NACFM Basic Fire Alarm Technology for FMs

NACFMFaith Baptist Church

Youngsville, NCOctober 3, 2017

Introduction to Basic Fire Alarm Technology

Things We’ll Discuss Today

• Types of electrical circuits• Fire alarm basics• Stages of a fire• Types of portable fire extinguishers• Types of detection• Audio/visual devices• Types of fire alarm panels• Fire alarm system ownership intangibles

Basic Fire Alarm

Let’s examine the components that make a basic Fire Alarm Control System

Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)

• The “brains” of the system

• Provides power to the system, monitors inputs and controls outputs through various circuits

• Performs other functions as required by the appropriate “code”

Primary (AC)

Secondary (DC)

*Requires two power sources

Elements of a Fire Alarm Control Panel

Smoke detector/sensor

Manual pull station

A fire alarm system can have a variety of input devices

*Inputs


Inputs

• Initiating Device: A system component that originates transmission of a change of state condition, such as a smoke detector, manual fire alarm box, supervisory switch, etc...

• Initiating Device Circuit (IDC): A circuit to which automatic or manual initiating devices are connected where the signal received does not identify the individual device operated

Outputs

• Notification Appliance: A fire alarm system component such as a bell, horn, speaker, light, or text display that provides audible, tactile, or visible output, or any combination thereof

• Notification Appliance Circuit: A circuit or path directly connected to a notification appliance


Horns

Strobes

*Outputs

Class B Initiating Device Circuit

3.9KEOLR

3.9KEOLR

Class B Notification Appliance Circuit

Class B Circuits

(End of line supervision resistors are required to supervise the integrity of the loop.)

Class A Initiating Device Circuit

Class A Notification Appliance Circuit

Class A Circuits

(Single open circuit condition causes a trouble on the panel; all devices on the loop remain operative.)

The Basic Fire Alarm System

Secondary (DC)

Primary (AC)

Outputs

Inputs

*Main Controller

Basic Fire Alarm System

Addressable Systems

FACP

Each SLC loop can contain a variety of addressable devices. Non-addressable devices are connected via addressable module.

FIREFIRE

SILENT KNIGHT

AddressablePull Station

AddressableHeat Detector

4.7KEOLR

NAC #1

AddressableSmoke Detector

AddressableInput Module(Waterflow)

AddressableSmoke Detector

AddressableRelay Module

(Fan Shutdown)

SLC (Signaling Line Circuit) - Loop

• Device name/address

• Loop that it is on

• Location of device

Map of detector locations

Fire Extinguisher Locations

The Fire Triangle

Fire safety, at its most basic, is based on the principle of keeping fuel sources and ignition sources separate

Basic Fire Alarm Technology

• Signal Initiation/Initiating Devices– Need to understand stages of fire and what

technology works best for each

The Stages of a Fire

• Stage One– Incipient: Products of Combustion particles are

produced (<0.3 microns). No visible smoke or detectable heat; may occur for milliseconds or days

– Use ionization detectors

(Note: Few fire alarm system manufacturers are still producing ionization detectors/sensors, as photoelectric detectors are now much more capable of detecting conditions leading to “flash” fires than they were in the past.)


• Stage Two– Smoldering: Visible smoke particles are produced

(>0.3 microns). Little visible flame or noticeable heat• Use photoelectric detectors


• Stage Three– Flame: Rapid combustion produces radiant

energy in the visible, and invisible (IR, UV) spectrums; heat begins to build-up at this stage• Use Spark or Flame Detectors


• Stage Four– High heat: Uncontrolled combustion is caused by

the heating of nearby combustibles to their ignition point. • Use heat detectors

– Note! Major disadvantages of using thermal energy for fire identification are:• Takes a while for a fire to be recognized• The toxic gases that are produced before an

alarm point is reached

Types of Detectors (initiating devices)

• Photoelectric– Light scattering– Light obscuration

• Ionization• Duct• Heat (Thermal)

