IFP Issue 44

An MDM PUBLICATIONIssue 44 – November 2010

www.mdmpublishing.com

THE GLOBAL VOICE FOR PASSIVE & ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION




INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTIONINTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION

IFP44 OFC cover 3 11/11/10 3:48 pm Page ofc1

At Draka we work hard to develop cable

products that meet and often exceed the British

Standards set for our industry. We are totally

focused on providing a superior customer

experience through the delivery of high quality

products and exceptional service. That’s why

our customers regard us as the world’s most

trusted cable brand.

Sadly not all cable is the same, as you can see

here. It’s a fact that poor quality and often

dangerous cable like this is available in today’s

market. The manufacturers pay scant regard to

industry standards, resulting in products that

under perform and in certain cases are

downright lethal. It can on occasions be difficult

to tell the difference. However, there’s one sure

way to be certain you are using the highest

quality products, always specify Draka.

Which BSare you buying?

Theworld’s most trusted cable brand

Draka UK Limited, P.O. Box 6500,Alfreton Road, Derby, DE21 4ZH, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1332 345431 Fax: +44 (0)1332 331237email: [email protected] www.drakauk.com

BRITISH STANDARD

BELOW STANDARD

IFP/Rogue2/1110

Which BS:IFP 10/11/10 12:52 Page 1

INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION 1

Front cover picture courtesy of Apollo Fire Detectors Limited

PublishersMark Seton & David Staddon

Group EditorGraham Collins

Editorial ContributorsRick Love, Jon Ben, Iain Cox, Leigh Hill, Wesley Kent, James Lane,Peter Massingberd-Mundy, NiallRowan, David Spicer, Mark Thomson,Pedro Valcárcel, Kurt Werner, Ian Buchanan

IFP is published quarterly by:MDM Publishing Ltd The Abbey Manor Business Centre,The Abbey, Preston Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2ENTel: +44 (0) 1935 426 428Fax: +44 (0) 1935 426 926 Email: [email protected]: www.mdmpublishing.com©All rights reserved

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November 2010 Issue 44 Contents

4-19 News, Upcoming

Events, Standards

Round-Up & Profiles

20-24 Fire Alarm

Panel Buyers’ Guide

27-30 The Growing

Role Of Voice In Fire

Safety

32-33 Watermist

Systems Boost Traveller

Safety

34-35 Clouds In The

Forecast

36 Deluge Protection

For Spain’s Vielha Tunnel

38-40 Smoke

Screen: The Real Impact

Of Smoke

42-43 The Business

Case For Fire Sprinkler

Protection

44-45 Portable

Score 9 Out Of 10

46-50 Getting The

Best From Beam

Detection

53-55 EN54-20:

Smoke Detection’s

Essential Building Block

56-58 EN54-23:

Rising To The Challenge

61-62 Protecting

High-Risk Plant

65-68 Buying

Valuable Time

71-74 The Changing

Face Of Fire Safety

Design

76-77 Deaf To The

Warnings

78-79 Non-approved

products – why take the

risk?

80 Advertisers’ Index53-55

44-45

34-35

27-30

78-79

71-74

65-68

61-62

Follow International Fire Protection on

P. 01 Contents Nov 2010 11/11/10 3:48 pm Page 1

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FROM THE EDITOR


So, are we missing a point here? Across theglobe, millions are spent on fire detection andalarm installations and fire suppression in

buildings, but are we doing enough for thosecaught up in an emergency to give them the bestpossible information on what to do – or what notto do – and when to do it? Clearly, it is impracticalto give every visitor to a shopping mall, leisurecentre, theatre or hospital the “flight attendant”treatment, but any measures that make peoplemore aware of what is the most appropriate thingto do in an emergency are surely to be encouraged.

The faster the detection and alarm equipmentresponds to a fire, the more time people are likelyto have to make rational evacuation decisions.Important though that is, it is only part of thestory. After all, communication is not the messagethat is transmitted; it is what the listeners perceivethat message to mean. For example, an alarmsounder is intended to transmit an alert, but insome circumstances what it can possibly be com-municating is panic. If you doubt this, watch thereaction of a stressed young mother with toddlersin tow, ladened down with shopping, when analarm bell is activated in an unfamiliar crowdedshopping mall.

The evacuation challenge is further compoundedby the fact that we do not all have the benefit ofperfect hearing, and a recent solution to aidpeople with this disability, one that harnessescellphone technology, is described in this edition.

Of course, panic is not induced solely by fear ofthe unknown or confusion. There is the potential

for it to ensue even with the most sophisticatedvoice alarm systems, because what we see can beequally as important as what we hear – and in apanic-ridden environment may possibly rank asmore believable or reliable. You only have towatch the behaviour of people subjected tobillowing smoke to appreciate the significance ofthat argument. So, in this edition of the magazinewe have also included an article on smokeventilation from Hilson Moran, one of the world’spremier fire engineering consultancies.

Elsewhere in this edition we have included theannual fire alarm panel buyers’ guide, looked atflame detection, and delved into important partsof EN54. There are also articles on third-partytesting and certification, fire-rated paint and beamdetection.

Also, following the introduction in the previousedition of International Fire Protection of a codesand standards update section, where the latestNFPA standards and codes were reviewed, thistime we have included a brief overview of thelatest British Standards. Alongside this we haveintroduced another new section on upcomingindustry events – fire safety exhibitions andconferences around the world.

Finally, returning to the subject of transport firesafety, the watermist feature in this edition looksat the latest systems designed specifically fortunnels and trains. We also look at the practicalapplication of this technology with an article onthe system installed in what was once regarded asone of Spain’s most dangerous tunnels. IFP

Graham Collins

KnowledgeEmpowersAir travel, we are told, is among the safest means of transport. Interestingly, it isthe one that relies least on intuition and self help when it comes to evacuationand safety. Step aboard any flight and you will be treated to a detailed safetyand evacuation presentation.

P. 03 Editorial 11/11/10 3:50 pm Page 3

4 INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION

NEWS

A full range of installation accessories for use in its Fireray opticalbeam smoke detectors has been introduced by FIRE FIGHTINGENTERPRISES LTD.

This new line-up includes various mounting plates and bracketsfor the reflector prisms that are said to allow easy fixing andpositioning of either a single-prism or four-prism array to surfacesat almost any angle. Protective cages for the Fireray 5000 detectorhead and controller units are also available, as are those for theFireray 50/100R and Fireray 2000 models.

The prism plate for either one or four-prism array is suitable forwhere the wall facing the detector head is perpendicular to theangle of the beam. Where this is not the case, the prism plate canbe attached to a universal bracket that fixes to the wall, allowingthe angle of the prisms to be adjusted to reflect the beam correctly.A reinforced surface mount plate is another option, providing aparticularly rigid and secure fixing.

The protective cages are made from plastic-coated galvanisedsteel and will protect detector heads and controller units fromaccidental knocks or flying objects.

For more information go to www.ffeuk.com

Beam Me Up Fireray

Outstation BoostFor Disabled RefugeSystemC-TEC has launched four new outstations for its SigTEL disabled refuge system/emergency voice communication system.

The new surface-mounted EVC302GS disabled refuge outstation is reckonedto be easy-to-clean and ten percent cheaper than its stainless steel counterpart.A flush mount version is also available, and both models enable two-wayemergency communication between disabled refuges and building control. Inkeeping with C-TEC’s other Type B outstations, the new EVC302G can also beconnected to an induction loop system/CCTV camera or interfaced to a disabledpersons’ toilet alarm system.

C-TEC has also unveiled the EVC301RPO fire telephone outstation thatincludes a telephone handset in a red, push-to-open steel cabinet. A version witha “lift key” locking mechanism is also available. Both can be surface or semi-flushmounted.

For more information go to www.c-tec.co.uk

Polish Buses GetDedicated FireProtection

More than 500 buses in Poland are now being protectedby FIRETRACE INTERNATIONAL’s FIRETRACE® automaticfire detection and suppression system. 450 systems arebeing installed in buses operated by MZA – MiejskieZakl\ady Autobusowe Sp z.o.o – in the capital, Warsaw,while a further 75 are being installed in buses in the cityof Poznan. The systems are being fitted to protect theengine compartments of the cities’ existing buses, and it is the largest single order ever won by FiretraceInternational’s UK-based EMEA operation.

The bulk of the order – 380 FIRETRACE systems – isbeing installed in the 12-metre Solaris Urbino 12-metreand the 18-metre articulated Solaris Urbino 18 buses. Theorder was won in the face of stiff international competitionand the decision is said to have been influenced by the factthat the system is already being used to protect over 5,000vehicles. Firetrace International was also able to show thatthere has not been a single reported instance where aFIRETRACE system has either false alarmed or failed todetect and suppress a genuine fire.

For more information go to www.firetrace.com

P. 04-6, 8 News pages 11/11/10 3:50 pm Page 4


NEWS

Sound Investment

COOPER FULLEON’S continuous improvement initiative has invested in numerous projectssince the beginning of 2010. The end result, the company says, is a slicker, more effectiveoperation that ensures the delivery of superior service and support to customers.

Lean Manufacturing continues to be employed on site and this year has seen a majorchange to the way production operatives work. Conventional bench-seated stationshave been replaced by standing work stations, reducing down time and defects as wellas benefiting operatives’ posture. Jan Westacott, production operative says: “I feel lesstired than when I used to be sitting down and the process flows much better.”

The building and commissioning of an anechoic chamber has also been completed onsite. This is capable of achieving up to 100 percent sound attenuation, improving theaccuracy and integrity of sound level measurement during product testing. It has asuspended floor and its walls, ceiling and floor are covered with over 500 acoustic foamtiles that are critical to reduce the reflection of reverberation when measuring the soundoutput of products.

Cooper Fulleon’s new Customer 1st programme includes the introduction of an onlinecustomer centre, Cooper Customer Centre (C3), which allows customers to track ordersand price and check availability of products quickly with ease. The introduction of a newtelephone system to streamline call handling ensures all calls are answered efficiently.

These initiatives represent the commitment to delivering value and supportingcustomers every step of the way. Cooper Fulleon will continue to invest in improvementmeasures and the final months of 2010 will see the launch of a new improved quickdelivery service. The ‘Xpress Service’ catalogue features the most frequently requestedproducts with a reduced lead time.

For more information go to www.cooperfulleon.com

BeamDetector IsAuto-Aligned

A conventional auto-aligning beam detectorwith laser alignment has been added to APOLLOFIRE DETECTORS’ range of fire detectionproducts. Specifically designed to detect smokein large, open areas such as warehouses,hangars, theatres, churches and sports centres,it has a range of eight metres to 100 metres.

During installation, a visible laser is used forinitial alignment of the beam. An automatic,motorised auto-alignment feature then ensuresthat the beam remains on target, counteractingthe effects of building movement. Automaticoptimisation technology also compensates fordust build-up on the lens, ensuring that falsealarms are avoided and the system continues towork effectively over time. Up to four detectorscan operate from one single low-level controller,minimising installation costs and allowing fullcontrol of the detector heads without the needfor expensive lifting gear.

The product has worldwide approvalsincluding EN54:12 and can be loop-poweredusing a switch monitor or mini switch monitor,enabling it to be added on as an extension toexisting Apollo analogue addressable systems.

For more information go to www.apollo-fire.co.uk

ASD System Gives Airport Safety A LiftThe XTRALIS ICAM aspirating smoke detection (ASD) system is being used toprovide early warning fire detection in lift shafts throughout London GatwickAirport. It is the UK’s second largest airport and the busiest single-runwayairport in the world, serving more than 200 destinations in 90 countries witharound 33 million short- and long-haul passengers a year.

The installation works by actively drawing air through sampling holes in anetwork of pipes that are installed along each elevator shaft and in theelevator machine room. However, while the sampling pipes are installedwithin each lift shaft, the actual ASD technology remains outside. Air samplesare then analysed by the ICAM unit that is placed within the machine room,ensuring ease of access for testing and maintenance requirements.

Lifts are a critical component of building infrastructure, particularly in busypassenger terminals, and the ICAM solution was chosen because of its abilityto identify the location of the earliest presence of smoke.

For more information go to www.xtralis.com/lifts



NEWS

XTRALIS™ has expanded its VESDA aspiratingsmoke detection [ASD] system with the inclusionof gas detection and environmental monitoring.VESDA ECO™ by Xtralis uses new or existingVESDA pipe networks to reliably detect smoke inaddition to hazardous/combustible gases toensure air quality. It integrates easily with otherbuilding management systems for real-timesituation awareness and intelligent emergencyresponse, including the activation of demand-controlled ventilation.

VESDA ECO is already being used in a powerplant in South America, car parks in Europe, anda data centre, national laboratory, wirelesstelecom facility and historical display in theUSA, providing very early warning firedetection, protecting against hazardous gasleaks, monitoring air quality to ensure safeworking environments, and help reduce energyconsumption and costs.

With an ECO detector installed on a VESDApipe network, air can be conditioned or filteredto remove moisture, dirt and other particulatesthat, Xtralis says can cause traditional gas-detection systems to false alarm or becomecontaminated. As with fire detection, earlywarning of gas leaks or build-up enablescounter-measures to be taken to protectpersonnel, property and business operations.

In its initial release, the solution can beconfigured to detect ammonia, carbon monoxide,hydrogen, hydrogen sulphide, methane, nitrogendioxide, oxygen, propane and sulphur dioxide.The systems integrate easily with fire alarmcontrol panels, programmable logic controllers,heating ventilation and air conditioning systems,and building management systems.

For more information go towww.xtralis.com

Gas Detection & EnvironmentalMonitoring Added To Vesda Systems

New Panel MountSounder IsIntrinsically Safe

E2S has added a newproduct to itsintrinsically safe rangeof sounders andbeacons, the IS-pA1panel mount sounder,which is certified II 1GEx ia IIB T4/5/6 for usein Zones 0, 1 and 2. TheIS sounder is said to beideal for use as faultindication or processalarm in control panelslocated in intrinsicallysafe environments. Itproduces a 100dB (A) atone-metre continuous600Hz tone that can bepulsed externally toproduce differentsignals.

To reinforce theaudible warning signal,

E2S also offers the intrinsically safe IS-pB1 panel lights. The highefficiency LEDs, which are mounted behind red, amber, green,blue or clear lenses, have a typical operating life in excess of tenyears. Powered via Zener barriers or galvanic isolators, the panelmount sounder and lights produce reliable and cost-effectivestatus indications with minimum power consumption.

The E2S IS range also includes the IS-mini sounder, beacon andcombined units, as well as the IS-L101L LED beacon and the IS-A105N sounder, which are approved to ATEX, IECEx and FM.

For more information go to www.e2s.com

Remote MonitoringOption For Fire PumpSystems Continuous remote monitoring offire pump systems’ status fromanywhere in the world is thepromise behind SPP’s newFireEye, which was developedspecifically for the fixed fireprotection market. UtilisingGeneral Packet Radio Service(GPRS) and SMS text alarmmodule technology, up to fourdevices can be monitored, plusthere is provision for monitoringadditional pump room alarms,such as intrusion alarms andvalves.

FireEye is compatible with SPPfire pump packages and othermanufacturers’ equipment, andcan be integrated into existingand new fire pump installationswhere a combination of electric starters and diesel fire pump controllers areused. Data can be logged, accessed and monitored remotely via theInternet and, as standard, FireEye communicates a system status that islogged to the web server every hour, although it can be easily set more orless frequently to suit individual requirements. Additional notification ofsystem alarms via email to pre-determined accounts is also simple toenable. Each site, its system status, and even individual device history isrecorded and logged on a database for future accessing.

SMS information is sent to up to five pre-determined and prioritisedcontacts. If the receipt of alarms via text is not confirmed by the firstallocated contact, the message is relayed to the other nominated numbers.Global Positioning System (GPS) technology provides continuousinformation to aid locating a site and reduce travel time to it.

For more information go to www.sppfireeye.com


Copyright © 2009 Underwriters Laboratories Inc. ® BDi091029-IFP10

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NEWS

Industry Gets CompactSmoke DetectorManufacturer of conventional andaddressable fire detection products,NITTAN, has launched a conventionalsmoke detector for industrial use wherespace is at a premium.

The 0KB3 works on the principle ofscattering light detection, measures just40mm by 40mm by 45mm, weighs 55g,and is aimed at applications such astransport containers, aircraft toilets andcomputer racking systems. It is said tobe extremely rugged and capable ofcoping with the most demanding ofenvironments, providing reliable firedetection with a high degree ofprotection against unwanted falsealarms, plus it automatically adjusts its detection sensitivity against dirt.

It can be used with Nittan’s CPC-3 Control Panel, and up to 20 0KB3 smokedetectors can be used with a single CPC-3 Control Panel.

For more information go to www.nittan.co.uk

DualWavelengthDetector

A fire detector that is said to reduce false alarmsby accurately differentiating smoke particles fromother types of gas, steam and dust has beenlaunched by EUROTECH FIRE SYSTEMS.

The newly patented dual wavelength opticaldetector offers a “flat response” to detect all typesof fires, and is being promoted as an ideal solutionfor large public buildings, such as hotels, schoolsand healthcare facilities, where false alarms canhave a significant impact on daily activity.

The new optical detector is one of a range offire detection products being made available underEurotech’s new Making Every System Happen(MESH) protocol. This offers both “closed” and“open” fire detection protocols to fire detectionand alarm installers worldwide, ensuring thatinstallers are not tied to the one manufacturer forall system components or long-term maintenancecontracts.

For more information go to www.eurotechfire.com

Cleated-UpA range of fireproof cable restraint cleatsdesigned for the installation of fire-ratedcables has been introduced by ELLISPATENTS. The Phoenix range is manufacturedfrom corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel,is available in 11 sizes, ranging from 10mmto 65mm, and features a single bolt fixing.

In order for FP rated cables to continueworking in an emergency they need toremain not just intact, but in place –something that simply cannot beguaranteed without the use of restraints

that have the same fire resistant propertiesas the cables they are restraining,” said EllisPatents’ Managing Director, Richard Shaw.

The new cleat was developed inconjunction with Exova Warringtonfire, BRE and ETS Cable Components. Thecompanies developing a testing processthat most realistically reflects the conditionsthe cleat might experience in service, andto ensure that they achieved fire protectionto the same level as the cables they areinstalled to support. These tests includedexposure to fire, impact and water spray.

For more information go towww.ellispatents.co.uk

UL & FM EndorsedVSD DetectionFIKE VID has received UL Listing on its SigniFire video smokedetection system. Approved to the new UL 268Bstandard for video smokedetection, it is the onlysystem to have both theUL listing and FMapproval.

Offered as aturnkey solution forvideo smoke, flameand intrusion detection,SigniFire is a camera-baseddetection system that visually detects the presence of smoke or fire at its source,independent of airflow. It provides early warning fire detection, identifying and reacting tofire situations in their earliest stages, and is used in applications where traditional smokedetection technologies may not be practical or efficient, including fossil fuel power plants,nuclear facilities, industrial facilities, cultural properties, warehouses and tunnels.

For more information go to www.fike.com


EVENTS


Firex India 2010

23rd – 25th November 2010Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai, Indiawww.firexindia.com

Middle East Fire, Safetyand Security Exhibition

4th – 7th December 2010Cairo International Convention Center, Cairo, Eqyptwww.mefsec-middleeast.com

International Fire, Rescue& Emergency Expo 2010

8th – 10th December 2010Jakarta International Expo, Jakarta, Indonesiawww.ifreexpo.com

Intersec 2011

16th – 18th January 2011Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre,Dubai, United Arab Emirateswww.intersecexpo.com

FDIC 2011

21st – 26th March 2011Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oils Stadium,Indianapolis, IN, USAwww.fdic.com

Upcoming EventsInternational Firex 2011

16th – 19th May 2011Hall 3, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, B40 1NTwww.info4fire.com

NFPA Conference & Expo 2011

June 12th – 15th 2011Boston Convention Center, Boston, MA, USAwww.nfpa.org

P. 09 Events 11/11/10 3:51 pm Page 9


REGULATIONS


DD 8458-1:2010 Fixed fire protection systems.

Residential and domestic watermistsystems.

