Fire alarms standards

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA is non-profit organization that publishes the National Electrical Code , the Life Safety Code , the Fire Prevention Code , the National Fuel Gas Code , and the National Fire Alarm Code . The mission of NFPA is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically based consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA is developing a fuel cell specific code, NFPA 853, which will cover the installation of stationary fuel cells of at least 50 kW output. Publication is expected to occur in 2000. 

NFPA 72 consolidates the ten fire safety standards into one document The code covers installation, maintenance, and use of fire alarm systems. 

When handling toxic and flammable materials, it is not good practice for operators to be on their own for long periods and hourly contact with another person on-site should be a minimum standard. Fire alarms to give warning of an emergency should be available around the plant whether or not operators are on their own. 

Losses from fires total billions of dollars per year. Fire, formally defined as a process during which rapid oxidimtion of a material occurs, gives off radiant energy that can not only be fidt but also seen. Fires can be caused by malfunctioning electrical systems, hot surfiices, and overheated materials. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1896 to provide codes and standards to reduce the burden of fire. The NFPA publishes the National Electrical Code , the Life St ety Cod, the Fire Prevention Codd, the National Fuel Gas Code , and National Fire Alarm G>de . It also provides... 

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... 

Safety equipment, including spill control kits, safety shields, fire safety equipment, respirators, safety showers and eyewash fountains, and emergency equipment should be available in well-marked, highly visible locations in all chemical laboratories. Fire alarm pull stations and telephones with emragency telephone numbCTs clearly indicated must be readily accessible. In addition to the standard items, thwe may also be a need for other safety devices. It is the responsibility of the laboratory supervisor to ensure proper training and provide supplementary equipment as needed. 

OSHA deals with fire protection from an employee safety standpoint, and many of the points covered in the OSHA standard are solid management practices for property safety as well. Subpart E, Means of Egress, is taken from NFPA 101-1970, the Life Safety Code. The emphasis of this subpart is on protecting the employee once a fire has started. It informs the employer what to do to protect workers during the fire by addressing egress methods, automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarms, emergency action plans, and fire prevention plans. 

Under normal conditions fire wardens should check that good standards of housekeeping exist in their areas, that exits and escape routes are kept free from obstruction, that all fire fighting appliances are available for use and fire points are not obstructed, that smoking is rigidly controlled, and that all employees and sub-contractors under their control are familiar with the emergency procedure and know how to use the fire alarm and fire fighting equipment. 

Where portable fire extinguishers are not available and are not required by a particular OSHA standard, and if the written fire safety policy requires immediate and total evacuation of employees from the workplace upon sounding of a fire alarm signal. 

The numerical equivalence between the SIL limits for low demand rate (pfd) and high demand rate (fpy) systems sometimes causes confusion. If a system has a low demand frequency, such as a fire alarm system, then the approach is straightforward Periodic tests are done to confirm that the system is working properly. High demand systems such as control systems are effectively in continuous demand - and yet if (say) they are both SIL 2 systems, designed to broadly similar quality management standards, then the numerical reliability of both is taken to be 10 either probability of failure on demand or failures per year. 

Chapter 56 and section 313-02-01 are concerned with the requirements for electricity supplies for safety services which are generally for energising fire alarms, fire fighting and emergency lighting installations, but also, for example, for gas detection installations in unattended locations where there is a flammable hazard. Some of these installations are subject to statutory requirements which the designer must observe. He should also have regard to applicable standards and codes of practice. 

Underwriters Laboratories (UL). UL 864, Standard for control units and accessories for fire alarm systems. 9th ed. Northbrook, IL UL 2012. 

EU/BS standards contain detailed information on the specific standards for complying with health and safety and fire safety requirements, e.g. BS 5839 Part 1 - Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems for Buildings. Although compliance with EU/BS standards should assist to ensure legal compliance, this cannot be relied on as a defence in a court of law. 

Any relevant British/European standard, e.g. BS 5839 Part 1/fire detection and fire alarm systems in buildings. 

Fire alarm systems may be installed in buildings to satisfy one, or both, of two principal objectives, namely protection of life and protection of property. Table 9.14 outlines the types available, their primary purpose and in which areas of a building they are installed. The standard for fire detection and alarm systems in buildings is contained within BS 5839 Part 1. 

It is also likely that the fire risk assessor/assess-ment team may also need to have access to a variety of documents produced as part of the requirements of the Building Regulations (Approved Documents B and M), and a variety of British Standards such as BS 5839 Fire Alarm and Detection Systems and BS 5266 Emergency Lighting. 

Buildings must contain a fire alarm or fire detection system that should automatically activate an alarm in the event of a fire. Install air conditioning, ducts, and any related equipment in accordance with NFPA 90A, Standard for Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems. Ensure people can hear fire alarms over normal operational noise levels. Locate manual fire alarm stations near each exit. Inspect fire extinguishers at least monthly and ensure regular maintenance. Test fire alarm/detection systems once a quarter. Publish and enforce a Smoking Policy. Implement appropriate electrical safety policies and educate aU personnel about fire safety and response plans. 

For example, developers and the technical committees of developing standards of automatic fire alarm systems, as a rule, for several reasons don t consider existing functional safety approaches described in lEC 61508 or other standards, claiming that sufficient reliability of systems is completely ensured with their comphance to national norms and standards of the branch ISO/IEC (2009), Rausand Hoyland (2004). 

The project plan should encompass all aspects of a fire protection system, such as the underground fire water distribution system, fire pumps, aboveground water header, valving and standpipes, structural support, and detection and alarm systems. All work on the fire protection system must be coordinated with other work activities at the site or in the operating unit. The recommended installation practices for the different types of fire protection systems are covered in consensus standards, such as NFPA. The installation process is illustrated in Figure 9-1. 

When a leakage happens, the chain of information has to be indicated, with telephone numbers, in order to call for help without loss of time. In most cases the upper management of an operation has to be informed as well, so that reference to the alarm plan would be useful. With chemical reactions - if not already described within the standard operation procedure - indication of safety measures are appropriate in case of deviations of temperature or pressure. In case of a fire, the instruction should contain information on suitable fire extinguishing agents, especially when water is not allowed for use. Further information on that subject can be found in Chapters 5 (fire fighting measures) and 6 (accidental release measures) of the material safety data sheets. 

NFPA 30,5.13.6.1 4.4.12 All fire protection equipment, and associated alarms, interlocks, and controls, shall be properly maintained, and periodic inspections and tests shall be done in accordance with botii standard practice and tiie equipment manufacturer s recommendations. 

National Fire Codes, Vol. 1, Flammable Liquids Vol. 2, Gases Vol. 4, Building Construction and Facilities, Vol. 5, Electrical, Vol. 6, Sprinklers, Fire Pumps, and Water Tanks, Vol. 7, Alarm and Special Extinguishing Systems, Vol. 8, Portable and Manual Fire Control Equipment, Vol. 9, Occupancy Standards and Process Hazards, National Fire Protection Association, Boston, 1964-1965. 

The areas where hazardous chemicals are stored prior to shipment and where any ancillary operations are conducted should be carefiilly evaluated for hazards. Access and evacuation routes should be clearly marked and checked to ensure freedom fiom obstruction. Any very hazardous materials, especially any IDLH materials, should be in separate, well-marked areas. Means of annunciating an emergency alarm should be readily available. Assistance agencies, eg., fire departments, rescue squads, pohce, and haz-mat teams, should be identified and standard procedures for invoking their assistance prepared. 

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