Fire Alarm Systems
Fire alarm systems keep you safe in the event of a fire. Every home owner should have adequate fire alarm systems installed in their home: they can protect the family in the event of a fire, and in some instances, reduce the cost of homeowner's insurance.
Fire alarm systems are installed in a home to keep a home safe in the event of a fire; they are sometimes part of a singular home protection system, and in other instances, are part of a complete security system. Building fire alarm systems are an important part of a fire protection plan and fire alarms have saved and continue to save many lives. Building fire alarm systems have a central control panel that is installed. Once the control panel has been properly installed, special smoke and heat detection equipment is connected to the control panel, as well as the appropriate alarms.
The control panel of fire alarm systems alerts a homeowner or a building resident when smoke or heat has been detected. An invaluable form of protection: fire alarm systems protect people even while they sleep by alerting the individual that there is a fire and waking them via the alarm. If the building fire alarm systems is part of a total security system, the homeowner or building resident is also forewarned in the event of an attempted intrusion.
Some fire alarm systems also include monitoring services: in the event of fire, the proper authorities including the police, ambulance and fire department are immediately contacted via the control panel. The authorities, once alerted to the fire, are then dispatched to the location. The sooner such authorities are contacted the better: the faster the fire can be controlled, the less damage the home or building may receive.
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Special, experienced engineers have their hand in the unique design of fire alarm systems. Many facets have had to be taken into consideration: specific requirements, HVAC lighting, fire barriers, electrical barriers, the alarm triggers and the alarms are all part of a good fire alarm system. The engineers must have a license to operate within a specified region and some engineers work hand-in-hand with a building’s architects. The truth is that every building or home design is unique, requiring a fire alarm system that is customizable. While a fire alarm has a number of generic components, the intricate wiring of the fire alarm system and the control panel must be installed correctly for the system to be effective. Engineers and technicians are trained in fire system installation so that, no matter what the building design, the fire system will be installed correctly.
Technicians provide the detailed component selection and layout for fire alarm systems. Most countries and states have special departments pertaining to fire management and control which are the sole bodies authorized to issue licenses to the engineers, architects and technicians in control of fire system design. The design must comply with model building codes as well as the recommendations of insurance companies.
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The trigger devices on fire alarm systems sense the presence of a fire and immediately go into action. There are separate detectors for heat, smoke, and switches for sprinklers. There is also a central fire alarm control panel that may be seen as the brain of the operation. It coordinates the signals and actions of the entire system. The fire alarm control unit or panel provides the required functions and has inputs and outputs. Power is of great importance in the fire alarm systems. While fire alarm systems rely on an adequate power supply to operate, in the event that the electricity fails, a battery takes over the system keeping the location protected at all times.
Special appliances trigger off fire alarms and a domino effect takes place. Users are notified and emergency personnel are summoned. Bells, horns, flashing lights, loudspeakers, or bold text displays matched with sound effects are some of the most common fire alarm warning signals. There are also signaling line circuits with wires that carry information. In addition, fire systems are equipped with supervisory signals as well. Supervisory signals are detecting devices that give out signals indicating any flaw in the system. The closed valves of the sprinkler units might be malfunctioning. Wiring fault is also notified. No minute detail is ignored when it comes to fire system monitoring. Finally, alarm systems also include functions like alarm silence and resetting of alarm; these features of building fire alarm systems are keypad controlled.
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Today’s fire alarm systems are complex systems that monitor a building or home for the appearance of unusual heat, the occurrence of smoke and they also detect carbon monoxide gases. In the case of a fire, every second counts: many lives are lost long before the fire even begins to thrive—smoke and carbon monoxide gases can take lives quickly. Thus, the detection of smoke and carbon monoxide gases is an important part of a complete fire alarm system.
Connected to the fire alarm system are devices to detect fire or smoke and to warn the residents immediately of the impending danger. In large buildings, the building fire systems contain a manual pull station or a manual call point near exit points, also known as manual pull boxes. Thermostat detectors note the rise and fall of heat and immediately trigger the alarm system. Valve supervisory switch indicates when a fire sprinkler system valve is to be opened or closed. If an individual sees an active fire, they can simply pull the lever within the box and the fire company will be alerted.
In contrast, for smaller, private homes, fire alarm systems usually contain fire detectors, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors, all of which are wired to a control panel. The control panel monitors the home 24 hours a day an alerts emergency personnel in the event that smoke, carbon monoxide or a fire is detected.