Code of practice for design andinstallation

DD 8458-1:2010 is a Draft for Development givingrecommendations for the design, installation,water supplies, commissioning, maintenance andtesting of watermist systems with automaticnozzles installed in residential occupancies notexceeding 20 metres in height and domesticoccupancies. It primarily covers watermist systemsused for life safety, but might also provideproperty protection. It does not cover watermistsystems in industrial and commercial buildings.

Watermist fire suppression system maintenancealthough not complex, is essential. It is importantthat owners and occupiers pay particular attentionto precautions issued by the watermist systemsupplier, such as the avoidance of obstructions tothe watermist nozzle, or the painting of thewatermist nozzle or its mounting.

The advent of watermist nozzles that operate atan earlier stage in the development of a fire,together with the recognition that the largestnumbers of deaths from fire occur in the home,have led to the introduction of watermist firesuppression systems specifically designed forresidential and domestic occupancies. Watermistfire suppression systems have demonstrated theirvalue in assisting the protection of life andproperty in industrial and commercial applicationsfor many years.

BS 5839-9:2010Fire detection and fire alarm systemsfor buildings.

Part 9: code of practice

This part of BS 5839 has been prepared to giveguidance to those who specify, design, manufac-ture, install, commission, service and use suchemergency voice communication systems. It alsoensures that high standards of reliability, safetyand security are achieved, together with accept-able standards of performance.

Emergency voice communication systems, asdefined in BS 5839-9, are used in connection with life safety and need, therefore, to be subjectto high standards of design, manufacture,

installation and servicing, similar to those coveringfire detection and alarm systems and voice alarmsystems.

This standard primarily relates to the use ofemergency voice communication (EVC) in assistingboth firefighters and those responsible forevacuating buildings or sports stadiums in fireemergency situations, including evacuation of dis-abled people. Use, other than in fire emergencysituations, by disabled persons and others,although not precluded, is not addressed in detail.

BS 5839-9 covers systems with componentslinked by wires, wirelessly, or a combination ofboth and emergency voice communication sys-tems. This standard does not recommend whetheror not an emergency voice communication systemshould be installed in a given premises.

BS 8423:2010Fireguards for fires and heatingappliances for domestic use.Specification

BS 8423 specifies the requirements and testmethods of fireguards intended for use with heat-ing appliances utilising organic fuel or electricity,and which can be situated in an open area oragainst or on a wall, or within a recess.

The fireguards specified are intended to protectpeople from falling into a fire, prevent burns andreduce the risk of injury, particularly to youngchildren and the infirm. In addition it is intendedto reduce the risk of fire resulting from clothingand/or other flammable materials coming intocontact with, or in proximity to, burning fueland/or hot surfaces.

This is a full revision of the standard, andintroduces new requirements for fixings, require-ments regarding small parts, and increasing theaperture of mesh, while the requirementsregarding shearing and crushing have beendeleted. BS 8423 supersedes BS 8423:2002, whichis withdrawn. IFP

StandardsRound-UpWatermist systems, fire detection and alarm systems and fireguards focus in the latest batch of Drafts forDevelopment, Codes of Practice, and Standards published by BSI.

More information on theseand the other recentlypublished British Standardscan be found atshop.bsigroup.com

P. 10 Standards Update 11/11/10 3:51 pm Page 10


PROFILE


Architects who have worked hard to create aprestige office building or a sleek retailexperience can find that their design vision

is compromised by the need to install standard firedetectors, which protrude from the ceiling. Even alow-profile detector can interrupt the clean lines ofmany modern interiors.

Heritage buildings are another environment inwhich the need to preserve aesthetics and theneed for fire detection can collide. BetweenJanuary 2002 and June 2006, an average of sevenheritage buildings a month were lost or damagedas a result of fire in the UK. Fire detection inheritage buildings is therefore imperative, but itcan be very difficult to incorporate modern firedetectors into heritage interiors without interfer-ing with the original décor.

This conflict between style and function is being addressed in the latest generation of firedetection products. Apollo Fire Detectors Limitedhas developed Plateau; a new smoke detector thatcan meet stringent design demands withoutcompromising on reliability. Plateau is flush-mounted to the ceiling so only a discreet whiteplastic cover plate is visible. This greatly reducesthe device’s aesthetic impact and means thatceiling lines are virtually uninterrupted.

The signature flat profile is possible due to thefact that Plateau detectors do not have an internalsmoke chamber – instead, smoke particles aredetected outside the device itself. Plateau operatesas an optical detector, but the light beam is trans-mitted through the cover plate and reflected byany smoke close to it. The light that is reflected isregistered by a receiver in the detector, which willchange to the alarm state if the presence of smokeis confirmed.

Plateau’s aesthetic credentials are not limited tothe fact that it sits flush-mounted to the ceiling;the appearance of the detector also helps it fit thedesign brief. The simple plastic cover is minimalis-tic with no lines or moulding and is pure white,with no logos or other branding visible. So whendiscretion is required, Plateau is able to providereliable and accurate fire detection with minimalvisual intrusion.

In order to aid reliability and accuracy, Plateauhas a number of inbuilt features. The devicepermanently checks for contamination on the

cover plate by means of additional light-emittingand sensing components. It gauges the degree ofcontamination present and adjusts its alarmthreshold accordingly. The device will raise a faultcondition if contamination is excessive.

Plateau’s discreet presence is also finding favourin security applications. Apollo has created aspecial vandal-resistant version that comesequipped with a 100mm square, 4mm thickstainless-steel plate instead of the standard plasticcover. This version has been developed for use inenvironments such as secure units in a hospital,detention centres, prisons or police holding cellswhere standard fire detectors could be easilyvandalised.

In summary, often a vast amount of time andmoney has been spent on building design, so it isunderstandable that developers and architectswant to ensure that their vision is not compromisedby utilitarian equipment. However, the fact remainsthat any public access building must have adequatefire protection.

The evolution of Plateau makes it possible forthe demands of style and function to be met in both modern and heritage environments. Inaddition, the security version of this device meansthat some of the most vulnerable people in oursociety cannot use a product intended for theirprotection to do any harm to themselves or toothers. IFP

Flat andFlattering FireDetection FromApolloFire detection is a life critical requirement in all types of building, but sometimesit can cause conflict.

For more information go towww.apollo-fire.co.uk

P. 12 Apollo Profile 11/11/10 3:51 pm Page 12

The level-headed detector

www.apollo-fire.co.uk

To find out more:www.apollo-fire.co.uk/plateaucall us on: +44 (0)23 9249 2412email us at: [email protected]

• Prestige offices

• Listed buildings

• Designer boutiques

• High-class hotels

• Museums

• Exclusive residences

Plateau detects smoke without needing an internal smoke

chamber hence requiring only a stylish disc to be visible on

the ceiling. The disc has two small windows for the infra-red

transmitter and receiver. Plateau is flush mounted so that all the

electronic circuitry is hidden behind the disc.

...stylish, effective, dependable

PLATEAU from Apollo is a major advance in fire detector design, providing effective detection with minimum intrusion.

• Prestige officesPlateau detects smoke without needing an internal smoke

advance in fire detector design, providing effective detection with minimum intrusion.

Effective detection withminimum intrusion


PROFILE


PPG Protective & Marine Coatingsglobal network of project specialistsare available to ensure that the correct

fire protection systems are specified foreach individual project, working closelywith architects, main contractors andengineers. This world-class customer ser-vice and commitment to manufacturingconsistently the highest quality productsunderpins PPG’s position as a world leaderin the fire protection industry.

Steelguard thin-film solution fornuclear sectorThe UK nuclear market is an area in whichPPG has provided an alternative solution tothe more traditionally-accepted thick-filmintumescent coatings.

Previously, even where hydrocarbon fireprotection was not a requirement, engi-neers looked to specify the more durableepoxy thick-film intumescent coating. Thiswas down to several contributing factors,such as the harsh corrosive environments andcoastal conditions to which the steelwork wouldbe exposed during the erection period, and thecertification and approvals required in the oil, gasand petrochemical markets.

There are, however several drawbacks to usingthis type of fire protection when compared withthe thin-film intumescent alternative:1 The application of a thick-film epoxy intumes-

cent coating requires specialist equipment.2 Expert training must be give to applicators

wishing to apply thick-film fire protection.3 Mesh re-enforcement is often needed for larger

steel section profiles.4 The higher costs involved with thick-film fire

protection.Sellafield Ltd has undergone an extensive con-

struction programme with several new facilitiesbeing constructed; more might be built over thenext few years. So, any proposed system had tonot only be durable enough to satisfy the corrosiveenvironment the steelwork would be exposed toduring the initial construction phase, but moreimportantly it required a suitable topcoat with thenecessary decontamination approval to satisfySellafield Ltd.

In this instance, the solution put forward by thePPG Cellulosic PFP team was to devise a costeffective alternative to thick-film that called for an

off-site-applied thin-film intumescent fire protec-tion system. A system was put forward thatincluded zinc rich primer, Steelguard solvent-bornethin-film intumescent coating for the required fireresistance, over-coated with a suitable epoxy tiecoat with PSX 700 applied as the final protectionto the steelwork.

PSX 700 is a patented engineered siloxanecoating that embodies the properties of both ahigh-performance epoxy and polyurethane in one coat. The coating offers “breakthrough”weather resistance and corrosion control. It alsohas the required decontamination properties andapprovals. As a result of the innovative specifica-tion put forward by PPG, Steelguard intumescentcoatings are now a well established in the UKnuclear construction market.

Steelguard – working in partnershipwith architects and engineersSteelguard thin-film intumescent coatings arebeing specified by architects and specifiers acrossthe globe as part of complete fire protectionsystems. PPG Protective & Marine Coatings’engineers have the essential expert knowledge todevise fire protection specifications to meetprecisely the specific needs of clients, guarantee-ing the longevity and performance expected fromthe system. IFP

SteelguardIntumescentCoatingsPPG Protective & Marine Coatings has extensive and varied experience in thedomestic, commercial and industrial cellulosic fire protection markets, withsystems designed to meet the needs of almost every kind of environment.

For more information go towww.ppgpmc.com

P. 14 PPG Steelguard profile 11/11/10 3:52 pm Page 14

Proven fire protection for civil building

• Up to 120 minutes fire protection

• National and international certification

• On-site and off-site application

• Engineering support

www.ppgpmc.com

Advertentie_Steelguard_A4.indd 1 15-02-10 10:30


PROFILE


Based in Mansfield, Texas, Chemguard hasbeen listed among the 100 fastest growingprivate companies in the Dallas, Texas, region

for the past two years.

OverviewThe comprehensive operation of the ChemguardFoam Fire Suppression Division includes foam con-centrate development and production, firefightingfoam equipment engineering and manufacturing,and foam systems design. Our efficient and environ-mentally friendly UL-listed and FM-approved foamproducts are used worldwide in challenging industrial,military, municipal, offshore, petrochemical, energy,transportation, freight and airport applications.

Chemguard designs and manufactures an extensiveline of firefighting foam hardware, including nozzles,monitors, and foam trailers. We also offer on-siteproduct fabrication, including ASME bladder tank andcustom foam skid fabrication. Our intensive qualitycontrol procedures ensure that equipment shippedfrom Chemguard reflects our reputation for excel-lence and is delivered on-time at competitive prices.

In addition, Chemguard manufactures advancedpositive-displacement foam concentrate pumps for fire-protection systems and fire apparatus.Chemguard’s balanced vertical integration allows usto ensure the integrity of our foam fire-fightingequipment by controlling the manufacturingprocess – from raw materials through quality assur-ance testing and final delivery.

Chemguard’s systems engineers provide fire sup-pression systems design and applications assistance– reviewing specifications, providing value-addedengineering alternatives, and supporting systemsstart-up. Working side-by-side with customers, weapply years of experience designing systems forpetrochemical facilities, hangars, flammable-liquidstorage tanks, warehouses, marine applications, andother challenging installations to maximise perfor-mance, efficiency, and effectiveness.

The company performs topside and sprinkler firetests for a wide variety of test standards at our on-sitefire test facility, obtaining international approvals forChemguard foam concentrates, including IMO,LASTFIRE, DNV, and EN 1568. We are committed tocontinuous innovation to meet customer require-ments and market demands. In recent years Chem-guard has expanded its laboratory facility andinvested in additional state-of-the-art equipment.Our research staff collaborates with customers toaddress specific application requirements.

Chemguard’s research-based Specialty ChemicalsDivision produces environmentally responsiblefluorochemical surfactants (a major ingredient infire-suppression foam concentrates) for Chemguardas well as other firefighting foam manufacturersworldwide.

We are committed to protecting the environmentwhile supplying products that will effectively protectpeople and structures, equipment, and other property.Because of Chemguard’s successful synthesis offluorochemical surfactants from telomer-basedfluorocarbons, our fire-fighting foam concentratesdo not contain perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) orperfluorooctanoic acid (PFOS) ingredients.

Williams acquisitionDuring summer 2010, Chemguard acquiredWilliams Fire & Hazard Control as a wholly ownedsubsidiary, combining Chemguard’s extensive R&D,manufacturing, and systems engineering experiencewith Williams’ unmatched expertise in flammable-liquid firefighting – effectively integrating surfactantresearch, foam pump design, systems development,and firefighting technical expertise.

Chemguard and Williams – also based in Texas –enjoy a history of collaboration. In late 2009, theyintroduced an advanced alcohol-resistant aqueousfilm-forming foam (AR-AFFF). Developed inChemguard’s R&D laboratory to Williams’ rigorousspecifications, this “next-evolution” concentrateexhibits significant improvements in effectivenessand efficiency and exceeds the highest performancestandards in the industry.

Chemguard and Williams are committed tocontinued development of foam concentrates, fire-fighting equipment, fire-fighting systems, andemergency services. IFP

ChemguardConcentrates,Hardware &SupportA full-service ISO 9001:2008 certified manufacturer of UL and FM approved firesuppression foams, equipment, and systems, Chemguard serves the fire suppressionand specialty chemicals fields worldwide through innovative research anddevelopment, advanced engineering and design, precision manufacturing, andprompt service and delivery.

For more information go towww.chemguard.com

Chemguard designed-and-built bulk foamstorage/transport trailer

P. 16 Chemguard profile 11/11/10 3:52 pm Page 16

Pumping Technology for Tomorrow’s World

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PROFILE


Although no two fires are the same, they allhave certain obvious characteristics incommon, including the generation

of heat, smoke and combustion gases.Detecting any one of these cangive early warning of a fire, butcan also lead to false alarmsdue to other particulate mater-ial being mistaken for smoke.That is why multi-sensor detec-tors were developed by com-panies such as Bosch SecuritySystems with products such as itsground-breaking FAP-OTC 420optical, thermal, chemical multi-sensor introduced 2001. WhereBosch’s Fire Detector 420 Seriesreally scores, however, is in theleading-edge algorithm embodiedin the company’s Intelligent Signal Pro-cessing (ISP) technology, which enables the 420Series to achieve the highest level of intelligent firedetection.

ISP enhances multi-sensor performanceIn general, the more sensors a fire detector has,the earlier it can detect a fire and the fewer falsealarms are generated. This is particularly true ofthe multi-sensors in Bosch’s Fire Detector 420Series. They feature the company’s unique andpowerful ISP technology, through which all sensorsignals are pre-processed continually by dedicatedinternal evaluation electronics, analysed and linkedwith each other via a built-in microprocessor.

The sensor signals are processed by a powerfulalgorithm developed using data from fire tests and tests with known disturbance values. Thealgorithm itself is based on rules derived from theexperience of 5000 fire patterns. An alarm is trig-

gered automatically only if the signal combinationof the sensors corresponds to the specific patternfor a real fire. In addition, the multi-sensoralgorithm parameters are adapted to applicationtype to further optimise early fire detection andfalse-alarm immunity. They also enhance immunityfrom ambient influences such as dust, humidityand temperature variations. This ensures best-in-class differentiation between real fires anddisturbances.

Not content to rest on past successes, the com-pany has recently introduced three new variants tothe 420 Series embodying innovative Dual Raytechnology that, in combination with ISP, offersultimate precision in smoke detection.

Earliest detection of even thesmallest smoke particlesBosch formerly offered four sensor vari-ants in the 420 Series: the FAH-T 420(heat detector), the FAP-O 420 (opticalsmoke detector), the FAP-OT 420 (multi-sensor detector optical, thermal) and theFAP-OTC 420 (multi-sensor detectoroptical, thermal, chemical). With theexception of the FAH-T 420, all feature asingle optical smoke detector. The serieshas now been extended with newdetector variants featuring a dual-opticalsmoke sensor based on the company’sDual Ray technology.

Bosch Dual Ray Te cProvides Faster Fi

For more information go towww.boschsecurity.com

New additions to Bosch’s Fire Detector 420 Series provide even faster firedetection than was previously possible, along with reduced rate of false alarms,ensuring that the series offers maximum reliability in all conditions andenvironments.

P. 18-19 Bosch profile 11/11/10 3:52 pm Page 18

It is commonly known that dis-tinguishing between steam, dustparticles and smoke particles canbe a challenge for some detectors.They also find it challenging todetect very light smoke with smallparticles produced by some openwood fires, particularly what areknown as open cellulosic (wood)fire defined in practical tests as TF1fires. In the past, smoke from suchfires could only be reliably detectedusing multi-criteria sensors orionization detectors, the latterincorporating a small amount ofradioactive material that detects any invisiblesmoke particles floating in the air and sets off analarm.

Some manufacturers have attempted to addressthis challenge using a combination of thermalsensor and dual-optical sensor based on forwardand backward scattering of light from two LEDsources of the same wavelength. First described byGustav Mie in 1908, the Mie theory describes thescattering of light by particles larger than a wave-length. It is responsible for the white light in mistand fog and the white glare around street lamps.Mie scattering is strongly dependent on particlesize – the larger the particles, the stronger theintensity of scattered light in the direction of theincident light.

Bosch adopted quite a different dual-opticalapproach in its new precision Dual Ray technology.Although this is also based on the Mie scatteringeffect, Dual Ray technology takes advantage ofthe effect to determine smoke density and particlesize from the ratio between the intensity of scat-tered light from two LED sources of differingwavelength (one infrared LED and one blue LED).The smoke density and particle size are used by

the detector’s powerful fire-detection algorithm toprovide even more reliable differentiation betweensmoke particles and other particles caused, forexample, by disturbances such as dust and steam.This leads to earlier, more reliable fire detectionand fewer false alarms.

Three new variants featuring Bosch’s new dual-optical sensor are being added to the FAP-420Series – the FAP-DO 420 (dual-optical smokedetector), the FAP-DOT 420 (multi-sensor detectordual-optical, thermal) and the FAP-DOTC 420(multi-sensor detector dual-optical, thermal,chemical). Their addition, which brings the totalnumber of detectors in the series to seven, meansthat the 420 Series now provides optimal choice ofdetector variants meeting all likely applicationrequirements.

A unique combinationAs with the original members of the series, thenew variants also feature Bosch’s ISP technology,providing a unique combination of precision DualRay technology and the company’s powerful fire-detection algorithm. They are all capable ofdetecting challenging TF1 test fires – even the

FAP-DO 420, which embodies only the dual-optical sensor – and are the first

detectors attested by VdS to TF1and TF8, in addition to therequired test fires of EN54-7.

Moreover, the dual-opticalFAP-DO 420 offers a signifi-cant cost advantage oversome competitor systems

that require a multi-sensordetector (optical and thermal or

dual-optical and thermal sensors) to pro-vide reliable detection of TF1 fires. The dual-optical detector can also make full use of the

surveillance area at all times, in contrast tomulti-sensor detectors in which

the surveillance area maybe reduced in certain oper-ating modes, for example,thermal only. IFP


PROFILE

e chnologyi re Detection

Ultimate precision with Dual Ray Technology

P. 18-19 Bosch profile 11/11/10 3:52 pm Page 19

ADVANCED FIRE SYSTEMS haslaunched the AVISA Voice Alarm Com-mand Centres to complement andextend its AX Series fire panels andprovide distributed digital audio, fire-fighters’ telephone and multiple com-mand centre controls capabilities.Applications include high-rise and cam-pus style, wide-area network applica-tions that demand the most stringentengineering specifications.

