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What is
a fire detection system - What type will I need? A fire detection
system comprises a central control panel, remote detectors,
fire alarm call points and sounders to raise an alarm in the
event of a fire. When specifying a fire detection and alarm
system, the new " fire precautions
in the workplace regulations 1997 ", with the 1971 act must
be examined. This legislation includes risk assessment
and stipulates measures that the user / occupier must take
to safeguard buildings or premises from the risk of fire.
Consideration must also be made to ensure the system meets
the requirements of British Standards
BS5839 pt 1: 2002. It is always advisable to consult
the local fire prevention officer or building officer about
legislation for particular premises.
There
are two predominant types of fire detection systems; conventional
and analogue addressable.
A conventional
system uses detectors that have two states, normal or fire.
If there is a fire the control panel identifies the general
area or zone where the fire has started and activates alarm
sounders. This type of system is generally suited to small
and medium sized premises. Our primary ranges of conventional
systems are " Firetec
" for smaller systems and " Eurofire
" for medium systems.
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analogue addressable system
uses sensors to indicate the precise location in which the fire
or fault has occurred. A pre - alarm threshold mechanism helps
the panel to recognise a possible early warning from a sensor.
The sensors convert an analogue reading to a digitally encoded
output representing the ambient state in the vicinity of the
sensing position. The sensors provide the information to enable
the control panel to determine if there is a fire or a fault.
Analogue sensors can be individually interrogated from the control
panel to check their status at any time. This type of system
is suited to larger premises where extensive areas can be covered
efficiently by the advanced loop configuration. The
cost of small single loop panels being more competitive over
medium sized conventional ones it is becoming increasingly favourable
to install an analogue system in medium and smaller premises.
There is however a third system, a relatively new concept with
state of the art technology called 2 wire, so called as both
the detectors and sounders are wired onto the same pair of wires
making for a much quicker installation of a new system but is
of particular advantage to system upgrades in guest houses and
hotels where a new system can be installed on existing wiring
and the requirement of 75 db can be achieved in bedrooms with
the addition of discreet sounder bases without the installation
of any extra wiring. |
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requirement for emergency lighting originates from the Fire
Precautions Act 1971 and this is further enforced by the Fire
Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, as amended by the
Fire Precautions (Workplace Amendment) Regulations 1999. These
and other related documents introduce the concept of risk assessment.
This puts the onus of compliance to the regulations on the person
with responsibility e.g. building designer, owner, employer
or competent person. Premises with 20 or more employees still
require the issue of a fire certificate to show adequate fire
precautions are in place. However, even with a fire certificate,
a risk assessment is still a
requirement.
The risk
assessment is a multi-stage process which guides the assessor
or competent person from identifying the risks and the need
for fire precautions, to reducing those risks down to acceptable
levels. In reducing those risks the need for emergency lighting
will be established. If a decision to install emergency lighting
has been made the British Standard Codes of Practice for the
emergency lighting of premises, BS 5266 parts 1 and 7: 1999,
should be followed. When designing a system the emergency
lighting luminaries should conform to the harmonised British
and European product standard BSEN 60598-2-22. A specifier
wanting to install good quality safety products should ensure
the products are certified and marked to this standard.
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A
guide to the Intercall 600 Nursecall System: The
Intercall 600 system is the best selling nursecall system
in the UK and has recently earned itself the privilege of
being the only range of nursecall systems recommended by the
National Care Home Association. This non-speech system boasts
numerous features all designed to make it user friendly for
both staff and patients alike. With five levels of call, programmable
text, staff present mode, call logging and the ability to
have up to 215 call points on the system, it is no wonder
that the Intercall 600 out performs the competition. Installation
is made simple with a two-wire system that can also be fitted
on existing wiring, reducing installation costs.
There
is also another system the Intercall 700 which will give you
all the above but with the addition of a two-way speech facility.
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