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The voice evacuation system, also known as the audio evacuation system, is a special type of fire alarm system. In addition to the usual sirens, horn, bells, and alarm tones, a voice evacuations system plays a voice message with instructions about evacuation. The messages can be customized to provide specific evacuation instructions and they can be presented in a multi-lingual fashion, ensuring the safety of all residents. What is the reasoning of installing this special device in addition to the usual ones like sirens and bells? The latter warns the occupants but does not direct the people about what to do next. In voice evacuation alarm systems the voice directs the residents on the safest way to evacuate the building and helps to eliminate the panic residents may feel.
Voice evacuation fire systems are often installed in buildings that are occupied by more than one thousand residents. A large number of people usually gather in churches, cinema halls, auditoriums, shopping malls, large restaurants, museums, and the like. There are special audio evacuation fire alarm systems that are capable of giving warnings about dangerous situations other than fire, for instance, a hazardous material spill, severe weather, or gas leak. The law has made it mandatory, in many instances, for the installation of the voice evacuation fire alarm system.
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Fire protection involves a multifaceted approach. Fire has to be carefully monitored and then compartmentalized before going into methods of suppression and dealing with emergencies. The technological advances that fire alarm systems have seen in the past decade are immense, but there are still other safety measures that people can take to ensure they remain safe in the event of a fire.
Fire extinguishers are excellent to have on hand. Fire extinguishers can help a building resident to manage a small fire, and to stop it before it gets out of control. Of course, fire extinguishers are not intended for use with fires that have raged beyond control and a tenant or homeowner should never risk their life in an attempt to put out a raging fire.
A preplanned escape route is advisable: any building tenant or home owner will be safer if they have multiple escape routes planned in the event of a fire. A tenant or homeowner should familiarize themselves with all of the different exits, and map out escape routes. Some people go as far as to ensure that they have rope ladders that will help them escape from a second floor of a home.
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Having fire alarm systems installed has its obvious advantages. People are protected, even while they sleep, if a fire should occur. A fire alarm will alert any and all individuals that a fire or the beginnings of a fire have been detected, and people can safely leave the premises before losing life or limb. Yet, there are other unseen and commonly unknown advantages to having a quality fire alarm system installed in a building or home.
Some insurance companies will offer reduced rates for building and/or homeowner’s insurance if the proper fire alarm systems are installed. In fact, many building and homeowners can receive up to 20 percent off of their regular insurance rates if they install a fire alarm system. Thus, fire alarms not only save lives, they can save property owners a significant amount of cash on a yearly basis. Finally, over a period of time, the amount of money saved on insurance will eventually pay off the investment in a fire alarm system.
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Fire alarm systems can be categorized into two different types. First, there is the passive fire protection, or PFP. Firewalls are built as also special floors and the fire compartments are meant to restrict the spread of fire throughout a location. Firewalls contain the spread of the fire and separate the occupants from it. The flow of the gases is also restricted and thus time is given for proper evacuation.
The second type of fire protection is active fire protection, or AFP. This includes manual or automatic detection devices. A complete fire alarm system is part of an AFP system. Many building owners incorporate a PFP and an AFP system to maximize the fire protection offered to building occupants and to minimize the amount of damage that may occur as a direct result of a fire.
Some fire protection systems embrace various properties of the two different types of fire protection systems. In an effort to maximize protection, every preventive measure is utilized. If a resident or homeowner also puts fire extinguishers and an escape route into the fire safety plan, they can rest assured in knowing that they are fully prepared in the event of a dangerous fire.
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Before the introduction of active fire protection (AFP) it was the passive variety (PFP) that was much in vogue in the world of fire alarm systems. With an increase in the use of fire alarm systems in the last fifty years, the passive system has taken a back seat. Still, there are some benefits to using a PFP system in conjunction with an AFP fire protection system. PFP may be more costly to install but requires very little maintenance. Once a PFP system is installed, it does not have to be monitored and it requires little maintenance over time.
The best fire alarm systems will incorporate both a PFP and an AFP system. The more tools used to protect residents in a building or home, the safer such residents will be. By approaching fire safety with every tool available, lives are saved and fire damage is minimized overall. Thus, a quality fire alarm system will include features like firewalls; smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors and the proper alerting features. Finally, the control panel of a fire alarm system can alert the appropriate emergency personnel to minimize injuries and life threatening situations.
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