The combined AXSeries and AVISA prod-uct range, comprising 1-loop, 2-loop, and 4-loop integrated sys-tems, shares a full rangeof advanced intelligentdetection devices aswell as systemperipherals includ-ing remote LCD and LED annunciators,

graphics controllers, BMS inter-faces, in-built panel printers,power supplies, audio boostersand firefighters’ telephones.

The products utilise the latest insurface-mount and flash-basedmicroprocessor technology, andstandard features include integralintelligent voltage and ammetersthat aid installation and trouble-shooting. The IP Gateway™provides a low cost solution forremote monitoring via email andalert text messages of alarmand/or fault conditions, whileWindows-based programming toolsoffer simple select-and-click pro-gramming with built-in logic anderror checking diagnostics.

For more information go towww.afsi.us.com


FIRE ALARM PANEL BUYERS’ GUIDE

New Voice Alarm Command Centres

ADVANCED ELECTRONICS has launched phase one of the Mx-5000 seriesof analogue addressable fire control panels making it, the company says,the first UK-manufactured panel to be approved to EN54 part 2, 4 andpart 13 by VDS and BSI.

New features include improved diagnostics showing a visual oscillo-scope, fire database management system, up to 2000 network zones andup to 200 control panels on a fault-tolerant network system. The productrange, comprising a single-loop, dedicated 2 and 4-loop control panelseries also includes a number of remote terminals and dedicated peripher-als and uses the latest in flash-based micro-processor technology combinedwith high intensity, fully programmable LCD Displays. .

In addition to this, the product line includes a common PC-NET softwareprogramming package and PC-NET graphical control software, as well asremote diagnostics via ipGateway™ Internet portal. The Mx-5000 is fullybackward-compatible with the Mx-4000 series and supports all of thelatest analogue addressable field devices.

For more information go to www.advel.co.uk

VDS and BSI ApprovedFire Panels

BOSCH SECURITY SYSTEMS’ Fire Panel 1200 Series forsmaller installations offers fire protection in the one andtwo-loop segments, and is said to combine flexibilityand ease-of-use with the reliability of the company’sModular Fire Panel Series.

The 1200 Series panel is operated via an easy-to-usetouch screen featuring a large LCD display and anintuitive user interface with a clear menu structure. In

Big Solution forSmall Installations

P. 20-24 Alarm Panel Buyers 11/11/10 3:53 pm Page 20

addition, the panel offers various functions including the dis-play of extensive diagnostic information. Based on the LSN(Local Security Network) bus system, it offers a high level ofsystem stability, and supports the full range of proven LSNperipheral components. It also provides synergies with theexisting Modular Fire Panel family in relation to specification,configuration, maintenance and logistics.

The 1200 Series also offers an extensive choice of rugged,encapsulated modules that can be hot swapped, which meansthat it is possible to replace modules in a running system. Thestandard deployment of the 1200 Series panel is one loop,although it can be easily extended to two loops with an addi-tional module. Up to three remote keypads can be connectedto the 1200 Series panel, plus it is also possible to connect thepanel to a fire monitoring or building management system.

For more information go to www.boschsecurity.com



Large ProjectPanel Enhanced

The latest version of the Modular Fire Panel 5000 Series from BOSCHSECURITY SYSTEMS includes enhanced features that are aimed atgreatly simplifying operation of the system, as well as makinginstallation and networking much easier.

The Modular Fire Panel 5000 Series panel now operates with anew serial interface for directly connecting the Bosch Plena PublicAddress and Voice Alarm system without any additional contact inter-faces. This reduces installation and hardware costs, particularly forprojects with numerous evacuation zones. Fire panel networks can beeasily tied together with the EVAC system that enables intelligentoperation of the voice evacuation system via the fire panel.

The modules are extremely rugged, with components protected byencapsulated housings to avoid damage from touching or staticdischarge. Regardless of the size of a building or site, only a fewstandard modules are required from which the customer can easilyconstruct a tailor-made system. The system can be extended from oneloop to up to 32 loops with more than 4,000 elements. A “hot plug”feature allows modules to be plugged in or removed for expansions ormodifications while the panel is in operation.

For more information go to www.boschsecurity.com

NetworkableFire Panels

All six of C-TEC’s XFP networkable one and two-loop analogueaddressable fire alarm panels have been tested for functionality andperformance, comply with EN54 Parts 2 and 4 and are third-partyapproved by LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board).

The XFP range is targeted at office blocks, shopping complexesand big industrial sites as well as smaller, stand-alone applicationsand, the company says, offers high performance at a very com-petitive price. It is available as a single-loop 16-zone panel in aplastic enclosure, or a robust one or two-loop 32-zone metal panel,offering full compatibility with Hochiki’s ESP and Apollo’s XP95,Discovery and Xplorer protocols. Features include two independentlyprogrammable conventional sounder circuits and the ability tointerconnect up to eight XFP main panels onto a two-wire RS485network. The XFP is also fully compatible with C-TEC’s new HushButton fire alarm solution for Houses of Multiple Occupation.


Conventional PanelOfferingThree distinct ranges of con-ventional fire alarm panel are currently available from C-TEC: the CFP two to eight-zone EN54-2/4 fire panel; theMFP four to 28-zone BS5839-4 fire panel; and the FP one to14-zone BS5839-4 fire panel.

The CFP EN54 panel comes in three versions – standard, economyand LPCB-approved and is supplied in a flush or surface-mountableplastic enclosure. All come with two, four of eight detection circuitsand feature four conventional sounder circuits, two inputs (classchange and alert) and four outputs (fire one, fire two, fault andreset). Depending on the model purchased, an array of engineeringfunctions is available including: selectable zone delays; coincidence;non-latching zones; and comprehensive fault diagnostics facilities.The CFP is fully compliant with EN54 parts 2 & 4, the Europeanstandard for fire alarm control and indicating equipment.

The MFP four to 28-zone fire panel was designed to fill what C-Tec

CFP panel


perceived as the gap between low cost,low specification fire panels and higherpriced, higher specification equipment.Expandable from four to 28 zones in fourzone steps, the MFP’s four sounder cir-cuits, head-out fault indication and twoon-board fire relays, plus its compatibility

with a wide range of expansion boardsmakes it one of the most sophisticatedBS5839-4 compliant fire panels available.It offers a wide range of engineer func-tions including: one-man detector test;sounder walk test; sounder isolate;sounder delay; and auxiliary isolate.

The FP one to 14-zone panel has beenprotecting people and property for almosttwo decades. Like the MFP, it is supplied ina robust metal enclosure with a lift-off lidand heavy-duty base connections to helppromote an easy first fix and straight-forward maintenance. The FP’s broadcompatibility with virtually all known con-ventional smoke and heat detector rangesand its ability to interpret a short circuit inany zone or zones as a fire or fault make itparticularly useful for retro-installations.Optional head out monitoring units are

also available for systems requiring compli-ance with BS5839-1 (1988).




UpgradeImprovesCommissioningProcess

Nano is the latest fire detection control panelfrom GENT BY HONEYWELL. This single-loopanalogue addressable panel is aimed at smallsites that require improved fire sensing andevacuation options, and offers a simple cause-and-effect, which can be configured by a simpleand easy to use PC commissioning tool.

Incorporating an intuitive user interface, Nanomanages up to 127 devices on the loop and offersend users a smaller system that benefits from thesupport of Vigilon’s loop technology that supportsa range of devices: S-Quad sensors; interfaces;beams; manual call points; and S-Cubed sounders.

Gent by Honeywell launched a systemupgrade in April 2010. An improved commis-sioning process allows changes or the additionof devices to be managed easily and quickly,while offline commissioning enables the systemto be configured before the commissioningengineer attends the site.

For more information go towww.gent.co.uk

FP panelMFP panel


Vigilon Compact is a one to two-loop paneldesigned for small-to-medium systems anduses VIGILON technology, offering thecapability of networking with other Com-pact or Vigilon panels on the same centrallymanaged system.

Sixty percent smaller than a standard Vig-ilon panel, Compact incorporates an intuitiveuser interface allowing the user to determinequickly the position and nature of an emer-gency. This can be enhanced by the use ofthe WINMAG PC-based graphical manage-ment application or a loop-based mimicpanel. Repeat panels relay all informationprovided from the main control panel and provide main control functions.

The Gent by Honeywell analogue addressable panel fully complies withEN54: Parts 2 & 4 and can accommodate up to 200 devices on a loop,supporting a range of devices: S-Quad sensors; interfaces; beams; manualcall points; and S-Cubed sounders.

A recent addition to the Vigilon range is a newly enhanced mainspowered interface, designed to comply with BS 7273, a standard concern-ing the critical signal path between fire detection and alarm systems andrelease mechanisms for fire doors. Controlled by the panel, the new loop-based interface will maintain the integrity of fire compartments, even witha fault on the system.

For more information go to www.gent.co.uk



Mid-range Panel isEN54 Compliant

Panel Offers Easeof ProgrammingThe VIGILON analogue address-able fire detection and alarmsystem from Gent by Honeywellis targeted at medium-to-largebuildings and is promoted asbeing simple to install, configureand use. It offers a range of con-trol panels that can be installedeither as four or six-loop standalone panels, or as part of amulti-panel network, easily pro-grammable as one system. Thisseamless network can containup to 200 panels, with the capa-bility to add new buildings or extensions after installation.

In common with Nano and Vigilon Compact, the Vigilon’sloop supports a range of devices, and each loop is capable ofsupporting up to 200 devices with a maximum of 512 detectiondevices on each panel.

Available with 24 or 72-hour standby facilities, its flexibleloop architecture makes it suitable for any type of building. TheVigilon architecture offers soft addressing that can minimiseinstallation time and remove potential for manual addressingerrors. A specifiable option is SAFE (Soft Addressed FirewareEncoded) that makes management simpler post installation andcommissioning.




Conventional PanelOffers Eight-zoneCoverage

The option from Gentby Honeywell for small building premisesrequiring coverage forup to eight zones isthe Xenex panel that iscompliant with EN54part 2 & 4 and con-tains integral powersupply and batterysupport to drive up to

eight alarm sounder circuits, two auxiliary relay contacts, a zonedisablement facility and a one-man test and commissioningfeature.

Designed to achieve ease to installation, use and main-tenance, the system supports up to eight sounder circuits, allow-ing fire detection and sounder circuits to be connected in onefour-core cable. Its compatibility with a range of low currentdevices also means the system can support greater numbersadded to the loop if required. The Xenex panel has a 72 hourstandby provision, guaranteeing a functioning system for up to72 hours following a mains power fault.


Analogue andConventional OptionsThe Syncro AS single ortwo-loop analogueaddressable fire controlpanel from KENTECsupports open protocolcommunications, includ-ing Apollo, Argus Vegaand Hochiki, and usesmicroprocessor-basedelectronics to providewhat the companydescribes as a flexiblecontrol system withhigh reliability andintegrity. It is aimed atsmall to medium sizedfire detection systems.

Utilising the two-wire technology of Apollo’s AlarmSense®, Kentec’s new fast-setupSigma CP-A two, four and eight-zone fire alarm control and indi-cating panels permit rapid system configuration of compatibledevices. These include smoke and heat detectors, call points, basesounders, base sounder/beacons and relay units, which can bewired to the same pair of cables, for common, zonal or two-stagealarm using simple menu options on the panel.

For more information go to www.kentec.co.uk

The open protocol fire alarm controlpanels from MORLEY-IAS support fiveindustry-leading detection device proto-cols. The current offering includes Horizon,Dimension and ZX panels.

The Horizon non-addressable controlpanel is designed for small shop or ware-house units, nursery schools and doctors’surgeries, while the Dimension analogueaddressable control panels provide what isdescribed as an “out of the box, onto thewall” solution for such applications aslarger shops, offices and banks.

The Morley-IAS ZX range of one, twoand five-loop modular, intelligent firealarm control panels is suitable for protect-ing all types of property. The panels’power and flexibility is said to make themcapable of even the most complex installa-tion or multi-site network. With up to 99panels on a single network, and a choiceof networking configurations, the ZXSeries is suited to a broad range of appli-cations, from schools and universities toshopping centres, cinemas, hospitals andairports.

For more information go towww.morleyias.com

Panels for all Building Types

DX Range

ZX Range

Horizon Panel



Copyright © 2010 DuPont. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont ™, The miracles of science™, The Science of Protection™, and FM-200 ® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

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World ClassLeaders in audible & visual alarm systems

Variety of markets catered for including: FireIndustrialSecurityHazardous Areas

Product for indoor and outdoor useDiverse range of applicationsHigh efficiency, low current designsCompliant with a wide range of standards

P. 26 ads 11/11/10 3:54 pm Page 26

ALARMS


Some years ago, a survey found that, in theevent of a fire, only 13 percent of peopleresponded to a bell warning: by contrast, 45

percent reacted to a written text message displayand some 75 percent to a spoken message.

The results of this earlier study may not perhapsbe very surprising. However, as the latest researchundertaken on behalf of Notifier has confirmed,the overwhelming majority of the general publicand industry specialists alike believe that over thepast five years the world around us has sincebecome even noisier.

And this is especially worrying, as the newresearch also identified that fewer than ten per-cent of the general public always think about howto get out of a building, whether or not they use itregularly. In the event of a fire alarm, a commonresponse is first to assume that it is a false alarmand then “follow other people around me” ratherthan adhere to the safety instructions.

Bells and sounders can only provide a warningthat there is some kind of emergency, but it is notalways obvious what kind of emergency it is. Bycontrast, a clear spoken message and a VA/PAsystem provide the information needed to direct thepublic or employees away from danger and out ofthe building in the most efficient way possible.

Fighting to be heardThe recent surveys, which enabled a comparisonof the views of fire safety professionals attending aConstruction CPD seminar with those of thegeneral public, found some interesting similaritiesin how each group would react in an emergencysituation. The overwhelming majority of the public(86 percent) and industry specialists (74 percent)believe that the world is a noisier place than fiveyears ago.

Yet this is taking some time to feed through toexpectations regarding the provision of appropriate

By Rick Love

Notifier by Honeywell

The GrowingRole Of Voice InFire SafetyResearch shows that more people respond to spoken message alarms than eitheralarm bells or text messages.

P. 27-30 Audible Visual Alarms 11/11/10 5:14 pm Page 27

fire safety messaging. In the event of a fire alarm,89 percent of the public, and 77 percent of indus-try experts expect to hear a bell or other audiblesounder, with only 12 percent and 20 percentrespectively anticipating a standard or moredetailed kind of loudspeaker announcement. Yetwell over half (57 percent) of the public are alreadycertain that they would respond more quickly to avoice alarm in evacuating a building, with a further32 percent as yet not sure how they would react.

This lack of directional information is critical, asonly six percent of the public always think abouthow to get out a building in an emergency inwhich they are regular occupants and only threepercent in those buildings where they are occa-sional visitors. Equally worryingly, two-thirds rarely,if at all, think about evacuation procedures as reg-ular occupants. This rises to almost 90 percent inbuildings they use infrequently.

Although professionally more aware of therisks, more than 40 per cent of industry expertsalso rarely or never think about how to get out of any building, whether or not they use suchfacilities regularly.

In the event of a fire alarm, 40 percent of thepublic (and 26 percent of industry experts) wouldinstinctively follow the people around them andonly 29 percent would use the nearest exit. In thecase of both the public and industry experts, morethan one quarter (26 percent) would assume it is afalse alarm until advised otherwise.

As a result, it has become more important thanever to ensure that staff, residents and visitorsalike are able to respond quickly and correctly to a

fire warning. In response, sophisticated and intu-itive voice alarm systems have evolved to form akey part of comprehensive fire detection andalarm systems, designed for complex environmentsin which individuals will respond to warnings indifferent ways.

These integrated solutions benefit both buildingusers and firefighters called to deal with the emer-gency, as they are able easily to take over theVoice Alarm/Public Address (VA/PA) system tobroadcast individualised messages, in order toensure a rapid yet controlled evacuation from anypart of the premises at risk.

An integrated responseIn the 1980s, early voice alarm systems in the UKand Europe were typically message generatorsbolted onto an existing PA system, with a simpletrigger mechanism from the fire alarm to play apre-set message over the loudspeakers.

However, over the past two decades its capabil-ity has been extended, replacing earlier soundercircuits with the development of an integrated andmonitored VA/PA approach. This enables messag-ing such as paging, information announcements,advertisements and the provision of backgroundmusic in public access areas such as shopping cen-tres, railway stations and sports stadia. It maximis-es the value of their investment and providescustomers and visitors with a more comprehensiveservice and in the safest possible environment.

Technical developments, especially in the areaof digital signal processing, have made it mucheasier to manage VA/PA systems. PC-controlledsite-configurable routing and set-ups havereplaced the costly and high-maintenance hardwiring and relays previously required and theresulting audio quality is also much improved.

Today’s advanced VA/PA solutions are muchmore cost-effective in that they require feweramplifiers. They are much easier for operators touse, as the microphone stations use the latestLCD-type screen technology to direct and controlannouncements. For larger implementations, thebest network systems can carry up to 32 audiochannels on a fibre channel interface up to twokilometres between stations. This means that asingle integrated VA/PA system managing multiplechannels of music, general announcements andfire safety information makes it easy to managelarge multi-purpose premises and public arenas.

Continuous developmentWith the emergence of voice over IP (VoIP)networks, work is also underway to enhance the


THE GROWING ROLE OF VOICE IN FIRE SAFETYALARMS


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KAC House, Thornhill Road, North Moons Moat, Redditch,

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ability to link multiple buildings together acrosslarge sites in an integrated, cost effective andeasy-to-use VA/PA solution. This forms part of abroader drive towards greater networkability,designed to improve system implementation andmaintenance and ensure greater security in linkinglocations with a single integrated solution.

However, an area of historic concern that isreceiving much attention is that of intelligibility, asthere is no point in having a VA/PA system inwhich messages being transmitted cannot beunderstood. The reason for this problem is thatthe sound that is sent from a traditional speaker isessentially undirected. As a result, it bounces offthe floor, walls and is reflected off other surfaces,each of which reaches the ear at slightly differenttimes, so leading to aural confusion.

Speaker technology has remained essentiallyunchanged for many decades. However, “intelli-gent” speakers are now available to meetspecialist applications such as large facilities withacoustic problems, including noisy railway stationsor swimming pools. The intelligent line arrayspeaker, for example, is a tall column which splitsthe sound beam in three different lobes. From asingle speaker therefore, it has become possible todirect the sound where required with realprecision. Such solutions are also cost-effective.For though an individual line array speaker is moreexpensive, fewer are required within an installationdue to their more targeted performance. This alsoimpacts positively on the cost of installation andon-going maintenance.

Regulatory changesOne area of fire safety regulation likely to besubject to change in the near future is that ofvisual alarm devices under EN54 Part 23,

anticipated to come into effect in the next two tothree years. As with the UK’s Equality Act, October2010, the driver here is to protect those whocannot hear a sounder or alarm or who work inareas where there are significant ambient noiselevels such as workshops or manufacturingenvironments.

In line with the current US standards – which,for example, require lights in a hotel environmentto be bright enough to wake people from a lightsleep – the impending regulation will determinehow bright visual devices should be.This presents amajor technical challenge in getting sufficientpower to the device and may promote a change ofthinking. Instead of looking simply at improve-ments to the light or sound-based warning device,with improvements in wireless technology, analternative may lie in the direction of personalalarm devices such as pager or vibrator solutions.

Other compliance demandsThough awareness as to the importance of voice isgrowing, the uptake of such products is still rela-tively slow. VA/PA solutions are principally usedonly as directed by the fire authority, or where theprovision of a PA system to meet other needsmakes the incremental cost significantly lowerthan where a simple upgrade from sounders isbeing considered.

Having said that, though budgets may be underextreme pressure, compliance demands haveincreased in requiring safe and environmentally-friendly public venues. As a result, almost withoutexception today in buildings requiring phasedevacuation, any fire safety solution is likely toinclude an element of voice as part of a compre-hensive detection and response strategy.

And, as the Notifier survey confirmed, most ofthe public are certain that they would respondmore quickly to a voice alarm in evacuating a

building, so endorsing the effectiveness of thisapproach to enabling faster, safer evacuation.