Ionization Smoke Detectors

• Contain a small amount of radioactive material encapsulated in a metal chamber. Ionizing radiation develops a low, but steady electrical current. Smoke particles entering the chamber disrupt the current and trigger the detector's alarm

• Ion detectors react more quickly to fast flaming fires that give off little smoke

Photoelectric Smoke Detectors:Light-Scattering Type

• Uses a light-emitting diode (LED) that sends a beam of light into a dark chamber- a photo diode sits on the other side of a partition within the chamber

• Smoke particles entering the chamber deflect some of the light rays into the photo cell. The photo cell generates a current when exposed to light, and if the current reaches a certain level, the detector alarms

Photoelectric Smoke Detectors:Light obscuration type

• In a projected beam detector, alarms are generated by diffusing the projected light beam by a specified percentage of obscuration.

• Total beam blockage generally results in a trouble signal.

Heat Detectors• Fixed temperature heat detectors:

– Alarm when the sensing element reaches a certain set point. – Two fixed detectors’ common models have 135 and 200-

degrees F range.– Fixed element is generally a non-restorable type, and when

activated, must be replaced.

• Rate-of-rise heat detectors: – Respond when the rate of temperature increase is greater

than an allowable limit (15 degrees in 60 secs; placement in a stable environment) (e.g.. ovens, heating vents, etc.).

– The Rate-of-Rise element is restorable when conditions return to normal.

• Rate compensation heat detectors respond regardless of the rate of temperature rise. (When the air temp surrounding the detector reaches a predetermined level regardless of the rate of temperature rise.)

Duct Detectors

• Photoelectric detector mounted in housing outside the ductwork that has probes that extend into the duct to sample the air inside the duct.

• Primarily used as a smoke control device to control the flow of air in ductwork.

Initiating DevicesManual fire alarm stations (pull stations)

• Manually-operated device used to initiate an alarm signal– Single action stations

require a single operation to activate; generally a pulling down action.

– Dual action stations require two distinct operations—a push-in then a pull-down action.

Notification Appliances Types

• Audible—horns; bells; sounders; sirens; chimes; speakers• Visual – strobes• Audible & visual—horn strobes;

speaker strobes

Building Notification Appliances

2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.113 Notification Appliance. A fire alarm system component such as a bell, horn, speaker, light or text display that provides audible, tactile, or visible outputs, or any combination thereof.

2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.113.1 Audible Notification Appliance. A notification appliance that alerts by the sense of hearing.

2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.113.3 Visible Notification Appliance. A notification appliance that alerts by the sense of sight.

Audible Devices• Bells: Used if they are only

for fire, or have a distinctive sound from other bell signaling devices. Often used as an external gong to indicate the flow of water in the sprinkler system.

• Horns: Loud and distinctive output. Often used in high-noise environments, such as manufacturing plants.

Audible Devices

• Sounders: Electronic or mechanical audible devices, which are capable of producing a variety of tones. Often, the tone is selectable during installation of the device

• Chimes: Soft-toned appliances used where loud noises could be disruptive to other operations. Generally used where qualified personnel are continuously in attendance

Audible Devices

• Sirens: Extremely loud devices generally limited in use to outdoor or heavy industrial areas

• Speakers: Audible devices used in conjunction with voice evacuation messages. Life-safety speakers are not generally associated with Muzak systems

Visual Signaling AppliancesVisual signaling appliances are used in high-noise environments, in areas occupied by hearing-impaired individuals, or in areas where audible devices may not be desired

Visual Devices

Speaker/Strobe

Chime/Strobe

Horn/Strobe

Strobe

The Types of Fire Alarm Systems

Fire Alarm System Manufacturers• Manufacturers

– Simplex (now owned by Johnson Controls)—sells product ONLY through factory branches

– Honeywell—sells product ONLY through distribution• FireLite—available through distribution and supply houses

such as ADI• Silent Knight• Gamewell/FCI• Notifier—sells product ONLY through distribution but also

OEMs a product, with separate protocol, to Honeywell Building Services branches

– Siemens—sells product through BOTH factory branches and distribution

– Edwards—sells product through BOTH factory service branches and distribution

– Hochiki —sells product ONLY through distribution

Types of Fire Alarm Control Panels

• Conventional (aka hard wired or zoned)– Fixed – Programmable

• Addressable (multiplexed)• Intelligent (analog/digital data transfer)

Panel LEDs

What color is the light on the panel if all systems are normal?

