Fire Alarm Monitors

The excellent detection ability for flames makes UV sensing a good method for remote fire alarm-monitoring. UV radiation after the outbreak of a fire reaches a sensor much faster than heat or smoke. Also, the distance between sensor and fire is less critical. Requirements for the sensor are high sensitivity and excellent selectivity. Radiation intensities at the sensor position may be even lower and the ambient light conditions less restricted than for combustion controlling. When used outside, solar-blindness is a must. These stringent requirements make UV fire alarm monitors expensive, and they are used in industrial environments such as production floors or warehouses rather than in private homes. 

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In Chapter 5.4, optical ultraviolet radiation sensors are described, including UV-enhanced silicon-based pn diodes, detectors made from other wide band gap materials in crystalline or polycrystalline form, the latter being a new, less costly alternative. Other domestic applications are personal UV exposure dosimetry, surveillance of sun beds, flame scanning in gas and oil burners, fire alarm monitors and water sterilization equipment surveillance. 

A new fire alarm monitor was installed in the central control room to verify the function of each fire detector. This monitor has a second alarm function that re-alarms if another detector goes off. 

Multi-band fire detector monitors monitor several wavelengths of predominate fire radiation frequencies by photocells. They compare these measurements to normal ambient frequencies through micro processing. Where these are found be above certain levels an alarm is indicated. False alarms may even be "recognized"... 

Red a. Stop buttons or electrical switches used for emergency stopping of machines. b. Emergency stop handles or bars on machines. c. Hazardous operation indicating lights on control, alarm panels, or in the installation. d. Fire protection equipment and systems (e g., fire hydrants, monitors, reels, alarms, etc.). e. Portable flammable liquid containers. f. Stop condition. g. Identification of ESD isolation valves and actuators. 

The type of fire alarm system should be chosen based on personnel resources available at the facility. For continuously staffed facilities, proprietary supervised systems are preferred. For facilities staffed less than continuously, remote supervised station or central station fire alarms system are usually considered. In these systems, alarms are monitored by an outside firm responsible for alerting appropriate personnel or by the local fire department. 

In addition to the abbreviated LCD display on the fire alarm panel, an annunciator should be provided to graphically display facility conditions in all areas. Often this annunciator is an additional panel provided with the fire alarm system, which contains a graphic display or representation of the plant or area being monitored as well as illumination capabilities which identify the status of all monitored plant areas. 

Fire protection system impairment occurs when a fire alarm or supervisory system is shut-off, damaged, fails, or is otherwise taken out-of-service completely or in part. These out-of-service conditions are called impairments. While process monitoring, control, safety, and security-entry systems also provide protective functions, this element of the fire prevention program is only concerned with impairments to fire protection systems and equipment. An essential element of the fire prevention program is a procedure for fire protection impairment handling. 

A proprietary fire alarm system can protect one or more buildings under one ownership. The fire alarm systems are monitored 24 hours a day at a central monitoring location which comes under the same ownership as the building(s) being protected. The central monitoring station... 

Remote and central station fire alarm systems are those monitored by a local government agency or private alarm company respectively. 

The B6580/81 automatic sprinkler system also sen/es the HCF. Standard spray automatic sprinklers are provided in occupied areas of the basement, including Rooms 100,104,105,106, 107, 111, 112,113,113Aand114. The HCF is equipped with an independent fire-alarm control panel, located against the south end of the west wall of Room 107 that monitors all areas of the HCF. Water that may be released during fires is captured and routed to holding tanks. This capture system is described in Section 2.9.5. Any sprinkler-water flow will activate the TA-V... 

A switch provided on a fire alarm system that is manually activated to indicate a fire event (see Figure M.2). The switch is configured to conspicuously identify it as a fire alarm device and is usually fitted with a tamper device (break glass, rod, or cover) to discourage or prevent false activation. It sends a signal to a central monitoring station for notification of location and activation of alarms. 

Telemetry involves the transmission of sensor data such as fire alarms, emissions, access, etc., to a distant or central monitoring station. This application generally involves one-way transmission and requires only one fiber. Certain types of telemetry, however, may be interactive. Correction signals, based on received data or signals, may be sent to the transmit locations. These applications would employ two fibers, one for transmit and one for receive. 

The heart and brains of any fire alarm installation, tiie control and indicating equipment provides the power as well as monitoring tiie system and indicating the location of any detected fire. The control equipment should be in an easily accessible location so that it can be seen quickly and easily in the event of an alarm and give immediate information on the location of the fire. More advanced systems (known as programmable or intelligent systems) can identify exactly which device has actuated and... 

Fire protection systems, including fire suppression fire detection alarms, monitoring, and communications and fire department operations... 

Requirements for pyrophoric materials storage are covered or referenced in UFC Section 8003.8. Included are requirements for signage, ignition control, spill control, drainage, secondary containment, ventilation, separation from incompatibles, fire protection, explosion control, electrical reliability requirements, and alarm/monitoring requirements. 

Today, numerous alarm and monitoring systems are required by codes. These include fire alarm, smoke detection, sprinkler system supervision, emergency (spill) alarm, and continuous toxic gas monitoring and detection systems. 

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