On a day-to-day basis, the latest VA/PAsolutions operate just like an advanced PA system.Individual microphones with touch screen displaysallow the broadcasting of background music andannouncements. However, in an emergency thesystem will react, delivering spoken messagesappropriate to the event and the occupants ofeach location within the premises. For situationsthat demand more specific responses, an emer-gency microphone can be controlled simply andeasily.

The life safety industry continues to place a highdevelopment priority on the addition of voice to itsarmoury of fire detection and response solutions.As a result, from a technology viewpoint this is nolonger a mysterious “dark art”, as cost-effectiveVA/PA solutions are now available which enhancethe user experience, in providing a wide range ofsafety and other information messages. IFP


THE GROWING ROLE OF VOICE IN FIRE SAFETYALARMS

Rick Love is Senior ProductManager, Notifier byHoneywell

For more information go towww.notifier.com

With the emergence of voice over IP (VoIP) networks, work is

also underway to enhance the ability to link multiple buildings

together across large sites in an integrated, cost effective

and easy-to-use VA/PA solution.


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Rail safety is attracting considerable attention,as is tunnel safety. Both seem to be the sub-ject of a number of recent conferences and

seminars. So perhaps now is a good time to take acloser look at the latest offerings from the leadingwatermist specialists in these particular sectors.

As far as rail safety is concerned, there are twofire risks that need to be addressed. The first is theprotection of engines, motors, generators, controlsystems and under-carriage areas; the other is theprotection of passenger carriages that, due to thenumber of passengers being carried, representsthe greater life threatening challenge. Both makeconsiderable demands in terms of the fire, emer-gency response and evacuation strategies, havingto take into account the frequent lack of access tothe location of the emergency, the escape chal-lenges faced by passengers, and the possible timedelay before the emergency services can interveneto prevent a major catastrophe.

Rail protection systemsTwo of the leading watermist companies haverecently devised solutions specifically for theseapplications – Finnish company, Marrioff andAustrian watermist specialist, Aquasys Technik.

At the recent Innotrans exhibition in Berlin,Marioff launched and demonstrated its new HI-FOG® high-pressure water mist system pop-outsprinklers for rolling stock. They feature horizontalheat bulbs that minimise the height of thesprinkler, making them easy to install and unobtru-sive. Additionally, the sprinkler is concealed undera protective plate that cuts the risk of vandalism.

After the new Marioff system is activated, heat-sensitive sprinklers are designed to react only nearthe actual fire, which helps reduce the dischargearea and increase pressure on the sprinklers,improving the firefighting performance. This smallerdischarge area also results in better visibility andless water damage, and space and weightdemands are minimised because less water isrequired.

According to Marioff, one of the key driversbehind this development is the Italian legislationDecreto Gallerie, which requires active fire protec-tion for all new rolling stock after April 2011.Existing rolling stock must be retro-fitted to com-ply with the legislation by April 2019. Marioff’sItaly-based Key Account Manager, Rolling Stock,Francesco Capuzzi, believes that the call for water-mist fire protection in rolling stock is growing


HI-FOG pop-outsprinkler

WATERMIST

Watermist Systems B o

By Graham Collins

Watermist installations are growing apace. However, when we talk about land-based system we inevitably refer to systems that are protecting buildings.So here we look at two other land-based applications – rail rolling stock andtunnels, for which at least two of the leading suppliers have recently introducednew solutions.

For more information go towww.marioff.com orwww.aquasys.at

P. 32-33 Watermist 11/11/10 3:54 pm Page 32

steadily and he expects current demand to doublewithin the next five years.

The Aquasys railway fire protection system setsout to fulfil a number of key objectives alongsidethose of predictable reliability, speed and efficiency.These are to provide a solution that is completelyharmless to rolling stock passengers and fire-fighters, and have the lowest possible weightwhile taking up the minimum amount of space.The low water demand of these systems meansthat they can be easily installed undercarriage, onthe roof and even in the intermediate ceilings ofpassenger compartments.

Tunnel safety solutionAquasys has also developed an effective watermistsystem for firefighting in tunnels. Upon detectionof a fire, watermist is produced in the affectedsection of the tunnel. The small water dropletsevaporate, which creates an enormous coolingeffect. Additionally, the watermist acts like acountless number of reflectors that drasticallyminimise heat flux radiation. As it uses pure water, it is harmless for tunnel occupants andfirefighters alike and the environment, so can beactivated throughout the evacuation stage of theemergency.

The system sets out to achieve three keyobjectives: prevent the fire from spreading to othervehicles; enable the fire and rescue service tosafely access the scene of the fire; and protect thetunnel structure.

The structure of a tunnel leads to a rapidincrease in temperature and the production oflarge volumes of smoke that cannot escape. These

challenges can be difficult to overcome using con-ventional methods; increasing the risk to travellerstrapped in the tunnel, and increasing the threat tovehicles and the very structure of the tunnel itself.These challenges have to be quickly overcome.

The Aquasys solution is what the company callsRapid Fire Control (RFC), whereby specially formu-lated water forms a mist that contains the fire byextracting energy and displacing oxygen in theshortest possible time. Cleansing of the smokegases aids in the preservation of the oxygen con-tent in the tunnel.

The first road tunnel with an Aquasys systemwas the 800-metre Mona Lisa Tunnel in Austria; atwo-lane road tunnel with bi-directional traffic.Other tunnel project to use the system includedthe 5300-metre Felbertauerntunnel in the Alps.This bi-directional tunnel is constructed with anintermediate ceiling above the traffic lanes thataccommodates exhaust and fresh air ducts. Thefresh air duct is also used as an escape route incase of an incident.

In the Netherlands, two new road tunnels havebeen recently equipped with Aquasys watermistfirefighting systems. Both, the 2000-metre Roer-tunnel in Roermond – currently the longest landtunnel for road traffic in the Netherlands – and the400-metre Swalmen tunnel are constructed withtwo bores, each having two lanes, operating uni-directional traffic. In both of these projects aparticular focus was placed on protecting thebuilding structure, so aqueous foam forming addi-tives (AFFA) were added to the water to enhancethe watermist system’s effectiveness suppressingincidents that involve combustible liquids. IFP


Rome station

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P. 32-33 Watermist 11/11/10 3:54 pm Page 33


SUPPRESSION

By Kurt Werner

Environmental AffairsManager, 3M There is a lot of confusion within the fire

protection industry about the ultimate impactof global policy, legislative and regulatory

initiatives on HFCs [hydrofluorocarbons]. Althoughit is quite clear there will be restrictions on, oradded costs for, the continued use of HFCs in fireprotection, the exact nature of the restrictions orthe magnitude of the cost increases are difficult topredict.

Compared with the phase-out of ozone-deplet-ing substances in the 1990s under the MontrealProtocol, predicting the fate of HFCs is proving to be more complex. For one thing, it appears that not all HFC markets will be affected in thesame way. Substantial applications within the airconditioning, refrigeration and foam blowingsectors have no viable alternatives at this time,while others, such as fire protection, do. Eitherthrough market dynamics governed by theproposed HFC phase-down under the MontrealProtocol, in the US via Congress, or through directregulatory measures, the fate of HFCs in fireprotection is unclear. This is creating an entirelyuncertain timetable for the designers, manufac-turers, installers and owners of fire protectionsystems.

If you are using a suppression agent such as3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid in yourfixed system, you have already made a sustainablechoice, and the phase-down of HFCs will notdirectly affect you. If not, let us take a look at

some of the issues likely to impact the fire protec-tion industry in the years to come.

Environmental concerns are at the heart of thematter, just like they were 16 years ago whenHFCs were accepted as an alternative to halonsand other ozone-depleting substances. Today, thewidespread and growing use of HFCs as ozonedepleting substance replacements, coupled withtheir high global warming potentials, has themtargeted as a potentially significant future contrib-utor to global warming and climate change. HFCemissions in 2050 are projected to be betweennine and 19 percent of projected global CO2emissions in business-as-usual scenarios.

Concerns are also growing about the futureimpact of emissions from banked HFCs stored inequipment such as fire protection systems. It isimportant to note that the HFCs used as firesuppressants have higher global warmingpotentials than the HFCs used in other industries.

The impact of proposed climate- protection legis-lation on the fire protection industry is a topic ofmuch debate. The U.S. House of Representativeslast year passed the American Clean Energy andSecurity Act of 2009. This legislation included HFCprovisions that would, through allocation andauction, phase-down the production and importof HFCs by 85 percent between 2010 and 2032. Aconcurrent proposal by the US, Canada, andMexico would add HFCs to the Montreal Protocoland phase-down their production internationally

Clouds In The Fore

For users of HFC-based fire protection systems, the future is anything but clear.

P. 34-35 Clouds in the Forecast 11/11/10 3:54 pm Page 34


CLOUDS IN THE FORECAST SUPPRESSION

by 85 percent by 2033 in developed countries andby 2043 in developing nations.

This phase-down will, over time, lead to sub-stantially higher costs for HFCs. One concern isthat the mechanisms through which HFC pro-duction allowances would be auctioned may bedisproportionately unfavourable to HFCs sold intofire protection. As already noted, these HFCs have higher global worming potentials than HFCssold into other sectors, and ultra-low globalwarming potential replacements are alreadyavailable – unlike in many other HFC sectors. Ineffect, this disparity would add a higher tax at thenational level on the production of HFCs for fireprotection.

Not everyone agrees, however. Some suggestthat market mechanisms might work in favour ofHFCs produced for fire protection. They argue thatlow global worming potential materials will enterthe commodity markets and replace hydrofluoro-carbon refrigerants, which may free up lower costproduction allowances for producing HFC firesuppressants.

But, arguably, the most important considera-tions remain the availability of HFC substitutes in large commodity sectors – relative to theproposed phase-down schedule – and their costs.Substitutes in fire protection come at a verymodest premium to HFCs and already have asubstantial market share. Alternatives currentlybeing developed for other HFC sectors are likely toenter the market at costs measured in multiplesrather than percentages.

It is also likely that HFC auction costs will bedriven far off the legislated minimums before thelarge commodity markets move to the substitutes.And, as the market is intended to encourage themost effective reductions to occur first, it is possiblethat the fire protection market, where substitutioncosts are far more modest, may be the first tomove. It is important to consider the possibility thatthe HFC phase-down supported by HFC producersmay turn their commodity HFC markets back intospecialty markets, but this may not be favourablefor HFCs sold into fire protection.

Another potential path to HFC regulation wasrevealed in May, 2010 when the US’s EnvironmentalProtection Agency received a petition to selectively

remove an HFC from the list of acceptable substi-tutes under its Significant New Alternatives PolicyProgram (SNAP), based on the availability of lowglobal worming potential substitutes. This perhapsis a more expedient route to the regulation ofHFCs, and may have a dramatic impact on HFCssold into the fire protection sector where alterna-tives are also readily available for the vast majorityof applications.

As the old saying goes, the only certainty isuncertainty, especially given that today’s fireprotection systems are intended to last well into amost uncertain future. The good news is thatavailable alternatives to HFCs, such as Novec1230, offer a favourable environmental profile andmuch greater sustainability. And choosing asustainable alternative today could help make yourfuture a lot less cloudy. IFP

e cast

Kurt Werner is 3MEnvironmental AffairsManager.

For further information go towww.3m.com

The widespread and growing use of HFCs as ozone depleting

substance replacements, coupled with their high global warming

potentials, has them targeted as a potentially significant future

contributor to global warming and climate change.

P. 34-35 Clouds in the Forecast 11/11/10 3:54 pm Page 35


TUNNEL SAFETY

The five-kilometre Vielha Tunnel in the munici-pality of Vielha e Mijaran links France toCatalonia and was once identified by the

European Commission as one of Europe’s mostunsafe tunnels. In 2002 the Spanish Governmentdecided to make a major investment in safety withthe roll-out of a €300 million improvement plan; aproject that involved the creation of a totally newtunnel close to the original site and the implemen-tation of a new deluge fire safety system – the firstof its kind in Spain.

The main advantages of deluge systems aretheir ability to rapidly lower temperatures, to cutthe advance of fires, and to protect structuresagainst potential collapse. So they are usedprincipally in locations where the spread of fire canbe very rapid, or where the consequences of firescan be devastating. This includes airport hangars,refineries, chemical plants and armaments fac-tories … and tunnels.

In Japan, deluge systems have been used for the past four decades, while in the United Statesthere are six tunnels equipped with such systems.European installations include the Mona LisaTunnel in Austria – a deluge system using water-mist – while in Germany, France and Italy feasibilitystudies are being undertaken.

Safety firstSince the completion of the installation of thedeluge system, the Vielha tunnel received aEuroTAP ++ rating (excellent) and has beenassessed as being an example of how a delugesystem installation should be carried out.

Now one of the safest tunnels in the world, itfeatures evacuation galleries every 400 metres,safety recesses every 200 metres, semi-transversalventilation, and a fire prevention network forwater along the tunnel, with hydrants and adeluge system with spray nozzles. Emergencybeacons, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), smokedetection and automatic incident detection werealso implemented. During construction, to min-imise the use of welding, and reduce associatedrisks from toxic fumes and fire hazards, a groovedmechanical piping system was used.

The high altitude tunnel posed a number ofunusual challenges – not least of which was itscorrosive environment. Damage was reduced byusing stainless steel for exposed piping and theburying of ductile iron pipe.

The Victaulic FireLock® fire protection systemwas selected because it delivered a reduction ininstallation time of over 70 percent. Victaulic stain-

less steel rigid and flexible couplings were used forsections exposed to the fierce elements, and allsprinkler system joints used Victaulic groovedmechanical couplings that were made in accor-dance with the NFPA 13.

Deluge in actionThe Vielha fire extinguishing system feeds nozzles

that are over 100 metres from the municipalreservoirs. There are three pumps – two electricaland one diesel – each capable of supplying 50percent of the total requirement, and pressuremaintenance is ensured through a jockey pump.

There is a height difference of more than 200metres between the north and south entrances so,to prevent pressure exceeding 16 bars, there are aseries of pressure reduction stations. Deluge valvesalso function as pressure reducing turn valves,adjusted to around five bars, while hydrants and firehose cabinets also act as valve pressure regulators.

The Vielha system is equipped with a detectionline and an extinction line. This uses nozzles and is kept empty; deluge valves are opened only bymanual activation. When the deluge valves areopened, the water discharges from all of thenozzles. Systems can be activated locally at a manualpull station, or from the control centre. An electrically-activated deluge valve with a pressure control isused, and there is a deluge station positioned every50 metres so, in total, the project called for theinstallation of more than 100 independent systems.

A range of triple-nozzles is fitted every fivemetres in the tunnel to protect against fire, and thepressure is maintained at five bars. The ventilationsystem is semi-transversal with vents on the ceil-ing, the main objectives being to maintain airquality and guarantee control of smoke in theevent of a fire. IFP

By Pedro Valcárcel

Fire Protection MarketManager, Victaulic

Deluge ProtectionFor Spain’s VielhaTunnelThe Vielha Tunnel was once identified by the European Commission as one ofEurope’s most unsafe tunnels. Today, it is the first tunnel in Spain to be protectedby a deluge fire protection system.

For more information go towww.victaulic.com

Pedro Valcárcel is FireProtection Market Managerfor Victaulic in Spain

P. 36 Vielha Tunnel 11/11/10 3:55 pm Page 36


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VENTILATION

For millennia, the human race has used thecontrolled production of smoke from thecombustion of known fuels to its advantage;

from a rudimentary signalling system to a means of preserving food or even fumigating our livingspace.

But when the production of smoke is accidentaland the amount and composition is not controlled,smoke very quickly becomes one of the greatesthazards in the built environment. We haveprobably all experienced an unfavourable winddirection blowing bonfire smoke at us; a cough ortwo and maybe some streaming eyes. So when we hear about a casualty suffering from smokeinhalation it never strikes us as particularly serious.In the open air, our bonfire smoke will be relativelycool. Smoke that is produced by an intense firewithin a building could be extremely hot andcontain toxic gases causing burns to the skin andpossibly to the pulmonary system. According tothe 2007 fire statistic for the UK:● 64 percent of all fire fatalities involved some

contribution from the effects of smoke.● 44 percent of all fire fatalities were attributed

to the effects of smoke alone.

● 29 percent of non-fatal fire injuries were fromthe effects of smoke.

● 16 percent of non-fatal fire injuries were fromburns (which include combined smoke andburns injuries).If we consider that 44 percent of non-fatal

injuries were for people admitted to hospital for acheck-up but with no serious injury, then itbecomes apparent that smoke is responsible for amajority of deaths and injuries in fires, more thanthe direct effects of burns from the fire itself.

The underlying concept for fire engineering is todesign the means of escape so that occupants willbe able to escape to a place of safety beforeuntenable conditions are reached. This can beexpressed as RSET<ASET, where:

RSET = Required Safe Egress Time (time takento reach a safe place).

ASET = Available Safe Egress Time (time takenfor conditions to become untenable).

The statistics on fire deaths and injuries indicatethat it is the presence of smoke that will herald theonset of untenable conditions. So how might weavoid exposure to fire smoke and extend the ASETvalue beyond the RSET?

Know your enemyBefore we can effectively manage smoke, weshould understand first what it is and what governsits behaviour. Smoke is produced by the chemicalbreakdown of a fuel. Pyrolysis releases chemicalsinto the flame where rapid oxidation liberates:● Waste gases (often toxic and noxious, causing

irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and throat and containing cyanide and oxides of carboninducing asphyxiation).

● Solid particles (in the form of soot, which ismainly unburned fuel and pyrolised carbon thathas not been fully oxidised).

● Liquids (significantly water, but may includecondensed forms of the gases above).And, of course, potentially large quantities of

heat. In fact, approximately two-thirds of the heatproduced in a fire is transferred by convection intothe smoke plume.

The heat contained in the smoke gives theplume buoyancy over the surrounding air, which isthe driving force behind the spread of smokearound the building. As the smoke plume rises,cooler air is entrained, which leads to a dilution ofthe smoke, an increase in the volume producedand a decrease in temperature and buoyancy. Ifthe smoke encounters a feature that increases this mixing then the effects of the dilution are increased. The most significant of these isgenerally when a flowing layer of smoke meets avoid edge (a balcony or interface with an atrium)where the surface area of the plume is increasedand a very general rule-of-thumb is that the rateof air entrainment will be approximately doubled.

There are various tools used to understand, orbetter still predict, the behaviour of smoke and itsproperties. A relatively simple method is theapplication of zone model equations. Empiricalformulae, developed from plume theory, whichgive a reasonable approximation of the smoke

By James Lane

Principal FireConsultant, HilsonMoran

Smoke Screen: TheSmokeFire safety and compliance with statutory regulations have a major influenceon building form and design. Although the subject is universally referred toas fire safety, should it really be considered as fire and smoke safety?

In 2007 in the UK, 64 percent of all fire fatalities involved

some contribution from the effects of smoke, while

44 percent of all fire fatalities were attributed to the

effects of smoke alone.

P. 38-40 Smoke Ventilation 11/11/10 3:55 pm Page 38

layer properties and separating the space underinvestigation into two zones: the smoke layer andthe clear layer.

Related to the size of the fire, plume and smokelayer temperature, smoke density (visibility) andthe volume of smoke produced can be calculatedfor varying heights. But, where a more accuratevision of the likely conditions is required a moresophisticated approach is needed. This may be thecase where a complex arrangement is beingconsidered or where greater detail is called for atvarious time steps throughout the scenario beingmodelled. For this we might enter the world ofComputational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

This technique takes the zone model above anddivides the volume of the space into a series ofdiscrete parcels or cells. Each of the cells is given aset of conditions that relate to various environ-mental aspects and the relationship of changes inthese conditions. Equations that govern the relatedeffects of all these conditions and how each isinfluenced by the other are then applied to everycell and minute changes recorded over small timesteps. This gives a high resolution to the outputand detailed images of the predicted flow of heatand smoke density throughout the compartment.

Taming the dragonThe need to deal with smoke will depend uponwhat is being achieved. In the UK, where a build-ing is designed in accordance with the guidance,there will generally be no requirement to provide afully engineered smoke control system. The timeto reach a place of safety is assumed to be withinacceptable limits.

