONLINE en False Alarms Prevention 2020.04

Online Training Honeywell Fire and PA/VA Solutions 16.04.
2020
FALSE/DECEPTIVE ALARMS PREVENTION

FIRE DETECTION SYSTEMS
Carol Şamu – Honeywell Life Safety Romania S.R.L. Lugoj/Romania

Sr. Technical Trainer & Support Specialist
2020.04
WHAT IS A FALSE ALARM?
A false alarm, also called a nuisance alarm, is the deceptive or erroneous report of an emergency,
causing unnecessary panic and/or bringing resources (such as emergency services) to a place where
they are not needed. False alarms may occur with residential burglary alarms, smoke detectors,
industrial alarms, and in signal detection theory. False alarms have the potential to divert emergency
responders away from legitimate emergencies, which could ultimately lead to loss of life. In some
cases, repeated false alarms in a certain area may cause occupants to develop alarm fatigue and to
start ignoring most alarms, knowing that each time it will probably be false
FIRE_ONLINE_EN_False alarms prevention_2020.04 ©2020 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 1
©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 1

Online Training Honeywell Fire and PA/VA Solutions 16.04.2020
FALSE VS. DECEPTIVE FIRE ALARMS
“Slang”:
A false fire alarm is defined as an alarm triggered by other factors than those which can be directly
related to a fire. Usually the source is the detector itself.
A deceptive fire alarm is defined as an erroneous reporting of a signal, other than fire as a fire
emergency. The causes can be related to errors in the whole signal transmission chain (detector –
transmission path = FACP).
AVOIDING FALSE/DECEPTIVE ALARMS?

Input side ☺ Output side ☺

AVOIDING FALSE ALARMS
PREREQUISITE: Clean & tidy installation
Neatness is half the way to the finish line
QUALITY OF INSTALLATION
5
5

SIGNAL CABLES LAYING INSIDE A PANEL
SIGNAL + SUPPLY CABLES LAYING INSIDE A

PANEL

SIGNAL + SUPPLY CABLES LAYING INSIDE A

PANEL
“TERMINAL JUNCTION BOX”

10
SURGE PROTECTION INSIDE THE PANEL
10
11
“GROUNDING”
11

12
INSTALLATION OF TRANSPONDERS
12
13
13

14
FACP + PERIPHERALS
14
15
SIGNAL CABLES LAYING INSIDE A PANEL
15

16
16
AVOIDING FALSE ALARMS:

#1: CHOOSING INTELLIGENT DETECTORS
17
17

TEST FIRES (ISO/TS 7240-9:2012) FOR SMOKE

DETECTORS
Open cellulosic Rapid Glowing Open plastics

(wood) fire Liquid Liquid Low temperature
smoldering (fast smoldering) (PU) fire (heptane) fire (methylated spirit) black smoke
pyrolysis cotton fire fire (decalin)
(wood) fire liquid fire
Also: TF7 – Slow smoldering pyrolysis (wood) fire

TF9 – Deep seated smoldering cotton fire
18
TEST FIRES - CLASSIFICATION
Two groups: high vs. low energetic fires
BUT ... These are „pure“ fires, rarely met in real conditions ...
19

CONCENTRATION OF PARTICLES / HEAT
20
CO AND CO2 CONCENTRATION
21

MULTI-CRITERIAL DETECTORS
22
ESSER OTI
Receiver Transmitter for

opt. part opt. part
Heat sensor
Isolator
Reference chamber
23

ESSER DETECTORS – OVERVIEW BY

APPLICATION
Immunity against deceptive OTGHospital,

(EN 54-
Discos,
5, 54-7 TF1-
Theatres, Shops
TF9)
w. intrusion fog
O²T
(additional features)
Standard
applications
(EN 54-5,
needing high
54-7 +TF-1)
quality
alarms
Standard
O (EN 54-7) OT OT-blue (EN
Home applications – Cleanrooms,
(EN 54-5, Server
54-5, rooms,
54-7 +
smoke all Warehouses
detector T (EN 54-5)
manufacturers 54-7) TF-1,6,7,8)
EN54
Non – EN54 Exceeding EN54
compliant
• Variety of fires which can be detected

