Fire Alarm Services
Fire alarm systems: Design
Fully accredited specialist advice and guidance
Designing an effective and compliant fire system for a building means having a solid understanding of the all the relevant design standards involved along with the legal framework that surrounds building safety legislation.
The complex nature of fire system design standards and legislation means that consultation with all relevant parties is a critical part of the overall design process.
Basingstoke Fire Protection is fully accredited to provide the necessary specialist advice and guidance in all the relevant areas in fire prevention systems design.
An overview of a typical fire system design process
As a guide, the following describes what's typically involved designing a fire alarm system:
- Understand the underlying reasons for installing a fire alarm system
- Conducting an initial risk assessment to determine requirements
- Consult with all relevant parties
- Decide on the relevant design standard
- Establish if approval by a third party is required
- Agree on the alarm technology to be implemented
- Agree on the appropriate protection category
- Discuss and agree the overall fire strategy
- Plan how the building should be zoned
- Select and position all the relevant system components
- Select the most appropriate detectors for each particular area
- Site the detectors
- Select suitable call-points and position them where appropriate
- Agree on the method of contacting the fire authority
- Devise alarm signalling.
Download the BS5839 Booklet
This guide is intended to be an aid to designers and installers of fire detection systems. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for BS5839 which should be read in full.
In order to help identify the relevant sections, each diagram includes a reference to BS5839 Part 1.
Download the booklet here. [PDF]
'Open' and 'closed' protocols
'Protocol', in terms of electronic products, refers to the way in which the products communicate with each other and are described as 'open', 'closed', 'digital' and 'analogue'.
'Closed' protocols
In the fire detection industry, analogue addressable systems use control panels, detectors and devices (such as interfaces) which communicate with each other by means of a protocol. Some manufacturers offer both panels and detectors and have no need to disclose the nature of their protocol to anyone since they offer all the elements needed to provide an analogue addressable system.
No equipment supplied by other manufacturers is expected to be compatible with such systems so the protocol used is said to be 'closed'.
'Open' protocols
A number of manufacturers of detectors make no control panels. Instead, they've built up partnerships with independent panel manufacturers and other companies.
The detector manufacturer determines the protocol used by the detectors and publishes the information and technical data required by panel makers to design compatible panels. Since all details of the protocol must be disclosed, it is referred to as an 'open' protocol.
A principal supplier to Basingstoke Fire Protection, Apollo, has a digital, open protocol. For a fuller exploration of these issues, download Apollo's Protocols Information Sheet. [PDF]
Please contact us to discuss any any fire alarms service requirements you may have or for information on meeting your legal obligations in the workplace.