In which case smoke ventilation may be neces-sary for basements, car parks, fire fighting shafts,certain atria or tall buildings (especially in London).However, this will be governed by standardprovisions as a minimum vent area or air changerate using mechanical extract, and are largelyrelated to firefighting operations.

Where the design of means of escape or someother aspect of the fire strategy involves departurefrom the standard guidance, a fire engineeredsolution is required. This may involve a moredetailed consideration of the movement andeffects of smoke. Diversion of the plume from itsnatural course or exploitation of its natural

properties to achieve a particular aim is smokecontrol.

The equations that have been developed toestimate the required features of a smoke controlsystem may initially look complex and the iterationsof calculations needed to resolve the interrelatedproperties are at times dizzying. But we shouldremember that the coefficients and universal con-stants are all subtle adjustments to a reasonablysimple process that could be represented by themodel shown in figure 1.

The initiating features that govern the principalcharacteristics of the smoke plume are the size ofthe fire and the geometry of the space. Fire size isquoted as the rate at which heat is released duringcombustion. This can be calculated by assuming afire load density (amount of fuel distributed overunit floor area – kg/m2 – converted into energy –kJ/m2) and a fire duration, which gives a burn ratein kJ/s; or kW.

There is data from survey information on typical(70th, 80th and 90th fractile) fire load densitiesaccording to building use. Alternatively unit heatrelease rates may be adopted such as those givenin the CIBSE Guide E:

Where the building is sprinkler protected it iscommonly assumed that the fire will increase in heatrelease rate up until the point when the sprinklersoperate, at which point the fire size remains con-stant. A standard fire size often quoted for sprinklercontrolled fires is 5MW or 2.5MW (convective)where fast response heads are installed. However,this relates specifically to retail fires and, while mostsmoke control system designs will be approved onthis basis, the fire design consultant should considerwhether this is appropriate or if there are any specialcircumstances that would result in a higher or, ofcourse, lower heat release rate.

Geometry refers to the physical constraints that shape the smoke plume. Two fundamentalparameters are whether it will be an axisymmetric(conical) or spill plume. Conical plumes tend to


Figure 1

SMOKE SCREEN: THE REAL IMPACT OF SMOKE VENTILATION

e Real Impact Of

Rate of Heat Release from

the Fire

Geometry of the Space

Rate of

Smoke Mass Production

Volume of Smoke

Plume Temperature

Size of Natural Vent

Mechanical Extract Rate

Occupancy Unit heat release rate (kW/m2)Offices 290Shops 550Industrial 260Hotel rooms 249


produce less smoke volume, but much highertemperature. Whereas a smoke plume thatspreads beneath a horizontal surface before“spilling” into the larger void, such as might bethe case in an atrium or shopping mall, will pro-duce a higher volume of smoke (approximatelytwice as much) but at a lower temperature.

The other governing factor is at what heightthe base of the design smoke layer will be. This iscommonly set as a minimum height to achieve thepurpose of the smoke control system (e.g. 2.5metres above escape balcony height or maybeequivalent to the smoke screen downstands).

Avoiding the pitfallsOnce the volume and temperature of the smokeplume have been determined it is straightforwardto specify the area of the vents required to allowthe smoke to escape, or the fan extract rate toremove sufficient volume.

But beware; it is important to bear the follow-ing in mind when specifying the requirements tothe client:● The calculated vent area will likely be the “aero-

dynamic area” required to vent sufficient smoke.Vent design will incorporate a coefficient of dis-charge (a kind of efficiency rating) that could beas low as 0.6. In other words the actual vent sizecould be almost twice the calculated area.

● There is a maximum critical flow rate for a singlemechanical extract point. The value will dependupon the depth of the smoke layer below theextract point. If the critical rate is exceeded thiscould lead to “plug-holing”, which reduces theefficiency of the system. To remedy this moreextract points can be introduced.

As mentioned previously, natural smoke ventingrelies on the buoyancy of the hot gases in theplume to provide a driving force. With increasingheight, the smoke plume temperature falls. In anatrium hot air may accumulate beneath the roof athigh level. If smoke is vented into this atrium aphenomenon called temperature inversion (wherethe accumulated air is hotter than the risingsmoke plume) could lead to stratification of thesmoke and the vent system will not work. It iscommon to specify that the temperature of thesmoke should be at least 10°C higher than theestimated ambient temperature to overcome thiseffect.

ConclusionThe impact of smoke from fires is often underesti-mated when assessing risk, and the scientificinvestigations and derived equations are complexand may therefore not be fully employed.

But we should make the effort to treat smokewith the respect it deserves and design our smokecontrol systems to operate in a robust manneraccounting for the various influencing factors. Indoing so we can reduce the overwhelming contri-bution that smoke makes to fatalities and injuriesin fire statistics. IFP


SMOKE SCREEN: THE REAL IMPACT OF SMOKEVENTILATION

James Lane is Principal FireConsultant at Hilson Moran

For more information go towww.hilsonmoran.com

With increasing height (z)

Increasing volume (V)

Decreasing temperature (T)

Axisymmetric Plume Spill Plume

This restrictiondetermines the

venting coefficient

Extract rate toohigh for smoke

layer depth

The air is hotter andtherefore more buoyant

than the smoke

Cooler smoke cannotbreak through the hotair to reach the vents


NAFFCO IFP44 p41 8/11/10 10:28 am Page 1


OPINION

According to recent data from the Associationof British Insurers (ABI), losses in Britain fromcommercial and industrial property fire

reached a record £865 million in 2008 – a 15 per-cent increase from 2007. In an era when businessis already suffering the aftershock of the worstrecession in living memory, these mounting andcompletely unnecessary losses are unjustified andwholly preventable.

Fire losses are felt across the real economy. Theyimpact production downtime in a challenging andcompetitive commercial environment. They forceclosures of UK manufacturing sites and encouragethe relocation of these facilities to countries wherecosts are likely to be cheaper. Fires also cost jobs.Estimates of job losses in the UK as a result ofcommercial and industrial fires have run into thethousands over the past decade.

Fires affect wider stakeholder groups – the localbusinesses feeding into and from a major facilityand the local communities that rely on a manu-facturing plant to sustain the immediate economy.Fire causes incalculable damage to both thebroader and local environment and these losses are rarely factored into official statistics. Further-more, and tragically, the human cost as measuredby lives lost and injuries from fires is on the rise too.

Unless a step change in the adoption of firesuppression technology, such as sprinklers, isencouraged, these rising costs to business, societyand the environment are predicted to continue,with increasingly devastating results. Yet, despitethese mounting losses, at the moment less thanone percent of commercial and industrial premisesin England and Wales are covered by governmentregulations making fire sprinkler installationmandatory.

At present, in England and Wales, warehouseswith a floor surface area over 20,000 squaremetres must have fire sprinkler protection. Thismeans only around 800 out of over 204,000commercial premises classified as warehouses inEngland and Wales might be, depending on whereand when constructed, protected against fire.

In Scotland, warehouses with a floor surfacearea greater than 14,000 square metres must have fire sprinkler protection. This figure is stillway too high, and neither code includes factoriesin this requirement, which means that only afraction of the UK’s entire commercial buildingstock is protected.

However, the situation in Europe is completelydifferent. Many other European countries haveadopted and implemented a much more pro-

By Iain Cox

Chairman, BusinessSprinkler Alliance

The Business CaseProtectionDespite a reduction in the number of fires in the UK, losses tobusinesses incurred by fire are on the increase. If this trendcontinues, it is anticipated that by 2020 the UK could lose asmuch as £10 billion to commercial and industrial fires. The UKwould be better placed to mitigate the impact of future lossesthrough the increased acceptance of fire sprinklers incommercial and industrial premises.

Many European countries have adopted and

implemented a much more pro-active and robust

approach to fire safety than the UK. In Germany, it is

mandatory for fire sprinklers to be installed in

commercial properties of 1,200 square metres and

over. This has resulted in losses of under £400 million

in 2008; less than half that of the UK’s losses of

£865 million in the same period.

P. 42-43 Opinion 11/11/10 3:55 pm Page 42

active and robust approach to fire safety. In themajority of the largest EU countries, fire sprinklersmust be installed in commercial and industrialpremises with an average floor space of 2,300square metres.

These proactive regulations mean countries inEurope suffer fewer business losses compared withthe UK. For example, in Germany, a nation with apopulation some 50 percent greater and with abroader industrial base, where it is mandatory forfire sprinklers to be installed in commercial proper-ties of 1,200 square metres and over, these regula-tions have resulted in losses of under £400 millionin 2008; less than half that of the UK’s losses of£865 million in the same period.

To put things into perspective, if England andWales were to adopt a more European approach,approximately only ten percent of the industrialand commercial building stock would be affected.Yet imagine the benefits to the UK were it to lookmore in line with the rest of the continent withregards to fire sprinklers.

The Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) believes anew set of factors have emerged in recent yearsthat have a material impact on the UK and provethe need for urgent action. These are:● Commercial and industrial fire losses are get-

ting worse – while overall the number of fires isdeclining, the losses are mounting. Recent datafrom the ABI showed a 15 percent year-on-yearincrease in commercial fire damage in 2008. Ifthis trend were to continue UK, business couldstand to lose approximately £10 billion by 2020.

● Post-recessionary times mean we must do themost we can to secure the value of the UK.Further unnecessary losses to the UK economybrought on by fire damage will inhibiteconomic growth and further set-back the UK’semergence from the worst recession in livingmemory.

● The UK no longer accurately tracks what isstored in its buildings. All goods stored,regardless of their flammability/combustibilityor hazard level, are subject to the same “loose” risk management requirements. Forinstance, a container full of harmless fruits andvegetables could be stored next to a containerfull of highly flammable and costly materials

such as alcohol, without any discernabledifference to the measures taken to prevent adisaster.

● There is a growing risk-averse culture wherefirefighters are restricted in their activities by anincreased emphasis placed on safety-at-workregulations. Whether real or perceived, this isinevitably leading incident commanders tobecome increasingly reluctant to commit toentering and fighting fires in industrial andcommercial premises. This means largerfacilities are more likely to be left to burn.

● Government now wants green buildings. How-ever, the consequences of “going green”, suchas the increased fire risk associated with greater

use of wood and synthetic thermal insulation,will require an even more measured approachto maintaining the longevity and sustainabilityof these structures.

● The polluter now pays. Picking up the tab forthe environmental damage caused by a fire willhave a significant impact on a company’s abilityto remain competitive. Companies are nowbeing held liable and they will have to payheavily for the damage they incur to theenvironment and pay for the losses incurred tothe immediate communities.

● Sprinkler technology does not stand still – firesprinkler technology continues to innovate and improve. Although the concept is over ahundred years old, innovation is happeningtoday faster than ever before, bringing costsdown while systems become even moreeffective in fighting fires – they use less piping,less water and fewer sprinkler heads. Theseefficiencies translate directly into cost savingsboth in the installation of a fire sprinkler system(when compared to previous systems) as well ashelping minimise the loss incurred, should a firebreak out.The UK simply cannot afford to wait any longer.

There are valid reasons that call for immediateaction and I would encourage us all to ask our-selves: can we afford to lose more firefighters?Can UK businesses afford to lose £10 billion tocommercial fire damage? Can we all afford towaste valuable resources and let our environmentsuffer? IFP


THE BUSINESS CASE FOR FIRE SPRINKLER PROTECTION OPINION

For Fire Sprinkler

For more information go towww.business-sprinkler-alliance.org/

Iain Cox is chairman of theBusiness Sprinkler Alliance

To put things into perspective, if England and Wales were

to adopt a more European approach, approximately only

ten percent of the industrial and commercial building

stock would be affected. Yet imagine the benefits to the

UK were it to look more in line with the rest of the

continent with regards to fire sprinklers.

P. 42-43 Opinion 11/11/10 3:55 pm Page 43

Arecent survey by the Fire Industry Association(FIA) has possibly added fuel to the have-or-not-have debate about portable extinguish-

ers that goes on, particularly in the UK. The reporthighlights that rather than declining in impor-tance, portable fire extinguishers have an evenmore vital role to play as a first aid response tofire, with 88 percent of fires that are tackled withportables actually being extinguished.

According to the report, this is an increase onthe figure from a similar survey conducted back in2003 that came to the conclusion that in 80percent of fires where extinguishers wereemployed, the fires were successfully put out.

On publishing the report, the FIA stated: “Therehas been much discussion over the past couple ofyears regarding the role of fire extinguishers. In aworld where political correctness and health andsafety excesses sometimes override the applicationof common sense, some quarters have suggestedthat extinguishers should not be used under anycircumstance.”

Apparently against this background, the FIAdecided to conduct the new survey to see how

the role of extinguishers in 2010 compared with the position in 2003. The data collected inthe new survey, although a smaller sample than in 2003, showed the same percentage – 75 per-cent of fires – were extinguished by a portablewithout the fire and rescue services being called.In terms of the total incidents, there was an eight percent increase in the number of firessuccessfully extinguished by portables – 88 percentin the 2010 survey compared with 80 percent in2003.

Extrapolation of the figures from the 2003report equated this to a cost saving by employingextinguishers of over £500 million to the UKeconomy and £5.1 million in terms of fire serviceresource savings. In life safety terms, they wereestimated to have prevented the loss of 24 livesand some 1,629 injuries.

Martin Duggan, FIA General Manager, com-mented: “We have seen cases recently whereportable extinguishers have been removed orpeople are encouraged to ignore them completelyand evacuate a building immediately, irrespectiveof the size of the fire. We work closely with


PORTABLES

Portable Score 9

The debate as to whether portable extinguishers should be used or not is sure tocontinue, but a recent report from the FIA came down firmly in their favour.By Graham Collins

P. 44-45 Fire Exting. News 11/11/10 3:56 pm Page 44

the fire and rescue services on many initiatives, soare only too aware of the dangers of fire, but it cannot make any sense to walk past a small fire that could be easily put out with anextinguisher to let it grow into one that can causesignificant damage or even the complete loss of abuilding.”

He continued: ”Of course, life safety must comefirst, but the analogy I would draw is that if youdrop a lit match onto a carpet, you calmly tread onit to extinguish the flame. You certainly do notimmediately evacuate the building. Commonsense has to be applied, but if it is a small fire thatcan be readily tackled without putting yourself in

danger, people should be encouraged to extin-guish the fire before it spreads.” His conclusion?“If there is no extinguisher available because someover-zealous official has decreed they should beremoved, then that opportunity is lost. The new survey clearly shows how fire extinguisherscontinue to be an important line of defence inreducing fire losses.”

A full copy of the 2010 report is available onthe FIA website at www.fia.uk.com.

The main point of contention appears to be thesize of the fire that can be safely tackled, alongwith the need for appropriate training. Regardingthe first point, although not clearly defined,convention says that extinguishers should be usedon fires “not larger than a waste paper bin size”.However, the test fires used to certify the fireratings on extinguishers are very significant –certainly much larger than a typical waste paperbin size – to ensure a considerable safety margin incalculating the rating.

It is important, says the FIA, to recognise thatthose conducting fire ratings tests are, quite natu-rally, skilled in extinguishing the fires, which leadsus onto the second point. Training is important,and the lack of it is a reason cited by those whoargue against the use of portable extinguishers.However, people certainly do not need to betrained to the level of those whose job is toextinguish fires as part of the fire rating process.Lack of training is a poor excuse since it is readilyavailable and relatively simple.

In the UK, for example, the Fire Safety Order states that: “Where necessary in order tosafeguard the safety of relevant persons, theresponsible person must ensure that the premisesare equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equip-ment that is simple to use and indicated by signs.The responsible person must take measures forfire-fighting in the premises and nominate com-petent persons to implement those measures andensure that the number of such persons, theirtraining and the equipment available to them areadequate.”

Through schemes such as the SP101/ST104from BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment),third-party assurance is given that registeredcompanies are competent to supply the correctextinguisher for a given application, in the rightplace and with the right – and easy to understand– operating instructions and signage. IFP


PORTABLE SCORE 9 OUT OF 10 PORTABLES

Out Of 10

It is important, says the FIA, to recognise that those

conducting fire ratings tests are, quite naturally, skilled in

extinguishing the fires, which leads us onto the second

point. Training is important, and the lack of it is a

reason cited by those who argue against the use

of portable extinguishers.

P. 44-45 Fire Exting. News 11/11/10 3:56 pm Page 45


DETECTION

Asingle optical beam detector installed on awall can detect smoke over an area of up to1500 square metres, resulting in fewer

detectors, faster installation reduced installationand wiring cost, and less aesthetic intrusion.Mounting on the wall – as opposed to the ceiling– can allow more convenient access for mainte-nance, and a low-level controller further speedsand eases the process. A space that might need asmany as 15 point detectors could, therefore, bemaintained from one single low-level controller, as opposed to organising height access to 15different detector locations.

There is already a lively debate about therelative merits and drawbacks of different detec-tion systems, with a common theme being thatbeam detection may not be as reliable or trouble-free as other methods. However, this is almostalways due to incorrect installation and beams, in fact, can be much more suitable for somesituations than other detection systems.

How beam detection worksAn optical beam smoke detector works on theprinciple of smoke particles interfering with thetransmission and reception of a beam of infra-red(IR) light. A transmitter sends out a beam of IRlight, and a receiver a set distance away measuresthe amount of IR light received. When smokeenters the beam’s path, the intensity of IR received

is reduced; when this reduction reaches a pre-defined limit the alarm signal is triggered and sent to a fire control panel.

Most beam detector systems consist of a trans-mitter, receiver and control unit. The transmitterprojects the beam; the receiver at the “end” ofthe beam measures its intensity with a photosensi-tive sensor; and the control unit analyses andinterprets the signal before communicating thedetector’s status to a fire control panel. Thesethree elements can either be entirely separate or completely integrated, depending on thesystem chosen. When the transmitter and receiverare in the same unit, a prismatic panel is fitted to the opposite wall where the receiver wouldnormally be positioned, reflecting the beam back to the source – further reducing wiringrequirements.

A good visual analogy is a torch beam of visiblelight, where the beam expands outwards in acone, its intensity dropping with distance from thecentral axis. Beam detectors essentially detect howmuch “darker” the end of the beam has becomedue to smoke interference. In a torch light, as withIR, beams can cross without scattering, which iswhat allows reflective beam systems to function.IR light is used, as it is significantly affected byboth smoke particles and the heat haze of a fire,and is invisible to the human eye – somewhat lessintrusive than an actual torch beam.

By Jon Ben

Fire Fighting EnterprisesLtd.

Getting The Best Fr o

Large, expansive indoor areas can present a challenge to traditional fire safetysystems where, in order to effectively detect smoke, complex networks ofmultiple overlapping sensors are required. Optical beam smoke detectors, on the other hand, are designed exactly for such situations.

Beam Smoke Detectorsare available forHazardous Areas

P. 46-50 Beam Detection 11/11/10 3:56 pm Page 46


Prismatic reflectors areinstalled on the oppositewall when the beamtransmitter and receiverare in the same unit

GETTING THE BEST FROM BEAM DETECTION DETECTION

Overcoming commonproblemsA minor, gradual increase inobscuration is not typical ofsmoke interference, but mightwell be due to dust and dirtbuild-up on the active surfaces.Software in more advanced beamdetectors can detect this slowchange, and increase the gain (aform of signal amplification) toautomatically compensate forthis. By contrast, sudden and veryhigh beam obscuration is almostcertainly a solid object in thebeam’s path, and will trigger a“Fault” status, so the path can becleared. In this way, “intelligent”beam detector systems are able to perform accurately andeffectively over a long period oftime and with minimal manualmaintenance.

Detector typesThere are two fundamental typesof beam detectors. End-to-endsystems have the transmitter andreceiver on opposite sides of the area to be pro-tected. They can be up to 100 metres apart, andthe receiver can be connected to a control unitinstalled at ground level for easy maintenance.Reflective systems have the beam transmitter andreceiver in the same housing (a transceiver), with areflective plate on the opposite wall. This can stillbe up to 100 metres away, and the plate isprismatic so it will reflect the beam straight back,even if it is not mounted perpendicular to thetransmission path.