• Speed of response
FIRE_ONLINE_EN_False alarms prevention_2020.04

(defined by standard) ©2020 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 24
24
O2T DETECTOR
Transmitter
LED
Receiver
Forward scattering Backward scattering
Recognition of all test fires TF1-TF5 according to EN 54

Increased immunity against deceptive alarms (steam, fog, dust)
25

DUAL OPTICAL DETECTORS - IDENTIFICATION

OF PARTICLE ORIGIN
Color of particles identified by comparison of forward and backward scatter
Ratio “Q” constant for specific particles
60°
120°
Intensity Backward Scatter

Quotient =
Intensity Forward Scatter
26
PERFORMANCE O2T VS. TF5

Quotient: n-heptane Q~ 1.0
Optical/Forward Scatter:
➢ Medium Signal = No Alarm
Optical/Backward Scatter:
Alarm
Pre-Alarm
Heat:
RESULT: ALARM with O2T !!!

A normal O-Detector wouldn’t trigger an alarm!
27

PERFORMANCE O2T VS. TF3

Quotient: cotton wicks Q~ 0.5
➢ High Signal = Alarm
Alarm ➢ Medium Signal = No Alarm
Pre-Alarm
Heat:
➢ No Signal = No Alarm
RESULT: ALARM with O2T !!!

A normal O-Detector would trigger an alarm later!
28
PERFORMANCE O2T VS. INTERFERENCE STEAM

Quotient: steam Q~ 0.1
➢ High Signal = Alarm
➢ Low signal = No Alarm
Alarm
Pre-Alarm
Heat:
➢ No Signal = No Alarm
RESULT: NO ALARM with O2T !!!
A normal O-Detector would trigger a false alarm!

29

EXAMPLE: O2T WITH TF3/STEAM
O detector with TF3 (alarm) O detector with steam (alarm)
O2T detector with TF3 (alarm) O2T detector with steam (NO alarm)
O2T: Possible parameter settings
30
ESSER DETECTORS – OVERVIEW BY

APPLICATION
OTG (EN
Hospital, 54-
Discos,
Immunity against deceptive
5, 54-7Shops
Theatres, TF1- w.
intrusion
TF9) fog
O²T
Standard
applications
(EN 54-5,
needing high
54-7 +TF-1)
quality
alarms
Standard
O (EN 54-7) OT OT-blue (EN
Home
applications – Cleanrooms,
(EN 54-5, Server rooms,
54-5, 54-7 +
smoke
all Warehouses
detector Tmanufacturers
(EN 54-5) 54-7) TF-1,6,7,8)
EN54
compliant

32

HIGHLIGHT: OTBLUE DETECTOR
Wide range smoke detection with constant sensitivity without radioactive

material
Features
▪ Detection of smallest smoke particle which could only be detected by
ionisation detector in the past
▪ No radioactive source inside
▪ Robust against air stream and harsh environment
▪ Early detection of open fire
▪ Detection of entire smoke spectrum, from invisible to visible aerosols
▪ Recognition of test fires TF1-TF8 according to EN54
33
SPECTRUM OF VISIBLE LIGHT
Visible range of light for the human eyes:

380nm …. 760nm
Wavelength (nm)
OTblue @425nm O @870nm
34

LIGHT WAVELENGTH AND PARTICLE SIZE
880nm (IR invisible) 470nm (blue visible)
[strong simplified model]
LARGE (visible) vs. SMALL (invisible) particle size
35
SUBSTITUTE OF IONIZATION SMOKE DETECTORS
Old fashioned & not

State-of-the-art technology: OT blue
eco-friendly solution:
Ionization Detector
36

ESSER DETECTORS – OVERVIEW BY APPLICATION
OTG (EN
Hospital, 54-
Discos,
Immunity against deceptive

5, 54-7 Shops
Theatres, TF1-
w. intrusion
TF9) fog
O²T
Standard
applications
(EN 54-5,
needing high
54-7 +TF-1)
quality
alarms
Home O Standard
(EN 54-7) OT OT-blue (EN
applications – Cleanrooms,
(EN 54-5, Server
54-5,rooms,
54-7 +
smoke
all Warehouses
detector T (EN 54-5)
manufacturers
54-7) TF-1,6,7,8)
EN54
compliant

37
EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO CARBON MONOXIDE
CO is a colorless & odorless gas that blocks the absorption of oxygen in the blood!
38