Green

If there is an alarm condition?

Red

If there is a trouble condition?

Yellow

Conventional SystemsZone 1

3.9KEOLR

Zone 2FIREFIRE

SILENT KNIGHT

FIREFIRE

SILENT KNIGHT

FIREFIRE

SILENT KNIGHT

FIREFIRE

SILENT KNIGHT

FIREFIRE

SILENT KNIGHT

FACP

NAC 1

Multiple devices are combined into a single zone. Zones can contain +/-30 or more devices. Up to 120 zones.

3.9KEOLR

3.9KEOLR

Conventional “Hard Wired/Zoned” System

• Simplest type of control unit.• Generally, a single circuit board contains

power supply, control, initiating and notification circuitry.

• Some models use auxiliary circuit boards to perform special functions.

• Input/output devices connect to dedicated circuits.

• Designated outputs occur when initiating signals are received.

• Limited special functions and capabilities.

Conventional “Programmable” System

• Basic “Designed System”• Components selected by the designer to meet the

direct needs of the customer• Initiating circuits are programmable for fire,

waterflow, supervisory service, etc• Output circuits are programmable for code

selection and silenceability• On some systems, input-to-output CIRCUIT (not

device) mapping

Addressable System

• Each device (detector, pull station…) has a unique number assigned to it called “the address” for reporting alarms and troubles

• Employs a signaling line circuit (SLC) Loop along which all addressable input and output devices are connected to the fire alarm control panel

• Addressable devices transmit an electronic message back to the CPU representing their state (normal, alarm, trouble) when polled by the Control Unit

Analog (or Digital) Intelligent System• Always an addressable system• Processes detailed, analog data from detectors about

smoke levels• Can provide sensitivity data for each detectorUtilizes:• Drift compensation (self-calibration) in its

detectors/sensors (What’s the difference between a detector -based and a sensor-based system?)

• Adjustable sensitivity• Alarm verification

Sensor-based vs. detector-based systems

• A detector-based system is one where all decisions are relayed to the panel, which then acts on the information it has received—detectors make the alarm decisions

• A sensor-based system is one where the sensors collect information and relay that information to the panel, which then interrogates the data and makes the decisions—panels make the alarm decisions

Portable Fire Extinguishers

Fuel Classifications

Class A: Wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics—solids that are not metals

Class B: Flammable liquids—gasoline, oil, grease, acetone; includes flammable gases

Class C: Electrical—energized electrical equipment; ss long as it’s “plugged in”

Class D: Metals—potassium; aluminum; titanium; magnesium. Requires Metal-X, foam, and other special extinguishing agents specifically designed to extinguish Class D fires

Types of Fire Extinguishers1. Water (APW) Fire Extinguishers

Large silver fire extinguishers that stand about 2 feet tall and weigh about 25 pounds when full

APW stands for “Air-Pressurized Water”

Filled with ordinary tap water and pressurized air, they are essentially large squirt guns

Types of Fire Extinguishers1. Water (APW) Fire Extinguishers

APW’s are designed for Class A fires only: Wood, paper, cloth

Using water on a flammable liquid fire could cause the fire to spread

Using water on an electrical fire increases the risk of electrocution. If you have no choice but to use an APW on an electrical fire, make sure the electrical equipment is un-plugged or de-energized

Types of Fire Extinguishers1. Water (APW) fire extinguishers

APW’s extinguish fire by taking away the “heat” element of the Fire Triangle

Types of Fire Extinguishers2. Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers

CO2 ’s will frequently be found in laboratories, mechanical rooms, kitchens, and flammable liquid storage areas

CO2 ’s are designed for Class B and C(Flammable Liquids and Electrical Sources)fires only!