End-to-end systems are relatively unaffected bystray reflections from surrounding surfaces andobstructions near the beam path. A reflectivesystem, although potentially susceptible to objectsnear its line of sight, is easier to install and requiresless wiring as power is only needed by the singletransceiver unit. Essentially, end-to-end beamdetectors can operate effectively through narrower“gaps”, and will often be more suitable in moreconfined areas or those with numerous obstruc-tions such as cluttered roof spaces. In spaceswhere this is not an issue, reflective systems willusually be more convenient.

Very recently, technology was also developedthat allows the use of multiple transceiver headsrunning on one single controller. This delivers cost-effective protection for larger areas, and improvedcoverage options for unorthodox indoor spaces.

Motorised and manual adjustmentNew developments in beam detection technologyhave led to a choice between inexpensive simplicityand intelligent automation.

Traditionally, adjusting the beam’s power anddirection had to be performed manually at thetime of installation, and then maintained over time

to compensate for dust build-up and “buildingshift”. This is where building elements can gradu-ally move in very slight increments, affecting thebeam’s aim and effectiveness. Recently, the optionhas become available to choose automated,motorised beam adjustment. This technology usesdata from the unit over time to automaticallyadjust its direction and sensitivity to keep thebeam accurately aligned and the signal at anoptimum level. This is fast, reliable, and easesinstallation, as well as reducing both the need andtime taken for continued maintenance.

As already mentioned, by their nature beamdetectors cover a huge area, and so require fewerunits and wiring than other detector types; butthere are other things to consider as well. Beamsare less affected than other types of detector byhigh ceilings, harsh environments and airflowblowing smoke away. As a smoke plume rises itbecomes less dense, which leads to a maximumoperating height for point detectors since the par-ticle density can fall below the alarm threshold.Since a beam operates over a linear path, thedensity of the plume has no effect – only the totalnumber of smoke particles in the beam path. As the plume widens, it involves more of the beam, making beam detectors more effective asheight increases compared with other detectors.

Blowing smokeSimilarly, airflows that might blow smoke awayfrom point detectors’ tiny sensor chambers aregoing to have less effect on the long, widedetection pattern of a beam system. Dust and dirtbuild-up is taken care of by automatic beam signalstrength compensation, and extreme temperatureshave relatively little effect on the technology –

r om Beam Detection


there are even beam detectors suitable for use inexplosive atmospheres.

A related, but separate, problem can occurwhen a rising smoke plume draws in surroundingair and cools rapidly as it rises, sometimes actuallybecoming colder than the air above it. In this situa-tion, most commonly seen in high-ceilinged spaces,the smoke spreads out below the layer of warm air,as though trapped under an “invisible ceiling” ofits own. This is known as stratification, and it canrender ceiling-mounted detectors ineffective due tothe lack of smoke particles reaching them. A typicalsolution to this problem involves installing supple-mentary detection at lower levels to detect thestratified layer or even the plume itself. Beamdetectors are wall-mounted, typically up to 600mmbelow ceiling level, thereby giving them a significantadvantage in detecting stratification layers.

Breathe easyHigh Sensitivity Smoke Detection (HSSD) or aspi-rating systems are another option for large indoorspaces, however they suffer from their complexityand installation requirements. A network of end-caps, sampling pipes, brackets, elbows and labelsmust be designed, fitted and maintained, whichcan be costly and inconvenient. The aspiratingpipe itself can also be quite obtrusive, and hidingit requires yet further cost and complexity due tothe need to install capillary tubes and drilling intothe ceiling.

Getting the best out of beamsAs with almost all technology, an optical beamdetector will work much better if it is properlyinstalled and maintained. Most reported and“common knowledge” problems with beamdetection actually stem from improper installationand usage, but can be easily avoided by followingsome basic rules coupled with common sense.

A stable baseBeam detector elements must be mounted onrigid, stable surfaces to limit the risk of misalign-ment; as with a torch, a tiny change in the trans-mitter’s angle will cause a large movement at theother end of the beam.

Common problems come from mountingbeams on potentially flexible building surfacessuch as cladded walls or on free-hanging assem-

blies. Even building purlins can move as they areparticularly subject to ambient temperaturechanges causing contractions and expansions, soare not recommended as stable fixing points. So, if direct mounting onto brick or block walls is not possible, it is recommended that beamcomponents be installed onto secure, rigid metalframe assemblies suspended from rigid steel joists.

Reflection perfectionReflective optical beam detectors can be affectedby objects or surfaces close to the line-of-sightbetween the beam and reflector. Obstructions willnot only interfere with the received signal, cutting

the IR intensity, but could leave areas hidden bytheir “shadow”. If an obstructive surface wasmistakenly used for alignment during initial instal-lation, it would leave the area behind it completelyunprotected. Confirming correct alignment istherefore vital, with cover-up tests of the reflectora sound method for ensuring that the whole areais properly protected.

IR interference Beam receivers should always be positioned toavoid other sources of IR light. In the first instance,where multiple beam detectors are in effect, eachreceiver should only have its associated transmit-ter’s beam falling on it. If it is within the beam of


GETTING THE BEST FROM BEAM DETECTIONDETECTION

Obstructions can impair reflective beamsystems

Correct ‘back-to-back’ transmitter placementA good stable fixing surface



P. 49 ads 11/11/10 3:56 pm Page 49

another detector system, “crosstalk” can occurproducing false “Fire” and “Fault” conditions. Iftwo systems must be daisy-chained to cover a longdistance, the transmitters should be mountedback-to-back rather than the reflectors orreceivers, to minimise interference. Other strong IRlight sources, such as direct sunlight, can cause IRsaturation whereby – much as with the human eye– it will be too “bright” to function properly.Normal fluorescent lights emit very little IR light,though incandescent bulbs, sodium lamps and

camera flashes emit more and beams should bepositioned to avoid such stray light falling directlyonto the receiver.

SpacingStandards such as EN54-12 dictate the design and construction of optical beam smoke detectors.It is important to note, however, that beaminstallation is governed by the relevant nationalCode of Practice. Codes can vary by territory intheir definition of the accepted width of coverageof a beam, and its allowable height from theceiling. The operating range (linear distance) for abeam is dictated by the manufacturer’s design andthe approval gained for each beam detectorproduct.

Creatures of the nightOne last, occasional concern is that various “crea-tures of the night” – usually bats and owls – mightset off false alarms by flying along the apex of agabled or pitched roof. Although this couldconceivably be a problem, some beam detectionsystems can have a delay timing set. This wouldthen send a fault or fire signal only after that con-dition had been registered for a certain time –long enough for any flying trespassers to flit awayagain.

ConclusionIn short, beam detectors are an excellent optionfor wide-area smoke detection, covering muchlarger areas than point-type smoke detectors andwith minimal wiring requirements when comparedwith smoke aspirating systems. Different beamsystems are available to suit different projects,depending on issues of cost, wiring and space.Possibly the most important point though is that,even the best technology in the world, it is worthnothing if it is not used correctly. So, following thegolden rules for installation is vital for safety andsuccess. Bearing this information in mind, opticalbeam smoke detection can – and should – be con-sidered a leading light in fire protection systemsfor large indoor areas. IFP


Multi-head transceiverscan operate from asingle controller

GETTING THE BEST FROM BEAM DETECTIONDETECTION

For more information go towww.ffeuk.com

Jon Ben is Technical Directorat Fire Fighting EnterprisesLtd.

Beam detectors are an excellent option for

wide-area smoke detection, covering much larger areas

than point-type smoke detectors and with minimal

wiring requirements when compared with smoke

aspirating systems.


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26931_Xtralis_VESDA_Intl Fire Prot_Aug_297x210_v2_ECO 09/08/2010 10:20 Page 1

CODES


As a foundation, EN54 Part 20 – the Europeanproduct standard for aspirating smokedetection (ASD) systems – provides an

essential springboard for specifying, designing andinstalling reliable and truly effective smokedetection systems.

The standard, first published in June 2006,defines the performance capability of an ASDsystem in terms of both sensitivity and “fitness forpurpose”. It introduced three classes of sensitivity;Class A being very high, Class B enhanced andClass C normal sensitivity. ASD systems in theClass C category provide the hole equivalent totraditional point detection. As the standardencompasses the core fire performance tests forEN54-7 for point detectors, ASD systems must becapable of detecting smoke from the standard testfires while set up in a “worst case” configuration.Essentially, when smoke from the standard testfires in EN54-7 enters a single hole, the ASDsystem must signal an alarm.

A class aboveMeanwhile, Class A and Class B systems offerbetter sensitivity for earlier and more reliabledetection. ASD systems in these classes providemuch earlier smoke detection for more critical anddemanding applications, with EN54-20 goingbeyond EN54-7 with the introduction of additionalfire tests in these two classes.

A Class B system must detect a series of firesthat produce significantly less smoke than theEN54-7 standard fires. In fact, for smoulderingfires of wood block and cotton wick, the smokeconcentration is 13 times less. Class A systemsmust detect a series of test fires that produce evenless smoke – about 40 times less smoke in thecase of the smouldering fires. As with Class Csystems, this relates to the sensitivity of a singlehole.

The classes allow designers and installers to clearlyspecify the sensitivity they require for a particularapplication. Indeed, it is often the case that a ClassA and/or Class B alarm signal is specified in con-junction with a Class C alarm – all from the sameASD system. The intention being that the Class Aand/or Class B signals are used to trigger a veryearly warning or pre-alarm condition (respectively)

and a full evacuation “fire” alarm is not signalleduntil a Class C threshold is exceeded.

In other cases, a Class B “enhanced” system isspecified to provide confidence that smoke will bedetected in areas where it is likely to becomediluted, for example in areas with ceilings overeight metres or in voids or shafts where airflowsare present, or where the protected area containsartefacts that would be particularly susceptible tosmoke damage. Examples include heritage build-ings, museums and document banks.

Guidelines for the design, installation, commis-sioning and maintenance of ASD Systems are setout in the Fire Industry Association’s (FIA) Code ofPractice that incorporates the EN54-20 sensitivityclasses and provides recommendations not only asto where to use each class and how to install thesystem, but moreover how to test them using a setof standard field-based test fires.

By PeterMassingberd-Mundy

Technology and ExpertPractices Manager,Xtralis

EN54-20: SmokeDetection’sEssentialBuilding BlockFollowing the introduction EN54 Part 20, since June 2009 all Aspirating SmokeDetection (ASD) systems installed in Europe need to be designed using productswhich comply with this harmonised product standard.

Class A – very high sensitivityAn ASD system with very high sensitivity that iscapable of providing very early warning of apotential fire condition. Such systems areparticularly relevant for high-risk areas wherestaged responses to the multi-stage alarmconditions are justified to ensure minimumdown time of the protected area that mayresult from any fire related incident.

Class B – enhanced sensitivityAn ASD system with enhanced sensitivity forapplications where an additional degree ofconfidence is required for the protection of aparticular risk. The enhanced capability of suchsystems is often required to compensate forother risk factors in the protected area, such asunusually high ceilings or significant air flows.

Class C – normal sensitivityAn ASD system designed to give equivalentperformance to standard point detectionsystems meeting the requirements of EN54-7.

Source: Fire Industry Association Code of Practice forDesign, Installation, Commissioning & Maintenance ofAspirating Smoke Detector (ASD) Systems.

P. 53-55 Codes 11/11/10 3:56 pm Page 53

Across Europe installation rules are beginning toemerge with reference to ASD class, and mostrecently it was adopted as an internationalstandard, ISO 7240-20, also leading to a tighteningup of ASD labelling.

The cumulative effect While the principle of ASD is simple – smokesamples are drawn into a central detector throughsampling pipes and holes – by their very natureASD systems have a natural advantage whencompared with point-type detectors as they aresampling from many different points in a space.

The conservative approach to ensuring that anASD system matches the detection performance ofa standard EN54-7 point detector means that (asstated previously) when smoke from standard testfires in EN54-7 enters a single hole, the ASD mustsignal an alarm. Imagine a system with 20 holes, if

smoke enters only one hole then it is mixed withclean samples from the other 19 holes before itreaches the detector. As such, the detector in amulti-hole ASD must be many times more sensitivethan a standard point detector in order to detectthe standard test fires required by EN54-7.

While this “dilution effect” does not need to beconsidered for point type detectors, it has adistinct advantage in practice. In any real firescenario, it is highly unlikely the smoke will onlyenter one hole. ASD systems therefore have anatural ability to detect “diluted” smoke in thespace. As smoke naturally disperses and diffuses involumes, the more sampling holes it enters, thehigher the effective sensitivity of the ASD becomes.

This cumulative effect, where smoke enters morethan one ASD sampling hole simultaneously, is par-ticularly useful in high-airflow environments or areaswhere high levels of smoke dilution is anticipated.


Photo courtesy of BRE

CODES

P. 53-55 Codes 11/11/10 3:56 pm Page 54

ASD applicationsTraditionally ASD systems have been used forapplications where early warning of fire is needed,and protection of property assets is key; forinstance business-critical computer server ortelecoms installations, where it is crucial that a fireis identified before it can cause disruption andjeopardise business continuity. Of course, earlywarning also allows additional time for safeevacuation.

The FIA highlights three key reasons for usingASD; very early warning, enhanced smoke sensitiv-ity and as an alternative to point or beam typesmoke detectors. Common motivators includeextreme environments, restricted/difficult access,exceptional ceiling heights and heat barriers,aesthetics, risk of mechanical damage, anti-vandalsystems and hazardous environments.

Class B applications, including large, openspaces such as warehouses, cold-storage facilities,manufacturing environments, and cable tunnels allbenefit from the inherently higher sensitivity ateach sampling hole and from the cumulativeeffect. Thus ASD provides a double advantage toprovide reliable very early warning fire detection in situations that would present a challenge toconventional detection methods.

At this juncture, we must address a commonmisconception that ASD systems are prone to falsealarms. This is strictly not true. Ignorance of thenature of ASD’s cumulative effect underlies manymisconceptions about false or unwanted alarmsfrom high sensitivity systems. Our field experiencewith extremely stable, fixed calibration VESDAtechnology shows that ever more environmentstolerate stable Class B detection, with filters toreduce nuisance alarms. In fact, early warningtechnology avoids false alarms and unnecessaryevacuations, though by its very nature if a fire isdetected early it is not really a “fire” – and unfor-tunately there are no statistics collected on “nearmisses” in the fire industry.

BRE is soon to publish research on the perfor-mance of detectors in high ceilings, where ASDs were tested alongside beam detectors in a43.5m high warehouse We eagerly await publica-tion of the findings as they provide importantevidence that will influence changes to severalEuropean Installation codes (including BS5839-1)which currently give very conservative ceilingheight limitations for ASD systems. The findingsalso provide further guidance for the detectioncapabilities of beam detectors in high ceilingspaces

Other applications where ASD is commonlyused include where building aesthetics are ofconcern or where the environment presents

challenges with respect to maintenance access or harshness, or areas where high airflows arepresent.

While Class A and Class B sensitivity and thecumulative effect are trade marks for the advan-tages of the ASD technique, there are someapplications where normal sensitivity Class Cdetection – using only one or a few holes and a normal sensitivity (EN54-7) point detector – has advantages. Such “point in a box” typesystems invariably demonstrate improved perfor-mance when compared with the un-aspiratedpoint detector, because the smoke entry character-istic is improved significantly by using forcedaspiration as opposed to passive diffusion or local“drafts” to transport smoke into the detectionchamber.

There is therefore space in the ASD marketplacefor Class C products, notably those that use apoint-type detector with a nominally normalsensitivity detector, in those areas where there isnot the cumulative effect. Most importantly, theconsequence of a Class C approval to EN54-20 is aconfidence that the particular system is at least asreactive to fire as any EN54-7 point detector. Andthe advantages of ASD technique still apply;aesthetic or concealed detection, ease of accessfor maintenance, plus the opportunity for sampleconditioning or filtering for challenging or dirtyenvironments.

The impact of EN54-20Looking at the ASD sector today, it is clear that the establishment of EN54-20 has improved thequality of products in the marketplace. Tighterflow monitoring requirements have led toimprovements and, where necessary, thewithdrawal of non-conforming products from themarket.

As a result of EN54-20 becoming the mandatorystandard, people are specifying ASD, but still notas much as they might. There is still plenty of roomfor enlightenment among specifiers and installersas to the many advantages of ASD, as well asdispelling some of the misconceptions that stemfrom the unrivalled sensitivity that can be providedby ASD.

In the UK, ASD is a well-accepted method ofsmoke detection and fire prevention, and accountsfor approximately 13 percent of smoke detectionspend. Elsewhere in Europe, ASD counts forapproximately seven percent, but as a result of aharmonised European standard it is becomingmore widely accepted, so we can expect thispercentage to rise.

When first introduced over 20 years ago, ASDsystems were frequently specified alongside pointdetection systems. Under approvals to ad-hocproduct standards (prior to EN54-20) it becameincreasingly recognised that ASD systems arereliable and can provide “equivalence” to pointdetection – thereby negating the need for pointdetectors.

With the publication of EN54-20 in 2006, theclear definition of three sensitivity Classes made itclear that ASD systems are able to detector lowerconcentrations of smoke than a normal pointdetector. In 2010, a year after EN54-20 becamemandatory across most of Europe, the benefits ofcorrectly specified ASD are being exploited in moreand more applications. IFP


EN54-20: SMOKE DETECTION’S ESSENTIAL BUILDING BLOCK CODES

For more information go towww.xtralis.com

Peter Massingberd-Mundyis Technology and ExpertPractices Manager at Xtralis

The FIA highlights three key

reasons for using ASD; very

early warning, enhanced

smoke sensitivity and as an

alternative to point or beam

type smoke detectors.

P. 53-55 Codes 11/11/10 3:56 pm Page 55


VISUAL ALARMS

Normally, a visual alarm is only used in a firealarm system to reinforce a warning fromthe primary audible warning device such as

a bell, siren or voice alarm, but it is never theprimary method of raising the alarm. However, ina building in which deaf and hard of hearingpeople are present, a risk assessment may indicatethat a visual alarm will have to become as impor-tant as the normal audible alarm in attracting their attention. In such cases, the strobe units orbeacons must produce a sufficiently high lightoutput to achieve the objective. By definition, as alife safety industry, anything that improves theeffectiveness of an automatic fire system is anadvance to be welcomed, particularly if it providesenhanced protection for all occupants of theprotected building. Until now, however, there has been no product standard specifying the per-formance requirements of visual alarm devices.

BS EN54-23The product standard BS EN54-23:2010 (Firedetection and fire alarm systems. Fire alarmdevices. Visual alarm devices) defines the perfor-mance requirement of visual alarm devices andwas published by BSI in June 2010. Typically, forfire detection and alarm product standards pro-duced to satisfy the EU Construction ProductsDirective (Harmonised Standards), there is a

36-month transition period from the time thestandard becomes available to national standardsbodies. At the end of this transition period, pro-ducts that do not satisfy the harmonised standard(indicated by a CE Mark), will no longer be able tobe put on the European market. In the case ofEN54-23 the date by which national conflictingstandards must be withdrawn is March 2013.

The standard specifies the requirements, testmethods and performance criteria for visual alarmdevices in a fixed installation, intended to signal avisual warning of a fire initiated by the fire detec-tion and alarm system. It covers only those devicesthat derive their operating power by means of aphysical electrical connection to an externalsource, such as a fire alarm system, and it appliesonly to pulsing or flashing visual alarm devices –for example Xenon or rotating beacons anddevices that rely on software for their operation.

The introduction of a mandated harmonisedstandard sets a base level for product perfor-mance. Fire system engineers can therefore bereassured that when approved strobes are installedin accordance with the manufacturer’s recommen-dations, they will provide the defined level ofillumination in the protected premises. Under thespecification, manufacturers have to classify theirproducts as C, ceiling mounted, W, wall mounted,or O, open class devices. In a fire system, both

By Mark Thomson

KAC Alarm Company

EN54-23: Rising To

Regulations and legislation such as the UK’s Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)make service providers and employers responsible for ensuring that disabledpeople do not receive less favourable treatment than the able bodied. The firealarm industry has responded by providing detection systems that generate bothaudible and visual warnings when a fire is detected.

P. 56-58 Alarms 11/11/10 3:57 pm Page 56


EN54-23: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE VISUAL ALARMS

C and W devices will be the primary types used,with some specialised applications having type Odevices as well. The C class units often take theform of a detector base sounder-strobe, fittedbetween a multi-sensor, smoke or heat detectorand its base. W class devices will be either stand-alone strobes or combined sounder-strobes. Thekey performance indicators are that the output ofthe device must be greater than two candela (cd)and less than 500cd, and the flash rate must bebetween 0.5 and 2.0Hz.

