Download - MonA1030 Lugar
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
1/20
A COMPARISON OF FIRE
ALARM SYSTEMREQUIREMENTS IN THE
US AND UKJames R. Lugar Jr., P.E.Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc.SFPE 2012 Savannah, GA
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
2/20
Presentation Objective Compare fire alarm system design methods and products
commonly used in North America and Europe This discussion will focus on requirements in the United
States and the United Kingdom US discussion limited to model codes, current editions as published UK discussion limited to the scope of the Building Regulations for
England and Wales (for buildings other than dwellings)
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
3/20
Presentation Overview This presentation will answer the following questions:
How does legislation impact fire alarm design? What are common fire alarm design practices? What are common fire alarm system components? How is the fire service summoned?
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
4/20
Terminology Differences
United States Fire alarm control unit
(FACU) Manual fire alarm box Horn or speaker;
strobe)
Central Station
United Kingdom Control and Indicating
Equipment (CIE) Manual call point Bell, sounder or
speaker; beacon
Alarm receiving centre
Note: Some are also functional differences, which will be discussed
later
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
5/20
Legislation - US
Law
State or local law adopts building and fire codes Intl Code Council and Natl. Fire Prot. Assoc.
(NFPA)
Code Intl Bldg. Code or NFPA 101 define level NFPA 72, Natl. Fire Alarm & Signaling Code
Std. NFPA 72 ref. other standards for products Ex.: UL 864 control units, UL 1971 visible signals
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
6/20
Legislation - UK
Law
Building Regulations England and Wales Provide appropriate provisions for early warning of
fire
Guide
BS 5839 Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems forBldgs.
Part 1: Code of Practice Provides Recommendations
Implement
BAFE Compliance / LPS 1014 Company BS EN 54 Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
7/20
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
8/20
What Level of System? - USLevel of alarm is prescriptivebased on inherent hazards ofoccupancy classification,building height, contents, etc.
Fire alarm system isdesigned, installed,inspected, tested, and
maintained per NFPA 72.
In general detectors areused sparingly firedetection is primarily viasprinkler water flow signals
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
9/20
What Level of System? - UKBS 5839-1 Fire Detection Levels
Type L:Protection ofLife
L1: Installed throughout the protected building
L2: Installed only in defined parts of the building
L3: Designed for early warning to permit occupant
escapeL4: Installed for protection of escape routes
L5: Installed in specific areas per fire safetyobjectives
Type P:
PropertyProtection
P1: Installed throughout the protected building
P2: Installed only in defined parts of the building
Type M:Manual
Manual alarms only no detection provided
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
10/20
Product Approvals
United States Regulations and model codes
require compliance with NFPA 72and applicable standards, with
ANSI/UL standards usually citedas examples
Conformity can be demonstratedby listing of the product by aNationally Recognized TestingLaboratory (NRTL) as complying
with that standard Some states require State FireMarshal approval (based onNRTL report) in order to permitproducts to be disallowed shouldlocal problems emerge (exCalifornia)
United Kingdom Regulations require compliance
with ISO, CEN, or nationalstandards (in that order)
Example BS EN 54 Conformity can be
demonstrated by the CE markauthorized by any Notified Body within the EU
CE mark must be accepted inany EU member countryregardless of the testingorganization
National testing lab marks signifyingcompliance with national standardsmay only be recognized in thatcountry (ex VdS in Germany)
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
11/20
Manual Alarm InitiationUnited States
Manual fire alarm box(pull station)
Usually required but canbe omitted in somesprinklered occupancies(with one at an attendedlocation)
United Kingdom
Manual Call Point (breakglass)
Primary component of firealarm system required inType L and M installations(optional Type P)
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
12/20
Detection Zones BS 5839-1 Detectors (and call points) are required to be zoned to
direct responders to the fire Zone indication provided at the CIE
Also applicable to addressable systems Recommendations provided for:
General zoning Maximum floor area Search distance
No similar requirements provided in US codes.
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
13/20
Alarm Notification - US Minimum and maximum audibility levels throughout per
NFPA 72 Intelligible speech (voice alarm systems)
Accessibility guidelines require visible notification viastrobes in all public or common use areas
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
14/20
Visible Notification - US
NFPA 72 provides specificrequirements for: Flash rates and
synchronization Mounting locations and
heights Spacing based on strobe
intensity in candelas (cd) Wall mounted Ceiling mounted
Wall-mounted
Ceiling-mounted
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
15/20
Alarm Notification - UK
Audible sounders Provided for Types L
and M, optional Type P Typical 65dBA min or
5dBA above ambient;limited areas 60dBA;
75dBA sleeping areas Voice can be used,
esp. for stagedevacuations
Above: Examples ofsounders from Tyco
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
16/20
Visual Alarm Signals - UK
Used to supplementaudible where deemedineffective
Red color preferred;mount above 2.1m(82.7 in.)
Can be used forhearing impaired tactile devices morecommon
Tyco beacon
Tyco beacon integralwith sensor (forsleeping area)
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
17/20
Fire Alarm System Wiring Both NFPA 72 and BS 5839-1 include provisions for
protection of circuits and redundancy based on theinherent hazard, such as: Separation of circuit types and routing for redundancy Fire-resistance of wiring for staged evacuations Adequate support of system wiring
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
18/20
System Wiring, Continued
United States
Wire types can includeplenum, riser, or circuit
integrity (rated) Protection is partprescriptive and partdesigners discretion. NFPA72 defines: Circuit classes based on
redundancy 3 levels of survivability
Ex.: 2 hr. fire resistancerequired for selectiveevacuations
United Kingdom
Fire alarm wiring isstandard fire resistance orenhanced fire resistance
Enhanced fire resistanceis recommended formultiple conditions
including unsprinkleredbuildings with stagedevacuations orunsprinklered high-risebuildings
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
19/20
Summoning the Fire Service
United States
The fire alarm system isrequired to automaticallytransmit signals: commonmethods include Central Station Proprietary Station
NFPA 72 includes specifictransmission requirements Occupants can also call, but
monitoring is generallymandatory
United Kingdom
The primary method is bypublic emergency callsystem
Alarm receiving centres(ARCs) can be used forType L and M whenwarranted
ARCs are used for Type P(property protection)
-
8/11/2019 MonA1030 Lugar
20/20
Any Questions?Thanks for your participation!Contact Information:James R. Lugar Jr., P.E.
Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc.3384 Peachtree Rd. NE Suite 550
Atlanta, GA 30326+1 (404) 239-1000
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]