Standards fire alarm systems

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

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. 

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. 

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. 

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... 

Provisions of life safety codes address many aspects of a building. There are properties of interior finishes, size, number and location of exits, exit distance, protection of exit routes from fire and smoke, alarm systems, emergency lighting, signage for exit routes, compartmentation, construction type, horizontal and vertical openings, extinguishing systems, and other factors. The discussion below addresses some of these provisions. For details, refer to the standards. 

There are many kinds of equipment for detecting fires and giving alarms. The devices may be quite simple, applying only to certain aspects of the process. Devices may depend on human activation or be automatic. The devices can combine several functions into sophisticated sensor, annunciator, and alarm systems. Systems require regular testing to ensure that components work properly. Systems today are likely to have computer controls. The computer may constantly perform internal checks for component failures and report which ones do not work properly. Several NFPA codes establish standards for sensor and alarm components and systems. 

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. 

Automatic sprinklers are particularly effective for life safety because, they warn of the existence of fire and, at the same time, apply water to the burning area (Hisley, 2003). Standard sprinklers will typically detect a fire much later than a smoke or heat detector. Therefore, a combination of a detection/alarm system and suppression system is a dependable method of protection. 

Audible messages can also be part of the alarm system particularly where members of the public are present. These will alert the occupants to the fact of a fire and can be used to direct them to the nearest fire exits by the safest routes. Tests have shown that the public react more quickly to an audible message than they do to a bell or other sound. The standards required for voice alarms are contained in BS 5839 Part 8 and EN 60849. ... 

British, European and internationai standards These documents detail the minimum industry standards that should be applied and are often cross-referenced by other guidance such as in the case of Building Regulations Guidance Approved Document B that cross-references BS 5839 Part 1 Code of practice for system design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems for buildings... 

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. 

Each facility will need to develop standards as to how to respond to alarms. As a starting point, it is suggested that the fire detection system should provide two levels of alarm. The first level indicates that a fire has started, but either it is small and controllable or there may have been an alarm instrumentation failure. The second level of alarm indicates that the fire has been confirmed and that it is large enough to need an emergency response. 

OSHA has many requirements concerning fire protection in the workplace. These requirements are found in Subpart L and in some other specific standards. Among the items addressed by OSHA standards is fire brigades, all portable and fixed fire suppression equipment, fire detection systems, and fire or employee alarm systems. 

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. 

An individual protective device that emits an audible alarm to notify others and assists in locating a firefighter in danger. The personal alert safety system (PASS) device includes a motion detector that senses movement and automatically sounds an alarm signal if no movement is sensed for 30 seconds in case a firefighter is incapacitated and cannot activate the alarm. Requirements for PASS devices are specified in NFPA 1982, Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) for Fire Fighters. Personal Factor... 

Ensure all systems meet NFPA standards and local requirements. All manually operated fire systems must be electrically supervised. The system must also automatically transmit an alarm to the fire department. Notify the local fire department by other means when the ALARM HAS BEEN ACTIVATED (Tables 9.6 and 9.7). 

The Health Care Facilities Standard, NFPA 99, created criteria to minimize the hazards of fire, explosion, and electricity in health care facilities. It specifically addresses electrical system wiring, storage, and use of flammable and combustible liquids in laboratories, emergency and disaster management, oxygen storage, alarms, and design considerations (NFPA, 2002). 

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