The critical requirement from a manufacturer’spoint of view is that each model must be tested todemonstrate compliance with the Standard’srequirements. For ceiling-mounted devices, themanufacturer must define the maximum height atwhich it can be installed, set at a standard threemetres, six metres or nine metres. A wall-mounteddevice must be installed at a minimum of 2.4metres from the floor. The coverage volume,defined by the manufacturer, in which the output

meets the minimum required illumination of 0.4lumens/m2 (lux) on a surface perpendicular to thedirection of the light emitted from the device isthe key performance measure.

Further relevant documents are BS 8300:2009+A1:2010 (Design of buildings and their approachesto meet the needs of disabled people. Code ofpractice) and LPS1652 (Code of Practice for VisualAlarm Devices used for Fire Warning) currently at Draft 1.0 status and published by LPCB LossPrevention Certification Board).

Implications for the fire detectionindustryClearly the industry welcomes a new productstandard that will ensure that alarm signals are asconsistent and effective as possible throughout the areas in which they are installed. However, it is apparent that almost no visual alarm device on the market today will meet the requirements of EN54-23 in a manner that will allow the

o The Challenge

P. 56-58 Alarms 11/11/10 3:57 pm Page 57

established custom and practice on spacing ofdevices within protected premises to be main-tained. The issue arises because current products,designed to reinforce an audible warning, areoften not bright enough to attract attention bythemselves at any meaningful distance, unlessthey are in the direct line of sight.

It would appear to be a relatively simple problemto design and manufacture higher output visualalarm devices. However, there is considerableconcern as to whether existing technology – par-ticularly in respect of loop-powered addressablebeacons – is able to meet the performancerequirements. The limitations arise as the result ofthe zone current available from the control panel,the inefficiencies converting the incident electricalenergy into light, and lenses and reflectors that arenot necessarily designed to maximise the lighttransmission generated by the source. When theuse of coloured lenses is added into the equation,the problem is exacerbated

The issue that these deficiencies raise is quitesimple: fire system engineers and installers willwant to maintain existing spacing when fittingcompliant strobes in order to keep cost and com-plexity under control. However, initial experimentssuggest that using existing technology anddesigns, the alarm current for a loop-poweredstrobe is likely to have to rise from the typicalvalue of 2 to 3mA to 30-40mA, the non-linearincrease resulting from efficiency reductions inconverting the incident electrical energy into lightrather than heat. With a loop typically able toprovide around 400mA, this will severely restrictthe number of devices, leading to significantsystem design issues.

Alternative approachesAccordingly, there are two possible alternativeoptions. Conventional visual alarm devices, inter-facing with the loop via modules, could be used.The strobes could be powered from separatepower supplies to overcome the current limitation

issues, and there are many high output conven-tional strobes already available that would give the required levels of illumination at a realisticdistance. Of course, there are drawbacks. Individualcontrol and management of any particular strobeis lost and installation and equipments costs willincrease with the need for interface modules foreach bank of strobes.

The second option is to take the introduction ofthe new standard as a challenge, and developaddressable strobes that will generate sufficientoutput to enable the established customs andpractices in system design to be preserved. Thesize of this task should not be underestimated; it isone that the industry has to overcome in order toimprove the protection given to building occu-pants, particularly those who suffer from total orpartial deafness. They should not be placed ingreater danger in the event of fire purely becauseof potential technological difficulties; it is the jobof the industry leaders to harness the resourcesavailable to provide a workable solution.

In order to improve the conversion efficiency,the new generation of addressable strobes willalmost certainly have to use either a Xenon strobeor high output LEDs. Both have potential problemsin terms of current draw and heat generation, butthey are the most likely contenders in the quest toproduce a light output at least an order of magni-tude greater than current devices. New designs ofreflectors and lenses will be needed to ensure thatas much as possible of the generated light isconcentrated where it is needed – forwards anddown in the case of a wall-mounted device.Almost certainly, white light strobes will becomethe norm because the greater range of frequenciesenables more light energy to be produced.

Time is short. It will not be very long untilapproval to EN54-23 will become mandatoryunder the CPD in March 2013, and KAC, for one, is well on the road to meeting this newchallenge to benefit the industry and the people itprotects. IFP


EN54-23: RISING TO THE CHALLENGEVISUAL ALARMS

For more information go towww.kac.co.uk

Mark Thomson is MarketingManager at KAC AlarmCompany

P. 56-58 Alarms 11/11/10 3:57 pm Page 58


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DETECTION

Figure 1


In many situations, high-risk plant is classified ashazardous due to the presence of potentiallyflammable or combustible materials and require

that all potential sources of ignition be protectedby suitably designed and approved housings, forexample flameproof Exd, to standards such asIECEx, ATEX, FM and CSA. Many installations alsorequire to be assessed against IEC 61508 forfunctional safety integrity (SIL).

A key element is the fire detection and protec-tion systems that include a wide variety of detectortypes and controls to rapidly identify a fire hazardand prevent or extinguish the fire before itbecomes a danger to plant and personnel.

For high-risk areas and outdoors, optical flamedetectors, like that shown in fig 1, are thefavoured solution for this critical role, as smokeand heat detectors are not effective outdoors.Unlike smoke and heat detectors, the fire andproducts of fire – smoke and heat – do not haveto reach the optical detector to be recognised, asit “sees” the radiation from the flames from adistance of up to 65 metres over a 100 degreecone of vision in all directions.

Optical flame detectors provide the fastestdetection of a fuel fire in the early ignition stage.Their fast response capability, adjustable field ofview and programmability make them extremelywell suited for this role. Flame detection, with highsensitivity and immunity to false alarms, is anessential determining factor when designingsystems for this application.

They operate by sensing one or more wave

lengths of electromag-netic radiation emittedby the fuel flames. Theprecise wavelengths varydepending on the fuel being burned (the chemical reactions that generate energy in theform of electromagnetic radiation), the oxygensupply to the flames, and environmental condi-tions that affect the radiation transmission in theatmosphere.

Many combustible materials include hydro-carbons that typically generate hot carbon dioxide(see figure 2). In the presence of an actual fire, theradiation intensity in the carbon dioxide peak band is usually high, while little or no radiation isreceived in the side bands. Thus, high radiationintensity in the peak band, as compared with thatin the non-peak side bands, is used to determinewhether a flame is present.

In addition to the two major fire products (CO2and H2O), other intermediate radicals and ions andby-products created in the fire process (such asCO, CHOH, COOH, CH3 and OH) emit electro-magnetic radiation that can be detected either inthe UV solar blind spectrum or in the wide IRbands.

Developing technologyFlame detection has come a long way from theearly days when a simple UV sensor was used.Whilst the UV method was a very good and fastfire detector, it was also a good detector for allsorts of other radiation sources that were not fires,for example, the sun and arc welding. These falsealarms led to a lowering in confidence in suchdetectors. They also had a limited detectiondistance – usually 15 metres at best.

Over the years, other types and combinations of sensor types were invented, including singleinfrared (IR), combined double IR, combined UV/IR.All were tried and found deficient in one way oranother, mainly due to false alarms and/or lowsensitivity due to short range detection.

Today, the most respected and widely usedmethod is Triple Infrared (IR3) technology usingthree different IR wavelengths. This type ofspectral analysis ensures no false alarm to anycontinuous, modulated or pulsating radiationsources other than fire (including sources like black

By Ian Buchanan

European Manager atSpectrex Inc.

Protecting High-Risk PlantThe protection of high-risk, high-value assets and personnel hasnever been more vital. Such installationsinclude onshore and offshore oil and gasplant, petrochemical plant and hazardousmaterial handling and storage.


or gray body radiation). The high sensitivity of theTriple IR technology coupled with its inherentimmunity to false alarms enables substantiallylonger detection ranges than previously obtainedwith standard detectors.

This detection approach offers:● Fast response – less than five seconds.● Long range detection – up to 65 metres from

fire.● High sensitivity to small fires.● Highest immunity to false alarms.● High reliability and availability (IEC 61508-SIL2

TUV approved).

Latest solutionsThese benefits are combined in the Spectrex40/40I IR3 flame detector with additional featuresto ensure unattended, reliable operation such asautomatic integral self-test (every 15 minutes);heated optics to ensure continued operation inextreme weather conditions; a wide variety ofinterfaces (relays, milliamp, ModBus, HART); along warranty period of five years; along withindependent third-party performance approvals(EN54-10, FM 3260 etc).

These types of detector are used to detect firefrom hydrocarbon fuels, gases and materials,mainly focusing on the resultant carbon dioxide(CO2) produced from such fires. However, untilnow, “invisible” hydrogen fires were detected byUV type detectors, as the products of the hydro-gen fire were different (no CO2 product from thefire) thus detection distance was very limited. Now,the Spectrex 40/40M Multi IR flame detector,incorporating four IR sensors, allows simultaneousdetection of hydrogen flames at distances of 30metres as well as detecting hydrocarbon fires upto 65 metres distant.

The Triple/Multi IR detection technology over-comes the long-time problem of false alarms. Oneof the problems in detecting small fires in thehigh-risk oil and gas industries, particularly at longranges, was the potential for a high false alarmrate. False alarms could be generated by otherelectromagnetic radiation sources that are eithertermed as “friendly fires”( like flares in the petro-chemical industry) or by spurious radiation sources,such as direct and reflected sunlight, artificial light,welding, electrical heaters, ovens, and othersources of “noise”.

A false alarm could result in a costly discharge

of the fire extinguishant, andif the fire extinguishant is ofthe type requiring replace-ment before reuse, the falsealarm may disable the firesuppression system until ithas been replaced orrecharged and cause facilityshut-down.

Several generations ofoptical flame detectors havebeen developed to addressthe various fire and explosionhazards, particularly in mod-ern oil and gas exploration,processing storage, loadingand shipping facilities. TheSpectrex 40/40 Series is themost durable and weatherresistant range of flame

detectors currently on the market. Its featuresinclude a heated window, to eliminate condensa-tion and icing; HART capabilities for digital com-munications; lower power requirements and acompact, lightweight design.

These detectors are fully tested to withstandharsh environmental conditions, including strongvibration, elevated temperatures in excess of 85°C,as well as deep freezing conditions of –55°C, highdensity fog, rain, snow and other extreme environ-mental conditions. This makes them ideal forinstallation in isolated and often difficult to reachindustrial facilities located in Alaska, Siberia or onoffshore oil rigs.

Due to the detectors’ increased reliability anddurability, the SharpEye 40/40 Series warrantyperiod has been extended to five years andapproved by TUV to SIL2. Performance approvals(EN54-10, FM3260, DNV) and Ex approvals (ATEX,IECEx, FM, CSA, GOST-R) are also essential require-ments to prove, via third-party testing, thatmanufacturers’ claims are justified.

It is also important to mention the testing of flame detectors. The internal self-test will check the sensors but, necessarily, will not checkthe outputs. Therefore, the Spectrex range offlame simulators provide an in-situ means to fully end-to-end loop test flame detector, includingthe wiring connections and control systemreaction. The main advantages are that thesimulators can be used in Ex hazardous areas and can test the detector from up to nine metresaway. This avoids the high cost of scaffolding andother access equipment and encourages testingwhen it may otherwise have been deemed toodifficult.

SummaryFlame detection technologies have come a longway since the first phototube (UV) detected thephotons emitted by flames. This has been drivenprimarily by the ever growing requirements oftoday’s industries that demand high reliability andavailability combined with cost effectiveness intheir detection equipment for its expensive high-risk facilities and processes. Smaller in size, largerin brains with their miniature microprocessors,modern optical flame detectors provide industrywith enhanced flame detection capability andreliability, with much longer detection ranges andminimal or no false alarms. IFP


Figure 2

PROTECTING HIGH-RISK PLANTDETECTION

For more information go towww.spectrex-inc.com


Adv A4 30.09.2009 4:19 PM Page 1

Composite

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

The new SharpEye 40/40 Series Flame Detectors are designed for long-term, reliable operation in severe,high-risk environments. All 40/40 Series detectors offer enhanced reliability and durability with a full 5-year warranty.

A heated window, fully SIL2 [TUV] certified and EN54-10, FM3260 and DNV performance approved, along with Exhazardous area approvals [ATEX, IECEx, FM, CSA] ensure your peace of mind. Interfacing is also easy - we provide achoice of relay contacts, analogue mA, RS485 Modbus and HART. All of this combined in a compact, lightweight but

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COATINGS


Evacuating people from a burning building asquickly and efficiently as possible is a seriousbusiness and anything that can be done to

slow down the spread of flame will, in effect, buytime for the building occupants.

According to independent fire testing establish-ment, Exova warringtonfire, the approach toflammability testing for internal building liningmaterials differs around the world. There has beenharmonisation in Europe with the introduction ofEN 13501-1 and the associated test standards.However, a global supplier is still likely to have toconduct several tests in order to comply withvarious national regulations.

Crown Paints has focused its testing for the UK,where a new fire scenario was introduced in 2006,whereby all employers owners or managers ofbuildings (other than single occupancy private

dwellings) have a duty of care to achieve andmaintain conditions in buildings that reduce the risk of injury, risk to life and damage toproperty.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (Eng-land and Wales) and the Fire (Scotland) Act requirethe identification of a “responsible person” – suchas an owner, property manager or an employee –who has a duty to ensure that a fire risk assess-ment of the building as a whole is undertaken.The English/Welsh and Scottish governments havemade available a series of advisory guides relatingto different industry sectors that provide details ofwhat to look for and how to carry out such a riskassessment. Each of these guides refers to thepotential hazards of flame spread over paintedwalls and ceilings and the need to achieve a Class0 fire rating in circulation areas and escape routes.

By David Spicer

Crown Paints

Buying ValuableTimeFlame retardant coatings buy valuable time to evacuate a building if fire breaks out.

P. 65-68 Fire-rated paints 11/11/10 3:58 pm Page 65

Paints – even water-based emulsions – containresins or binders that may be flammable. Althougha single coat of emulsion on a bare plasterboardsurface is unlikely to form a hazard, over manyyears a build up of multiple layers of conventionalpaint over any surface can become a significantfire risk, particularly in corridors, stairwells andother areas forming part of a fire escape route.

In the UK, wall and ceiling lining materials areclassified from Class 0 to Class 4 according to theirlevel of resistance to flame spread and heatrelease, with Class 0 being the best performing

material and Class 4 the worst. In many situations,UK fire regulations demand Class 0 wall andceiling linings although Class 0 is not a termdefined in specific British Standards, but is definedin Appendices to Approved Document B to theBuilding Regulations or equivalent in Scotland.

A Class 0 performance is generally specifiedwhere it is necessary to restrict the use of productsthat ignite easily and that have a high rate of heatrelease and could therefore reduce the time toflashover.

It is not possible to test the performance ofpaint in isolation – a system able to provide a Class

0 rating on plasterboard may give a Class 3 ratingwhen applied to wood – so our fire performanceclaims cover the paint and substrate in combina-tion. Studies have shown that the Class 0 surfaceof plasterboard, even when painted for the firsttime, can be downgraded to Class 2 or worse assubsequent layers of conventional paint areapplied.

This is a serious concern for organisations suchas local authorities and housing associations,which have a duty of care to minimise fire risk andguard against potential loss of life, injury and

property damage. Furthermore, paint build up incommunal areas within office blocks, flats,hospitals and old people’s homes – in fact mosttypes of buildings – is of particular concern,creating a significant risk of fire spreadingthroughout a building.

The following example illustrates the potentialconsequences of failing to maintain a Class 0 fireprotection rating.

An outbreak of fire in an English hospital saw a50-metre corridor engulfed in flames within threeminutes following a bed being set on fire by apatient. On hearing the fire alarm, a nurse located


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the fire and evacuated the ward, closing the firedoors before making for the fire exit. However,before the nurse could reach the end of thecorridor, an explosion of hot air blew open the firedoors, allowing the fire to spread rapidly down thecorridor. Fortunately, in this case, all the occupantsof the building escaped without injury, althoughthis incident could easily have resulted in loss oflife.

A subsequent investigation into the spread ofthe fire at the hospital showed that there was abuild up of more than 18 layers of paint on thewalls, which resulted in the hospital’s original Class0 fire protection rating being reduced to Class 4spread of flame, despite all the products that hadbeen used having had a Class 0 rating on bareplasterboard.

Commercial flame retardant surface coatingssuch as Crown Trade Timonox are designed toimprove fire performance rating. They are capableof improving a rating from Class 4 to Class 0 and,while they are unable to prevent a fire fromstarting, as paint is not normally the first thing tobe ignited, may provide valuable additional timefor a building to be safely evacuated.

During investigation, samples of paintedplasterboard walls, identical to those damaged inthe fire, were taken from the hospital. When test-ed, the panels achieved a Class 4 rating. Whensubsequently over-coated with Timonox Eggshellthe result was a much improved Class 1 fire rating.

The importance of using flame retardant coat-ings is further illustrated in the case of a fire in atower block, again in England, which causedextensive damage to the flat in which it started.However, in this case, a flame retardant coatinghad been applied to all communal areas of thetower block as part of the local authority’s plannedmaintenance programme and, although heat inthe corridor outside the flat was enough to meltthe light fittings, there was no evidence of flamespread beyond the affected apartment.

Generally, flame retardant coatings work bylimiting the oxygen around the flames through therelease of non-combustible gases, and by using aformulation that provides a barrier to the flam-mable paint layers beneath. In some cases, anintumescent layer may be used, which produces afoamed insulating carbon char on burning,restricting heat rise in the surface beneath.

Tests carried out by Crown Paints at Exovawarringtonfire, showed a marked differencebetween the spread of flame on a surfaceintended to demonstrate a worst case scenario ofa painted wall or ceiling surface when compared

with a wall where multiple layers of old paint hadbeen covered with the flame retardant coating.

The test, commonly known as the “Warrington-fire Blue Board Test”, features a multi-layercocktail of ten coats of conventional paint – asmight be found on the walls of a building of, say,30 years of age – applied to a plasterboardsubstrate which is then tested to BS 476: Part 7.This involves mounting a specimen of specific sizeof the surface to be tested, at right angles to ahigh intensity radiant panel. For the first minute ofthe test a small pilot flame is applied to thesurface of the specimen in the hotter region. Thetest is conducted for a total of ten minutes andthe flame spread over the surface is recordedthroughout the period.

The test rated this Blue Board surface as Class4, yet, when it was later treated with the flameretardant paint system, the classification improvedto Class 1. A similar panel, subject to BS 476: Part6 produces heat release indices well in excess ofthe 6 & 12 required by UK legislation when a Class0 rating is required. The same Timonox systemsthen limited the heat release indices below thelimits, and hence, combing the two results, met

the requirements for a Class 0 rating.An independent report, produced by

Warringtonfire some years ago confirmed thatmultiple layers of paint in communal areas canrepresent a significant fire hazard. The reportdetermined that it was not generally necessary toremove previous layers of paint – this was onlyneeded when the original coatings had pooradhesion.

It is recommended that property owners ormanagers wishing to specify application of flameretardant coatings should call on the services ofthe paint manufacturer that should first make anassessment of the age and condition of theexisting painted surfaces. The specialist may wantto take a sample of the existing paint coveringaway for analysis, as this will show what coatingsystem needs to be applied to offer the optimumprotection.

Those using flame retardant coatings need notcompromise the aesthetic appearance of theirinterior decoration. Paint-based systems are oftenavailable in a wide range of colours and finishesincluding matt and silk vinyl and acrylic eggshell,with the option of anti-graffiti protection. Aconventional application of two coats of a flameretardant finish over several layers of paint may besufficient to restore the required Class 0 rating, ora higher performing system can be specified if theexisting risk is greater. IFP


BUYING VALUABLE TIMECOATINGS

For more information go towww.crowntrade.co.uk

David Spicer, SpecialistProducts Manager at CrownPaints

The spread of the fire at the hospital showed that there was a

build up of more than 18 layers of paint on the walls, which

resulted in the hospital’s original Class 0 fire protection

rating being reduced to Class 4 spread of flame, despite all

the products that had been used having had a Class 0 rating

on bare plasterboard.


