BASICS ON

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

 Objective
• What is Fire Alarm System ?
• Why Fire Alarm System ?
• Types of Fire Alarm System.
• Differences between Conventional & Addressable
• Components Involved & Application
• 3rd party Integration
What is Fire Alarm System ?
Fire Alarm System is a fire emergency reporting system,
where the alarm is activated by initiating devices like Smoke
detectors, Heat detectors, Manual call points and so on.
Why Fire Alarm System ?
To Protect life and Property.

• By detecting a fire/smoke at an early stage.

• Make alert and instructions for evacuation.
• Alarm Notification for the personnel in the premises.
• Activation of auxiliary functions
e.g. Activation of Fire curtains, lifts come to home
position, Tripp off the HVAC systems etc.,
• Identifying and guiding fire fighters
Types of Fire Alarm Systems
• Conventional Fire Alarm System
• Addressable Fire Alarm System
(Analogue and Digital)
Conventional Fire Alarm System
Conventional Fire Alarm System
• The intelligence in the controller, identifies the zone
from where detection took place and the controller
sends signal to the alarm initiating device to trigger
alarm and also displays the respective zone on the
panel (LCD / LED) depending on the panel.

• When there is a detection, the detector shunts the

circuit with a shunt resistor of lower value that results
in increasing the current to the controller through that
detector.
Addressable Fire Alarm System
 Addressable Fire Alarm System
• Addressable Fire Alarm System Each device (detector,
pull station…) has a unique number assigned to it and
called as address for reporting alarms and troubles.
Addressable fire alarm system works on Data pooling
principle.

• All the detectors, isolators, sounder cum strobes,

modules are connected to the panel on the loop through
the loop card which sits on the panel.

• The capacity of the panel is decided based on the

number of loop cards.
 Comparison
• Detectors are wired to the
panel in parallel in groups
with EOL known as zone
• Identification of alarm status
by zone
• Indicates either “FIRE” or
“NORMAL ” status only
• System only indicate events
but without event recording
feature
• Class B wiring
• Each fire detector is
provided with an unique
address.
• Identification of alarm
status by device address
• Fire detectors indicates
various condition such as
smoke levels and various
troubles
• Indicates and records
system events
• Class A as well as Class B wiring
Block Diagram
 ANY
DOUBTS ?
COMPONENTS
&
APPLICATION
Components of Fire Alarm System
• Main Control Panel
• Repeater Panel
• Smoke Detectors
• Heat Detectors
• Intrinsically Safe Smoke
Detectors
• Intrinsically Safe Heat
detectors
• Zener Barriers
• Multi Sensor Detectors
• Multi Criteria Detectors
• Beam Detectors
• UV/IR Detectors
• Duct Detectors
• Manual Call Points
• Sounders
• Input Modules
• Output Modules
• Isolator Modules
• Cables
 Main Control Panel
• A fire alarm panel is the main
controlling component of
a fire alarm system. The panel
receives information from
devices designed to detect
and report fires, it also
monitors and do automatic
control of third party
equipment and do
transmission of necessary
information to prepare the
facility for evacuation in case
of emergency.
 Repeater Panels
It replicates the signal of Main
Control Panel.
Repeater panel is used to
display the main fire panel
information with limited
controls

Available Panels
• Passive Annunciator
• Network Annunciator
 Smoke Detectors
• It detects the smoke
which entered into it’s
chamber.

• Works on Light Scattering /

Photo Electric

• Used at Office buildings,

hotels, and other
buildings/industries which
are Non-hazardous.
 Heat Detectors
• It detects heat