In accordance with NFPA regulations (and manufacturers’ recommendations), all CO2 extinguishers at OSU undergo hydrostatic testing and recharge every 5 years


CO2 is very cold as it comes out of the extinguisher, so it cools the fuel as well

Carbon dioxide is a non-flammable gas that takes away the oxygen element of the fire triangle; without oxygen, there is no fire

Types of Fire Extinguishers2. Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers

CO2 cylinders are red. They range in size from 5 lbs to 100 lbs or larger. On larger sizes, the horn will be at the end of a long, flexible hose

The pressure in a CO2

extinguisher is so great, bits of dry ice may shoot out of the horn!


Class A materials may also smolder and re-ignite

A CO2 extinguisher may be ineffective in extinguishing a Class A fire because it may not be able to displace enough oxygen to successfully put the fire out

Types of Fire Extinguishers3. Dry Chemical (ABC) Fire Extinguishers

The powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction of fire; these extinguishers are very effective at putting out fire

Dry chemical extinguishers put out fire by coating the fuel with a thin layer of dust; this separates the fuel from the oxygen in the air


Most “ABC” fire extinguishers are filled with a fine white or yellow powder and then pressurized with nitrogen

ABC extinguishers are red, usually ranging in size from 5 to 20 lbs


You may see them labeled:

• DC (for “Dry Chemical”)• ABC (can be used on Class A, B, or C fires)• BC (designed for use on Class B and C fires)

Dry chemical extinguishers come in a variety of types…

Clean Agent Suppression Systems

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Types of Automatic Sprinkler Systems

• Four types of automatic sprinkler systems :–Wet sprinkler systems– Dry sprinkler systems– Preaction sprinkler systems– Deluge sprinkler systems

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Wet Sprinkler Systems

• Most common and the least expensive type of automatic sprinkler system

• Piping always filled with water • As sprinkler head activates, water is immediately

discharged onto the fire• Major drawback: cannot be used in areas where

temperatures drop below freezing • Will also flow water if a sprinkler head is

accidentally opened or a leak occurs in the piping

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Dry Sprinkler Systems (1 of 2)

• Operate much like wet sprinkler systems, except that the pipes are filled with pressurized air instead of water

• A dry-pipe valve keeps water from entering the pipes until the air pressure is released

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Pre-action Sprinkler Systems

• Similar to a dry sprinkler system with one key difference: – A secondary device must be activated

before water is released into the sprinkler piping

– When the system is filled with water, it functions as a wet sprinkler system

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Deluge Sprinkler Systems (1 of 2)

• Water flows from all of the sprinkler heads as soon as the system is activated

• Does not have closed heads that open individually at the activation temperature; all of the heads in a deluge system are always open

Fire Alarm System Intangibles

If you’re considering a fire alarm system retrofit/upgrade, have you chosen a fire alarm system vendor who is putting your interests ahead of his own?

"Customers usually don’t know

what they’re getting--until they don’t; only when a customer doesn’t get what he bargained for does he realize what he bargained for."

The Marketing Imagination Theodore Levy

Proprietary vs. non-proprietary systems:

• All intelligent fire alarm systems are now password-protected to assure only authorized (and properly-trained) personnel have access to control panels to make system programming changes.

• What procedures, if any, must an owner follow to obtain necessary passwords from the manufacturer if he decides to assume for himself the responsibility to make those changes so that he may avoid purchasing a proprietary system? (Passwords, by the way, are useless without the software necessary to program the panel.)

• Can he make minor changes, such as enabling or

disabling a device, changing sensitivity or activating walk-test?