HIGHLIGHT: OTG DETECTOR

Optimal combination of optical, heat and gas sensor technology
Additional detection of odourless and potentially lethal carbon monoxide
Earliest detection of inodorous CO-gas to protect human life
Total immunity against deceptive alarms (w/o CO in normal conditions)
Recognition of all testfires TF-1 to TF-9
39
OTG: REAL TESTS WITH INTRUSION FOG
40

IQ8QUAD OTG DETECTOR WITH CO AS TAL
Technical alarm Menu
• Technical Alarm (TAL)

• Technical Alarm if configured
CO concentration is exceeded
• Activation threshold can be fixed between
10 ppm and 150 ppm
• Individual threshold selectable for
automatically reset
• Activation of detector output (relay)
programmable
41
FIRE RESPONSE CHARACTERISTICS

1000
Detectors:
100
Ionisation
OTblue
Detection sensitivity
O2T
Optical
10
Open wood fire N-Heptan fire PU-fire Glowing Smouldering

TF1 TF5 TF4 TF3 TF2
SMALL particles LARGE particles
SIZE of particles
42

43
CHOOSING THE RIGHT DETECTOR TYPE

FOR THE APPLICATION
Producer recommendations:
ESSER Fire Safety Design Guide

(pages 107-109)
43
44
ESSER FIRE SAFETY DESIGN GUIDE
44

45
CHOOSING THE RIGHT DETECTOR TYPE

FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Producer recommendations:
ESSER Fire Safety Design Guide

(page 110)
45
46
ESSER FIRE SAFETY DESIGN GUIDE
46

AVOIDING FALSE ALARMS:

#2 & #3: SIGNAL VERIFICATION
47
47
ALARM VERIFICATION
Before the panel initiates an alarm signal, there may be programmed automatic procedures for
alarm verification in critical areas, in order to avoid false alarms:
Verification type A: Intermediate alarm storage (“double knock”)

• When receiving an alarm from an automatic zone/detector, the panel will report pre-alarm, will reset the
zone/detector and will “wait” for a pre-programmed time to receive a 2nd alarm message from the same
zone/detector.
• Only after the programmed time, the panel will check again the zone/detector
• If after the programmed alarm storage time the panel will find the zone without alarm, will reset the pre-
alarm message. Otherwise, will switch the panel in fire alarm status
Verification type B : Multi zone / multi detector interdependency (“coincidence”)

• Several (automatic) detectors or zones (with automatic detectors) must report simultaneously alarm in
order to switch the panel in fire alarm status
• While the interdependency is not verified, the panel will report pre-alarm
48

DIRECT ALARM (WITHOUT VERIFICATION)
Fire alarm scenario
Stand-by Alarm Reset t [s]

from zone
t=0s
49
INTERMEDIATE STORAGE – ONLY FIRST

SIGNAL
Intermediate storage (IS) programmed for the zone = 60 sec
Activations
programmed
for pre-alarm
IS storage
time start
Stand-by 0 sec 30 sec 60 sec t [s]

1st signal Stand-by
Pre-alarm
1st signal ends. Panel checks again
The pre-alarm is the zone/detector. If
reset automatically at this moment there
is no alarm signal
from the same zone/
detector, the panel
remains in stand-by
50

INTERMEDIATE STORAGE WITH THE 2ND

SIGNAL
Intermediate storage (IS) programmed for the zone = 60 sec
Fire alarm
scenario
Activations Activations
programmed programmed
for pre-alarm for pre-alarm
IS storage
time start
Stand-by 0 sec 30 sec 45 sec 60 sec t [s]

1st signal 2nd signal Alarm
Pre-alarm Pre-alarm
1st signal Panel checks
ends. again the
Reset
The pre- zone/detector.
If at this
alarm is moment there
reset is an alarm
signal from
automatically the same
zone/
detector, the
panel
switches to
alarm status
51
(2) DETECTORS INTERDEPENDENCY WITHIN A

ZONE Zone 1 Zone 3
ALARM
Pre-alarm
ALARM
Zone 2
52

(2) ZONES INTERDEPENDENCY

Zone 1 Zone 3
ALARM
Pre-alarm
ALARM
ALARM
Pre-alarm
ALARM
Pre-alarm
Zone 2
53
54
ALARM VERIFICATION
Alarm verification type C (“delay + user investigation”)
• When receiving an alarm from an automatic zone/detector, the panel will indicate full alarm, but will not
start the fire signal transmission / evacuation until the delay expires or another not delayed (=MCP)
zone will report alarm.
• If the user needs extra time to investigate, it will request it by pressing the “investigation” button. The
panel will switch then in alarm after the investigation time elapses expires or another delayed (=MCP)
zone will report alarm
• Usually, the investigation time is significantly longer than the delay, in order to allow for the user the
site check.
54

