FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
A fire alarm system is number of devices working together to detect and alert people through visual and audio appliances when smoke/fire is present. These alarms may be activated from smoke detectors, and heat detectors. They may also be activated via Manual fire alarm activation devices such as manual call points or pull stations.
Some fire alarm systems utilize emergency voice alarm communication systems (EVACS) to provide pre-recorded and manual voice messages. Voice Alarm systems are typically used in high-rise buildings, arenas & other large «defend-in-place» occupancies such as Hospitals and Detention facilities where total evacuation is difficult to achieve.
Voice-based systems provide response personnel with the ability to conduct orderly evacuation and notify building occupants of changing event circumstances.
In high rise buildings, different evacuation messages may be played to each floor, depending on the location of the fire. The floor the fire is on along with ones above it may be told to evacuate while floors much lower may simply be asked to stand by.
Manually actuated devices; also known as fire alarm boxes, manual pull stations, or simply pull stations, Break glass stations, call points or Buttons.
Devices for manual fire alarm activation are installed to be readily located (near the exits), identified,and operated.
Automatically actuated devices can take many forms intended to respond to any number of detectable
physical changes associated with fire: convicted thermal energy; heat detector, products of combustion; smoke detector, radiant energy; flame detector, combustion gasses; fire gas detector, & release of extinguishing agents; water-flowdetector. The newest innovations can use cameras and computer algorithms to analyze the visible effects of fire and movement in applications inappropriate for or hostile to other detection methods.
FIRE ALARM COMPONENTS
CONTROL PANEL
is the controlling component of a fire alarm system. The panel receives information from devices designed to detect and report fires, monitors their operational integrity, and provides for automatic control of equipment, and transmission of information necessary to prepare the facility for fire based on a predetermined sequence. The panel may also supply electrical energy to operate any associated initiating device, notification appliance, control, transmitter, or relay. There are four basic types of panels: coded panels, conventional panels, addressable panels, and multiplex systems
DETECTORS -MODULES
A device which can detect a fire, and provide a signal to an alarm circuit. Fire detectors can be operated by smoke, flames, and heat, or any combination of these factors.
ALARM SOUNDERS
Fire alarm sounders are an essential part of fire alarm systems – they warn everyone in the building that there’s danger. The word alarm comes from the French À l’arme which means ‘to the arms’, in historical times this call to action would tell men with weapons to get ready to face any oncoming danger.