• Works on Thermistor/
Thermocouple principle

• Used at areas like kitchens

and hot areas as per site
conditions
Intrinsically safe Smoke Detectors
• It detects the smoke just
same as normal smoke
detector.
• Works on Light scattering/
Photo Electric Principle
• 24 Volts SMPS + Zone
Monitor Module + Zener
Barrier + Group of detectors
• Used at Hazardous areas
Intrinsically safe Heat Detectors
• It detects heat just like heat
detector
• It works on thermistor/
Thermocouple Principle
• 24 Volts SMPS + Zone
Monitor Module + Zener
Barrier + Group of detectors
• Used at Hazardous areas
 Zener Barriers
• It is as two channel
interface for use with
conventional type of Smoke
and Heat detectors.
• It limits current and Voltage
to the output circuit during
fault condition
• Used for Hazardous
applications
 Multidetectors
• It is combination of both
smoke and heat detector
circuits. It detects both
smoke and heat.
• Works on both Light
scattering and thermistor
principle
• Used at Electrical Panel
rooms, server rooms and
above false ceilings areas
near cable bunches. Now a
days we are using in all
areas as per
recommendations
 Multi-Criteria Detectors
• It detects Smoke, Heat,
Flames and CO

• Used at office complexes,

schools, college campuses,
manufacturing and
industrial facilities based on
site conditions.
 Beam Detectors
• It is another type of smoke
detector.
• Works on Light Obscuration
principle.
• We have non-addressable
and addressable type
• We have Non-Flame Proof
and Flame Proof type
• Used at heights over more
than 10 meters like
warehouses, hangers etc.,
based on site conditions.
 UV/IR Flame Detectors
• It is a flame detector where it
detects UV and IR rays emitted
from the 1 square foot size
flame. Range( UV: 185-
260 nm), IR: 3000-5000 nm)
• Used at Petrochemical, Pharma
and Defense areas.
 Duct Detectors
• It detects smoke in the
ducts.
• It works on both smoke
sampling and light
scattering principle.
• Used at Supply and
Return air ducts as per
site conditions.
 Manual Call Points
• It is used to trigger the alarm condition
manually when there is an incident.
• We have Break and Pull type for non-
hazardous applications.
• We have Break type Flame Proof MCP
and Weather Proof MCPs for Hazardous
and outdoor applications
 Sounders
• It is a notification device
when there is alarm
condition to alert the
personnel
• We have non-flame proof
for non-hazardous
applications
• We have Flame Proof for
hazardous and outdoor
applications
 Input Modules
• It is a device which takes
potential free signals from
the detectors/Modules and
third party devices.
• Monitor Modules, Mini
Monitor Modules, Zone
Monitor/interface Modules
all come under input
modules.
 Output Modules
• It is a device which drives
sounders or it will trigger to
OFF/ON the third party
devices.
• Control Modules and Relay
Modules come under
Output Modules.
 Isolator Modules
• It isolates short circuits in
the loop and helps
remaining devices to
work.
• Every 15-20 devices need
to install one isolator
module
 Cables
• Cables plays main role for
the efficient working of fire
alarm system.
• 2 Core 1.5 sq mm twisted
Unshielded FRLS
armoured/Unamoured
Cable is always
recommended.
• Cable gauze should be more
1.5 sq mm based on site
conditions.
 3rd party Integrations
• AHU Shutdown
• AHU Dampers
• Smoke Exhaust Fans
• Access control doors
• Triggering of PA
• Signal to builder fire alarm panels
• Monitoring of Flow switches
• Monitoring of NOVEC 1230
• Monitoring of all stages fire detected by VESDA system
• Monitoring of WLD system
 Abbreviations

• FACP - Fire Alarm Control Panel.

• SLC - Signalling Line Circuit
• FRLS - Fire Retardant Low Smoke Cable
• IDC - Initiating Device Circuit
• NAC - Notification Appliance Circuit
• EOL - End of Line Resistor
 Standards
This training module is derived from the guidelines of below
standards:
• IS 2189 -- Selection, Installation and Maintenance of
automatic fire detection and alarm system
• NFPA 72 – National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code
• IS 15908 --Selection, Installation & Maintenance of
Control & Indicating Equipment's for Fire Detection &
Alarm System
• NBC -- National Building Code
 Certifications

• FCC – Federal communications commission

• UL – Underwriters Laboratories
• FM - Factory Mutual
• AHJ – Authority Having Jurisdiction
• LPCB – Loss Prevention Control Board
• ANSI – American National Standards Institute
• SFPE - Society for Fire Protection Engineers
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