DELAYED ALARM, NO INVESTIGATION

Delay time (T1) = 30 sec
Investigation time (T2) = 180 sec
Fire alarm scenario (delayed)
Activations during delay
Delay time T1
Stand-by 0 sec 30 sec Reset t [s]

Alarm No investigation request
Delay T1 expires
55
DELAY + INVESTIGATION, NO RESET

Fire alarm scenario

(delayed)
Delay time T1 Investigation time T2
Stand-by 0 sec 21 sec 201 sec Reset t [s]

Alarm Investigation request No reset before
before delay expires investigation
expires
56

DELAY + INVESTIGATION + RESET

Stand-by 0 sec 21 sec 134 sec t [s]

Alarm Investigation request Reset before
before delay expires investigation
expires
57
DELAY + INVESTIGATION + MCP/DELAY

DISABLED
Fire alarm scenario
(delayed)
Stand-by 0 sec 21 sec 128 sec Reset t [s]

Alarm Investigation request MCP pressed or
before delay expires delay disabled at
panel before
investigation expires
58

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60

THANK YOU.
No reproduction or use of this material may be made without Honeywell’s prior written permission.
©2020 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved 61
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Online Training Honeywell Fire and PA/VA Solutions 16.04.

FALSE/DECEPTIVE ALARMS PREVENTION

Carol Şamu – Honeywell Life Safety Romania S.R.L. Lugoj/Romania

WHAT IS A FALSE ALARM?

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 1

FALSE VS. DECEPTIVE FIRE ALARMS

AVOIDING FALSE/DECEPTIVE ALARMS?

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 2

AVOIDING FALSE ALARMS

PREREQUISITE: Clean & tidy installation

Neatness is half the way to the finish line

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 3

SIGNAL CABLES LAYING INSIDE A PANEL

SIGNAL + SUPPLY CABLES LAYING INSIDE A

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 4

SIGNAL + SUPPLY CABLES LAYING INSIDE A

“TERMINAL JUNCTION BOX”

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 5

SURGE PROTECTION INSIDE THE PANEL

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 6

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 7

SIGNAL CABLES LAYING INSIDE A PANEL

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 8

AVOIDING FALSE ALARMS:

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 9

TEST FIRES (ISO/TS 7240-9:2012) FOR SMOKE

Open cellulosic Rapid Glowing Open plastics

Also: TF7 – Slow smoldering pyrolysis (wood) fire

TEST FIRES - CLASSIFICATION

Two groups: high vs. low energetic fires

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 10

CONCENTRATION OF PARTICLES / HEAT

CO AND CO2 CONCENTRATION

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 11

Receiver Transmitter for

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 12

ESSER DETECTORS – OVERVIEW BY

Immunity against deceptive OTGHospital,

• Variety of fires which can be detected

FIRE_ONLINE_EN_False alarms prevention_2020.04

Recognition of all test fires TF1-TF5 according to EN 54

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 13

DUAL OPTICAL DETECTORS - IDENTIFICATION

Intensity Backward Scatter

PERFORMANCE O2T VS. TF5

RESULT: ALARM with O2T !!!

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 14

PERFORMANCE O2T VS. TF3

RESULT: ALARM with O2T !!!

PERFORMANCE O2T VS. INTERFERENCE STEAM

RESULT: NO ALARM with O2T !!!

A normal O-Detector would trigger a false alarm!

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 15

EXAMPLE: O2T WITH TF3/STEAM

O detector with TF3 (alarm) O detector with steam (alarm)

O2T: Possible parameter settings

ESSER DETECTORS – OVERVIEW BY

• Variety of fires which can be detected

©2019 by Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 16

HIGHLIGHT: OTBLUE DETECTOR

Wide range smoke detection with constant sensitivity without radioactive

SPECTRUM OF VISIBLE LIGHT

Visible range of light for the human eyes:

OTblue @425nm O @870nm