FIRE ALARM DESIGN GUIDE
Any one wants to design a fire alarm system should follow the next steps to achieve the fire alarm system design professionally:
1- Know Fire alarm system components:
The first step of fire alarm system design is that you should learn and understand the main function of each fire alarm system components and how it works (Theory of operation). By acquiring this information you should have a solid background about all the fire alarm system components and you will be ready for the second step of fire alarm system design.
2- Determine the needs of your application:
The second step in fire alarm design is to know your application. The design of a fire alarm system for a small house will be different than the design of an oil storage warehouse.
After you determined your application, you will determine the suitable fire alarm system detection type for this application based on your knowledge about the fire alarm system components and their method of fire detection.
Using the previous comparison, imagine you are installing a fire alarm system in the next two cases:
- Small house
- Oil storage warehouse
In the small house you may use conventional fire alarm system which contains (not limited to) smoke detectors and CO (carbon monoxide) detectors and the budget will be affordable.
In the mean while, in the oil storage warehouse application, you may use flame detectors which will detect any flames that will be generated from burning oil (because while oil is in fire, it produces flames immediately rather than smoke).
So the fire alarm system design depends on the application and your knowledge with fire alarm system components function.
3- Follow your country’s AHJ:
The next step after you had determined the suitable fire alarm detection type for your application is to follow the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) in your country. Fire alarm system design should follow the national fire alarm code and the (AHJ) that determines the recommended smoke detector spacing and all the corresponding detectors’ installation recommendation in the country.
4- Start fire alarm system installation:
After applying the AHJ to your design, start your fire alarm installation and choose which installation methodology you will implement.
There are four types of fire alarm installation infrastructures:
- Ordinary copper cables fire alarm system.
- IP networked fire alarm system.
- Wireless fire alarm system.
- Hybrid fire alarm system.
5- Fire alarm system testing:
Start testing your fire alarm system and check its functionality using the suitable testing tools and the predefined testing procedure.
Fire alarm test is done using special tools that are able to simulate the case of fire that is presented around the fire detectors in your system.
6- Check for design mistakes:
Check that your design passed the common design errors and mistakes (You can learn more of those design mistakes in our eBook)
Check for false alarms and edit your design to avoid any unwanted false alarms.
Do you want to know fire alarm system basics and design techniques to protect your house and assets from fire?
Get you eBook copy today to acquire the essential information for everyone about fire alarm systems basics, design, installation and testing fire alarm system procedures.
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