• (What is the service call charge for a making a change such as those just described if he cannot perform them himself?)

“Successful fire alarm system vendor shall include his annually-published price list, (and update it yearly), as part of his submittal package; any system adds must include a separate breakdown of both parts and labor; system submittals/system adds not including this information will be rejected.”

Consider adding this statement to your specification:

• What is the average response time to a service request?

• From how far away must a technician travel to respond to service request?

• Is there a minimum time /minimum billing charge?

• How much is it? • What are the hourly charges for an emergency

call during normal working hours?• After hours? • Weekends and/or holidays?

• For how long will these charges be honored?

• Will they be updated yearly?

• Warranty period emergency calls include parts—do they

include labor? • What is the length of the warranty period?

• How much inventory is maintained?

• How long does it take for parts to arrive?

• If it is determined during a service call that parts are needed, will there be additional billing for a return call created by a lack of sufficient inventory?

• What is the time-frame for maintaining inventory after the system is obsolete?

• Are the systems being provided backward

compatible? (Will all sensors function on all panels?)

• Has the possibility of installing a proprietary system been avoided by choosing a system vendor who has multiple outlets in given markets?

Fire Systems Service/T & I Contracts/Agreements

• Exterior cleaning of dust/dirt from head-end equipment

• Interior cleaning of head-end equipment as needed to insure reliable operation

• Cleaning of connectors, controls and switches used in the head-end assembly

• Cleaning and testing for normal function of 1/2 of all field devices

• Testing for normal function of head-end and user interface equipment

• Confirmation that all existing programming is correct• Testing for signal levels from all field devices

Fire alarm test and inspect provisions (on a six-month schedule):

• Batteries tested under load• A written report to the client following

completion indicating services performed and further repairs/replacements required for normal function

Test & inspect provisions (cont.):

Make Sure You Have These Manuals for Your System:

• Installation Manual • Operating Manual• Programming Manual

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If you have a proprietary system, you may experience difficulty obtaining a programming manual; you may be told those manuals were provided @ project completion. (Be prepared to pay for them, in any event.)

Familiarize yourself/your fire alarm vendor’s website and your

regional sales manager’s e-mail address and mobile phone #—and don’t hesitate to contact him/her if you get “suspicious” responses from a proprietary branch or a distributor or service provider or installing contractor.

And above all else, NEVER forget that you own your fire alarm system—not an electrical contractor, distributor or manufacturer; you’re NOT renting or leasing it from them. You paid for it and it’s yours.

Terminology• FACP - Fire Alarm Control Panel.• FACU - Fire Alarm Control Unit.• FCC - Federal Communications Commission• UL - Underwriters Laboratories• NFPA - National Fire Protection Agency.• AHJ, LAHJ - Authority Having Jurisdiction, Local AHJ• ADAAG - Americans with Disabilities Act

Accessibility Guidelines.• PoC - Products of Combustion• LED - Light Emitting Diode• IDC - Initiating Device Circuit• NAC - Notification Appliance Circuit• ELR, EOL - End of Line Resistor

Terminology• NEC - National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)• NEMA - National Electrical Manufacturing

Association• EIA - Electronics Industry Association• Cd - Candela• dB, dBA - Decibels• FWR - Full Wave Rectified• ANSI - American National Standards Institute• PIV - Post Indicator Valve• OS&Y - Outside Stem and Yoke Valves• SFPE - Society for Fire Protection Engineers• Shall - Indicates a mandatory requirement• Should - Indicates a recommendation or advisement

References

• NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code• NFPA 72 - National Fire Alarm Code• NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code• National Electrical Code Handbook, NFPA• Life Safety Code Handbook, NFPA• Fire Protection Handbook, NFPA• Fire Alarm Signaling Systems, NFPA

Thank you for your time, attention and interest today!

NACFM Basic Fire Alarm Technology for FMs

Engineering

Transcript of NACFM Basic Fire Alarm Technology for FMs