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FIRE ENGINEERING


Traditionally, fire safety design for buildingshas been based on compliance with a set ofregulations, prescriptive design guides or

codes of practice. However, it has become increas-ingly recognised that these do not always provideowners and developers with the most cost-effective solutions, particularly for innovativedevelopments involving more complex structures,unusual spaces, or new building materials. Thesafety codes depend on assumptions and over-simplifications, resulting in buildings that are oftenover-engineered in some areas and misunderstoodin others.

Changes have been occurring over the last fewyears to reflect this. In the UK, ApprovedDocument B was often referred to as “the Building

Regulations” as if that was all there was when, infact, it is only guidance to support and complywith the building regulations – you do not have tofollow it. Consequently, the use of fire safetyengineering is increasing as trends in buildingschange. Architects want iconic buildings and theseoften do not fit within the framework of con-ventional codes and regulations, which mightrequire the installation of fire protection measuresthat do not fit well with the building’s design or itsfunction.

The role of fire-designed buildingsMost fire safety practitioners realise the value ofand the role that fire safety engineering has toplay. I always give the example of building a bridge

Niall Rowan

Association forSpecialist Fire Protection

The ChangingFace Of FireSafety DesignThe move away from prescriptive regulations and the adoption of fireengineering techniques is not without its challenges, particularly when it comes to passive fire protection.

P. 71-74 Fire Safety 11/11/10 3:58 pm Page 71

across a river. The bridge designer is told the loadthe bridge has to take, the width of the river, thesoil conditions, etc and he or she designs a bridge.The designer is not told, for example, that thebridge must be constructed using brick archeswith a maximum ten metre span.

Yet that is exactly what prescriptive legislationfor fire safety does. It restricts the designer’s free-dom and, if our bridge analogy is used, wouldlead to several identical bridges across a riverinstead of the wide variety we see today. Thefreedom to design a bridge using engineeringprinciples allows the designer to choose frommany different kinds of bridge. The same argu-ment can be used for fire protection. The firesafety designer can use a range of constructionalpractices and fire protection techniques to ensurethe basics, namely that the building stays up longenough for the occupants to escape and for thefire service to intervene appropriately.

Increase in fire-designed buildingsConsequently, we have seen an increase in the useof a more flexible approach to designing fire safetyinto buildings. Such an approach is embodied in BS 9999 (Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings). BS 9999 is a kind of “half way house” betweenApproved Document B and fire safety engineeringusing BS 7974. It is a prescriptive code of practicefor fire safety design beyond the limits ofApproved Document B. It is not a fire engineeringguide, although it uses fire engineering principlesto formulate the guidance provided. It replacesmost of the BS 5588 codes of practice for firesafety design of buildings.

BS 9999 provides the designer with guidanceon how to design a building taking into accountmany factors including:● Risk profiles (building risk category, fire load

density, and fire growth potential).● Designing means of escape (travel distance,

occupant number, etc).● Access and facilities for fire fighting.● Designing the building structure (load bearing

and non load bearing elements, effects ofventilation, fire suppression systems, etc).

● Protection of special risks.● Managing occupied buildings.

But, on the other hand, there are concerns thatin the rush to take advantages of all the freedomsthat fire-designed buildings give us, we are nottaking into account the problems of existing build-ings and how those problems, if transferred – asthey will be – to the fire-designed buildings, maylead to an unacceptable risk. Existing buildingsmay be over engineered, but they have pitfalls andproblems that compensate for this.

Problems with existing buildings include:● Badly specified fire protection (wrong type and

or number of products, use of products whereperformance has not been adequately verifiedby test, assessment or preferably third-partyproduct certification).

● Improperly installed fire protection (missing orwrongly installed products and systems, use ofunskilled labour, installations not checked byBuilding Control, etc).


FIRE ENGINEERING

There are concerns that in the

rush to take advantages of

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account the problems of

existing buildings and how

those problems, if transferred

to the fire-designed

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● Actions taken by occupants to disable or render ineffective any fire protection measures(fire alarms switched off, fire doors wedgedopen, vandalism and subsequent installation of services through compartment walls or floors without reinstating the fire resistingconstruction).So some existing buildings might be over engi-

neered, but the robustness of the regulationscopes, or counteracts, many of the problems listedabove. What we are doing now is removing theover engineering (or the robustness, if you like)and not replacing it with anything. So the fireengineered building may well be a problem ifmuch of the reduced fire protection that wasspecified is not functioning, or is not installedproperly, or has been vandalised.

Is there evidence to support such fears? In theabsence of a significant number of fires in fire-designed buildings, because they are still relativelynew and there are not enough of them, therecannot be much evidence. However, recent eventshave shown us the tragic effects of reduced fireprotection in traditional buildings. To have areduction of designed-in fire protection must giverise for concern unless mitigating actions are putin place.

Best practice guideThe publication of the Association for SpecialistFire Protection (ASFP) best practice document waspreceded by a detailed three-year government-funded project, where independent research onfire safety provisions was collected on a widevariety of buildings. The research repeatedlyshowed that the misplaced reliability on firecompartment walls and barriers is a real problem.In some complex buildings, detailed drawingswere missing and occupants had no knowledge ofthe location of essential defences, such ascompartment walls. A high percentage ofcompartment walls were either defective throughpoorly installed fire stopping of penetrating service systems, or invalidated by incompetentmaintenance.

Lakanal HouseLast year, the UK government’s chief fire andrescue adviser, Sir Ken Knight, published his initialreport on the emerging issues arising from thefatal fire at Lakanal House, Camberwell in London.The report reminds us of the fundamentalprinciples intended for the construction of largerbuildings stating: “There is a long establishedprinciple that the design and construction of high-rise buildings enable the occupants adjacentto the immediate fire area to make their way to aplace of safety, while other occupants can remainsafely in their homes. These principles do requirethat a satisfactory level of passive and active firesafety systems are installed and maintained.” Itwent on to state: “The protection incorporatedinto the design and fabric of the building is thefundamental basis for reducing the spread of fireand loss of life….” “In undertaking major changesand refurbishment work in such buildings, thesignificance of the passive fire protection isrequired to be clearly specified and understood bythe main contractor for the work, as well as thoseinstalling or altering the protection.”

So it is quite clear that designers are responsible

for making safe designs of buildings and thosebuildings must be maintained properly – includingthe installation or refurbishment of active andpassive fire protection measures – by suitably com-petent people who recognise the significance ofthe work they are doing. However, the best prac-tice guide research has shown us that this is simplynot occurring, and the response of architects,building designers and some fire safety consultantsis to further water down fire safety measures.

Am I missing something here? How aboutdoing what is supposed to be done properly first,then engineer out the fire protection in theknowledge that it will be properly installed,inspected and maintained?

Regulatory reform (fire safety) order2005There is a clear duty under the UK’s RegulatoryReform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 that a fire risk


THE CHANGING FACE OF FIRE SAFETY DESIGN FIRE ENGINEERING


assessment must be made by a “responsibleperson”, normally the building owner, landlord orperson operating the business on the premises.

Investigations made by the BBC in the wake ofthe Lakanal House fire, however, revealed thathundreds of tower blocks had not been assessedfor fire safety and that the local authority, whichseemed to be the worst offender, had only carriedout risk assessments on two of its 112 towerblocks. The situation is much better now, but onlybecause of the adverse publicity surrounding thefire.

Subsequently, the fire risk assessment at LakanalHouse was acknowledged to be deficient. Perhapsthis is because there are no qualifications orrequirements to be a fire risk assessor. We knowfrom fire risk assessments that are carried out thatmany of the assessors (referred to in the FireSafety Order as the “competent persons”) are notsufficiently knowledgeable on passive fireprotection measures. The ASFP is in the process ofdrafting guidance for fire risk assessors to ensurethat they thoroughly, but realistically, evaluate thepassive fire protection measures when undertakingfire risk assessments.

What needs to be done?Fire-designed buildings, whether fully engineeredusing BS 7974 or BS 9999, are not going to goaway and it is not for the ASFP to advocate thatposition. The benefits of fire-designed buildingsare recognised for what they are. However, theincreasing use of such building design techniques,which will lead to a reduction of designed-inpassive fire protection, is of concern unless

suitable mitigating or compensatory measures aretaken.

These should include:● The mandatory use of third-party certificated

products installed by third-party certificatedinstallers, or . . .

● The mandatory inspection of all installedpassive fire protection.

● No introduction of a so called “competentpersons” schemes for installers of passive fireprotection, unless such schemes are eitherpersonnel certification schemes with individualscertificated against EN 17024 or companyschemes certificated against EN 45011. Ineither case, any schemes should be accreditedby UKAS.

● A register of fire risk assessors that includesevaluation of their competence in the area ofinstalled passive fire protection.

● Fire risk assessors to be members of eitherpersonnel certification schemes with individualscertificated against EN 17024, or companyschemes certificated against EN 45011. Ineither case, any schemes should be accreditedby UKASThe number of fire-designed buildings is

increasing across the world, but those taking oversuch buildings often have very little knowledge inthis area. It is imperative that if we are to increas-ingly use engineering techniques to provide firesafety, we must have total confidence that thepassive fire protection measures specified areinstalled and maintained correctly. Changingapproaches to fire safety design should not meanlowering fire safety. IFP


THE CHANGING FACE OF FIRE SAFETY DESIGNFIRE ENGINEERING

Niall Rowan is TechnicalOfficer at the Association forSpecialist Fire Protection.

For more information go towww.asfp.org.uk



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Try putting yourself in the shoes of a pro-foundly deaf young woman whose ordealwhile out shopping was recently reported in

the news media. “I was in the changing room of aclothes store,” she explains. “After 15 minutes Icame out and found the whole shop completelydeserted. I put down the clothes and walked out,to be met by embarrassed shop assistants explain-ing the fire alarm had gone off and they hadassumed everyone had heard it because they hadnot realised I was deaf.”

This frightening experience highlights thevulnerability of the deaf, particularly in publicplaces, who everyday live with the threat of a fire alarm sounding an emergency warning theycannot hear.

Deaf demographics Deafness is often regarded as a “hidden disability”because it is frequently not immediately obviousthat someone is deaf. This false assumption canlead to an acceptance by management that a deafperson is somehow capable of coping unaided – adangerous misconception when you consider thatworldwide deaf demographics show the problemof hearing loss is growing at a surprising rate.

It is estimated that the number of hearing-impaired people in the developed world alone will

reach 215 million by 2015. Of these, some 90million will be Europeans, where about 71 millionadults aged between 18 and 80 years have a hear-ing loss greater than 25 dB (the definition ofhearing impairment). Reportedly, one in six adultEuropeans suffers from hearing loss great enoughto adversely affect their daily life.

In North America, more than 25 million peopleare estimated to be hearing impaired, while in theUK, the number of people with severe hearing lossis predicted to rise to a million within the nexttwenty years. Worldwide, more than 900 millionpeople will suffer from hearing loss of more than25 dB by 2025.

With such growing numbers of sufferers, then,more and more people are destined to be isolatedfrom the hearing population and, in consequence,threatened by shortcomings in fire safety pre-cautions designed for the “audible world”.

Potential deaf trapRecent behavioural studies of fire evacuationsdemonstrate just how especially vulnerable deafpeople are in fire evacuations from public buildings,revealing that two-thirds of the public occasionallyor never think about evacuation procedures frombuildings they regularly occupy; a figure that risesto 89 percent in buildings they use infrequently.


DEAF MESSAGING

Deaf To The Warni

By Wesley Kent

Fireco Ltd.

Imagine being caught up in a fire, yet being completely unaware that an alarmhas been raised. For the deaf or hearing challenged it is risk they face every timethey enter a public building.

P. 76-77 Deaf Messaging 11/11/10 3:58 pm Page 76

Even more worrying, in theevent of a fire alarm sounding, 40percent of the public would instinc-tively follow people in their vicinity– even into danger. And only 29percent would use the nearest exit.Clearly, these behavioural respons-es represent a herd mentality andhave serious implications for deafand hard of hearing people.

As the deaf young woman says,when recalling her own experienceof fire safety failures: ‘If a fire alarmgoes off in a big supermarket howis the deaf person supposed toknow? True, if the store is busy,then obviously everyone else run-ning for the exit would promptthem. But, if it is quiet, they mightnot be aware until it is too late.”

Even visual alarms can go unno-ticed. “Ironically, it is easy for adeaf person to have blind spot. Adeaf person has to have eyes in theback of their head to compensatefor their ears not functioning asthey should. A profoundly deafperson’s neck hurts from constantly lookingaround to make sure they are out of harm’s way.”

There are however new products becomingavailable that use text messaging (SMS) to auto-matically inform a deaf person when the fire alarmsounds in a public place such as a supermarket orshopping centre, giving deaf and hard of hearingpeople the freedom to move around buildings

without the worry of missing an emergency situa-tion. Significantly, these are obligations to deafbuilding occupants that are enshrined in nationalpolicies and legislation to prevent disabilitydiscrimination. These require compliance, such asthe provision of auxiliary aids or services toimprove communication for people with sensoryimpairments, including those affecting hearing.

A quiet revolutionThe dramatic growth of mobile phone technologyhas profoundly changed the lives of millions ofdeaf people. For the first time, a generation ofdeaf people can communicate with the world onthe same terms as the hearing population, usingmobile phones, of which there are now some fivebillion worldwide.

For this new generation of deaf people, mobiletexting has provided a lifeline that helps bridge thegap between the hearing-impaired communitiesand the hearing world. “I do not have to depend

on hearing people,” is a typical comment by adeaf user. “It makes me so much more indepen-dent. And text messaging is less work. I can com-municate any time I want to. Texting is very fastand very efficient.”

Take note of the deaf consumerIn response to these trends, internationalsupermarket chains are recognising that one inevery six people is a lot of spending power thattheir businesses should not ignore. By removingcommunication barriers, forward-looking com-panies are aware that the secret to better bottom-line performance is to empower con-sumers and make the purchase of products atrouble-free experience, and this empowermentshould embrace their deaf customers. Businessstrategists also know that consumers respondpositively to the added value of services that caterto special needs.

As one deaf consumer confirms: “Deaf peopleare active members of society, with jobs, familiesand disposable incomes to spend. So it is onlyright that businesses should provide for all theirspecial needs, particularly by ensuring that theyare safe and secure against fire while on theirpremises. Deaf messaging technology is obviouslyattractive because texting is the medium the deafcommunity uses all the time.”

This readily available technology has now beenharnessed by Fireco, a designer and manufacturerof Deaf Message Service (DMS), a new productthat uses text messaging to automatically inform adeaf person when the fire alarm sounds in a publicplace. It puts the deaf and hard of hearing on thesame level of those without the disability and pro-vides them with the freedom to move aroundbuildings without the worry of falling prey to whatto them is a silent enemy – fire. IFP


DEAF TO THE WARNINGS DEAF MESSAGING

ngs

Wesley Kent is SalesDirector Fireco Ltd.

Worldwide, more than 900

million people will suffer

from hearing loss of more

than 25 dB by 2025.

For more information go towww.deafmessageservice.com

P. 76-77 Deaf Messaging 11/11/10 3:58 pm Page 77

The issue at the core of this growing dilemmais quite simple. How can we say with convic-tion that any product – whether mechanical,

electrical or other – will do what it says it will do,and is fit for purpose? The proliferation of non-approved, low quality products being importedinto some countries places a further responsibilityon the supply chain, whether you are a specifier,distributor or installer. How can you be sure that aproduct assures performance?

The questions around the quality and safety ofpassive fire protection products and systemscomes at a time of increasing pressure on manu-facturers and the whole supply chain in terms oflegislation and compliance.

For manufacturers looking for market differen-tial, the real value of product certification is that itis issued by an accredited third party. This meansthere is genuine independent endorsement, andthat experts have tested and verified that the par-ticular product in question performs to the qualityand safety levels required or beyond. In the eventof a failure, the fact that you can demonstrate that

you have made all reasonable efforts to ensure thequality of a certificated product or system – andthat there is a certificate that says so – will help tomitigate any accusation of possible negligence.

Even CE marking is no guarantee of perfor-mance or origin, but is merely a declaration by themanufacturer that this product meets the minimumrequirements of the applicable European Directive.Credible third-party schemes have to go far beyondthe requirements of CE marking, typically involvingin-depth inspection and surveillance regimes tomonitor the manufacturer’s quality managementsystem and factory production control systems.They will also cover initial type-testing on indepen-dently sampled production, design appraisalagainst a technical schedule, assessment of adefined application and ongoing audit testing.

The product must be fit-for-purpose and, inaddition to the fire performance and qualityaspects, the third-party also assesses all otherrelevant essential performance characteristics, for example, durability, thermal and acousticperformance.


TESTING

Non-approved product s

By Leigh Hill

Warrington Certification,part of the Exova group

The increasing volume of non-approved, low quality products being importedinto some markets only highlights the benefits to be gained from third-partytesting and certification by independent accredited bodies.

P. 78-79 Third Party 11/11/10 3:59 pm Page 78

If everyone involved in a project takes respon-sibility for their duty-of-care, there will be no com-promise on specifying and installing third-partycertificated products and systems from the start.Ideally, this should start with the architect ordesigner, who can build-in the requirement forcertified products into the specification. For manymanufacturers, whether it is fire doors, fire-stopping systems or cabling, the testing of aproduct or system should be important for safetyreasons to make sure it meets the relevant BritishStandard (BS) or European standard (EN). Thefurther rigorous inspection of the manufacturer’sprocesses and systems that lead to certificationprovides transparent evidence of a product’squality.

The contractor is responsible for a professionalinstallation using the specified products for theproject. He should be checking that the specifiedproducts are delivered to site by the distributorand fully installed in accordance with the manu-facturer’s instructions. For the end user, it is alsorecommended to check that what has beenspecified by the architect has been installed by thecontractor.

Indeed, there is no legal obligation on manufac-turers to test to levels of certification, but thebenefits – especially with the increasing volumesof non-approved products on the market and sub-sequent legal action – speak for themselves. Ifsomething goes wrong with a fire performancesystem there is usually life and property at stake. Inthe UK, this can result in legal action against thearchitect, specifier, main contractor or buildingowner as the “responsible person” under theRegulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

According to figures from Britain’s Departmentfor Communities and Local Government (DCLG),there were 61,000 building fires in England duringthe 12 months from March 2009 to April 2010,

including 22,000 fires in commercial premises. Ofthe 328 deaths from fires, a third occurred incommercial buildings. The cost of these fires tobusiness runs into millions of pounds and cannotbe accurately counted, as many insurance claimsand legal proceedings are still running.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the FireSafety Order applies to you if you are responsiblefor business premises, an employer or self-employed with business premises, responsible fora part of a dwelling where that part is solely usedfor business purposes, a charity or voluntaryorganisation, a contractor with a degree of controlover any premises or providing accommodation forpaying guests. Under the legislation, the respon-sible person must maintain a current fire safety riskassessment and implement and maintain a firemanagement plan.

This should consider some key issues includingidentifying fire hazards, considering the peoplewho may be at risk, evaluating and reducing anyrisks, recording what is in the plan and reviewingyour risk assessment to ensure it remains up todate and reflects any changes that may haveoccurred. If there is any doubt about fire riskassessment or third-party certification, adviceshould be sought from recognised certificationbodies.

So, why take the risk? With the expert rigour and testing associated

with a third-party certification scheme the archi-tect – and the others in the supply chain – can saytruly that they have specified a product that is fit-for-purpose when installed correctly. They can alsohave peace of mind that they have fulfilled theirown duty of care. IFP


UNDERSTANDING FIRE STOPPING TESTING

t s – why take the risk?

Leigh Hill is businessdevelopment manager atWarrington Certification, partof the Exova group providinglaboratory testing, advisingand assuring services tocompanies worldwide

The real value of product

certification is that it is

issued by an accredited third

party. This means there is

genuine independent

endorsement, and that

experts have tested and

verified that the particular

product in question

performs to the quality and

safety levels required.

For more information go towww.warringtonfire.net

P. 78-79 Third Party 11/11/10 3:59 pm Page 79


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IFP Issue 44

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Transcript of IFP Issue 44