FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS BASICS

Fire alarm and detection systems are considered the most important systems that were invented by human beings.

In 2017 in the USA an estimate of $10 billion in property damage occurred as a result of fire, an average property loss of more than $20,000.

Could we avoid all these troubles ?

Of course yes, If we used a suitable fire alarm system (well designed) and if people had a good understanding and awareness of fire alarm systems basics.

With an efficient fire alarm system is installed in your property you will guarantee:

  • Life saving (save yourself and your family).
  • Money saving.
  • Asset saving.
  • Feeling protected is really worthy

What is fire alarm detection system?

Fire alarm detection system is a system which is installed to achieve the target of sensing for detection of any fire that is happening or developing and to limit any hazard that could occur from the fire break out. The fire alarm system should detect the fire in any phase of the five fire development phases.

Also the fire system is installed to communicate with firefighters to allow them to take actions to extinguish the fire as soon as possible and with the target of a minimum duration of response.

The fire alarm system should consists of three main categories:

1- Inputs

2- Central processing

3- Outputs

Inputs:

Firstly the inputs of the fire alarm system should contain the detectors and the sensors that will detect the fire and the resulting smoke that was produced from the fire. The preferred fire detection timing is to take place in the early stages of fire creation to minimize any damages and cost.

In the fire alarm systems we have to detection types which are as follows:

Manual fire alarm detection:

 Like manual call points or push buttons which are installed in the fire system. these call points don’t operate by  Like manual call points or push buttons which are installed in the fire alarm system. These call points don’t operate by themselves , but they need a manual action to get into operation and issue a triggering alarm signal to the fire alarm control panel.

Automatic fire alarm detection:

In this type of fire detection

In this type of fire detection, the process of detection doesn’t require human interface or interaction with the detectors, but the detection is done automatically.

Each automatic fire detector is designed to close a circuit in line with the fire alarm control panel and trigger an alarm signal when it detects its senses criteria. For example a heat detector is designed to have a thermocouple connection inside the detector. This thermo-couple consists of two different metals that come together in connection when a threshold temperature is reached.

Each automatic fire detector is designed to close a circuit in line with the fire alarm control panel and trigger an alarm signal when it detect its senses criteria. For example a heat detector is designed to has a thermocouple connection inside the detector. This thermo-couple consists of two different metals that come together in connection when a threshold temperature is reached. 

 

Examples of automatic detectors are :

  • Smoke detectors
  • Heat detectors
  • Flame detectors
  • Aspirating fire systems
  • linear heat detection systems
fire alarm system

Control processing unit:

The control unit is the fire alarm control panel that takes all the inputs to the fire alarm system and processes them through a pre pre-determined program ,then it takes actions to produce outputs of the fire alarm system . The fire alarm control unit is the main brain for the whole system that connects all fire alarm system parts.

The fire alarm control panels could be addressable fire alarm panels or conventional fire alarm panels, see the difference between them.

The fire alarm panels are determined using their capacities. A fire alarm panel capacity is the number of zones or points that could be added or attached to the fire alarm control panel. In conventional fire alarm panels you can find 2 zones panels, 4 zones, 8 zones, 16 zones and up to 32 zones to be attached to the panel. In the meanwhile an addressable fire alarm control panel capacity can reach up to 250 points in a loop to be attached to the panel. The more points or zones attached to the panel, the more expensive the fire panel is.

Outputs:

As fire alarm systems basics indicate, the outputs of the fire system are the actions to be taken to mitigate/avoid the damages that could occur from the fire.

The output are the signals coming out from the fire alarm control panel to the fire indicators like:

  • Fire alarm bells to evacuate the building.
  • The light flashers that produces a light signals to get people attentions to the fire.
  • Horns and sounders.

It could be other further signals like sending remote signals to firefighters to take action immediately to prevent fire from spreading. In the meanwhile, using the remote online signals could cause you money and penalties, because when a false alarm occurs, it could lead to a real remote signal to firefighters to take action on a false situation. In most countries authorities apply a penalty for calling fire fighters with a false alarm signal, So it is important to minimize the false alarms.

Do you want to know fire alarm system basics and design techniques to protect your house and assets from fire?

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"FIRE ALARM DESIGN GUIDE"

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