Fire Alarm and

Detection Systems
S.Sathananthan
Lecture 3
Fire Protection Systems
Need for Fire Alarm Systems

 In larger premises, fire could

develop to extent of blocking
escape routes before fire is
discovered.
 Hence, effective means for early
detection of fire is necessary.
Functions of Fire Alarm System
 Once fire signal detected, actions of
fire alarm system:
 Notify occupants of fire outbreak and:
Begin evacuation procedures
Implement fire emergency
procedures
Notify Fire Service through Alarm
Monitoring Station (DECAM)
Functions of Fire Alarm System
 Initiate secondary functions:
shut-down air-handling equipment
release door hold-open devices
start smoke exhaust systems
Start pressurisation systems,
emergency lift recall
indicate zone where detector
activates
 Functions of Fire Alarm System
Fire Alarm Sounders
Alarm
Panel Alarm Monitoring
Automatic Fire
Alarm System Station

recalls passenger lifts

Manual Call
activates smoke exhaust
Points System
systems
activates staircase
pressurisation systems
indicates zone where
detector activates
De-energise door stoppers
Open sliding doors
Power Supply
Occupancy Building Total Floor Area Alarm Type
Type Height (per storey in m2)*

400
Single storey Manual
Office
2 to 4 storeys 200 Manual
More than 4
Not relevant Automatic
storeys
Single storey 2000 Manual
Storage
2 to 4 storeys 1000 Manual

More than 4 Not relevant

storeys Automatic

* in excess of which alarm must be provided

Manual Fire Alarm Systems
 Consists of manual call points, wired
together with alarm system with
normally open contacts.
 Usually of break-glass type.
 Breaking of glass closes electrical
contacts and activate alarm.
 Effective only when people are
present to raise alarm in event of fire.
Manual call point
Normal Condition
Manual call
points
System on Power supply

Zone 3 Zone 2 Zone 1

Alarm
Alarm off
bells
Fire Alarm
Panel
Fire Condition
Manual
Brea call points
k System on Power supply
Glass
!

Alarm on
Alarm
bells
sound Fire Alarm
Panel
Fire Code Requirements of
Manual Alarm Call Points
 Bright red in colour of break-glass
type.
 Provide on every storey of
building.
 Fixed at 1.4 metres above floor.
 Clearly visible, easily accessible,
free from obstructions.
Fire Code Requirements of
Manual Alarm Call Points
 Travel distance: 30 metres
 Located on exit routes:
next to hose-reels
on floor landings of exit
staircases
at exits to street
Automatic Fire Alarm Systems
 Consists of automatic detectors, such
as smoke and heat detectors, wired
together with alarm system for
providing continuous surveillance and
early detection.
 May include manual call points system.
 May incorporate fire suppression
systems, such as an automatic fire
sprinkler system.
Essential Features
 Reliable source of power supply
for transmitting and receiving alarm
detection signal.
 Secondary power supply: battery
system used for backing-up when
main power supply fails.
 Supervision of detector signal is
required so that any faults due to
open or short circuits will be
indicated and located.
Conventional Fire Alarm Panel
or Fire Indicator Board
Conventional
FAP Indicator
Zoning for Fire Alarm Systems
 Where protected area is large, divide it
into smaller zones.
 Each zone shall have own group of
detectors.
 Easy for fire fighters to readily locate
area of fire origin.
 Zoning is carried out as follows:
 onezone for each floor and each fire
compartment.
 Each zone not exceeding 2000 m2.
Types of Automatic Fire
Alarm Detectors
 Heat Detectors
 Fixed Temperature
 Rate-of-rise Temperature

 Smoke Detectors
 Ionisation
 Photoelectric
Description of Heat Detectors

 Respond to convective heat transfer

from smoke of fire.
 Less sensitive than smoke
detectors.
 Should not be used in fire protection
of places where a small fire will
cause unacceptable losses, such as
computer rooms.
Heat detectors – Fixed temperature
detectors Fixed temperature
detectors are activated at
the rated temperature.
They are not capable of
detecting a developing fire.
Fixed temperature
detectors are relatively less
sensitive and slow in
detecting fires
Example: Bimetallic strip
detectors
Rate-of-rise Temperature
Heat Detectors
 Responds when temperature rises
abnormally quickly, far exceeding
natural changes due to
environment.
 To allow for normal fluctuations of
temperature, compensating
element is added.
Rate-of-rise Temperature
Heat Detectors
Rate-of-rise Temperature
Heat Detectors
 Set to respond to rates-of-rise of
temperatures above 10o C per
minute.
 Helps to eliminate false alarms due
to changes in environmental
temperature.
 Because of its higher sensitivity,
rate-of-rise heat detectors are
preferred to fixed temperature types
 Alarm
A
Power
supply

Upper Electrical heat detector housing

contact

Lower Electrical air

flexible diaphragm
contact

Heat Detector : Normal Condition

 Alarm sounds
A
Power
supply

Electrical contacts
close
air
flexible diaphragm expands

Heat Detector : Fire Condition

Location of Heat Detectors
 Heat detectors must be installed at
highest point of ceiling.
 If ceiling is constructed of beams less
than 300 mm deep, heat detector may
be installed on underside of beam.
 Distance between heat detectors for
flat ceilings should not exceed 7.2
metres for open areas and 10.2
metres for corridors.
 3.6 m 7.2 m 7.2 m

3.6 m

Heat detector

7.2 m

Given dimensions are for maximum spacing

Spacing of Heat Detectors for Open Areas

 10.2 m
5.1 m

3.5 m
Heat detector

Spacing of Heat Detectors for Corridors

Smoke Detectors
 Able to detect fire early.
 Allows emergency personnel to respond.
 Preferred detection method in life safety
and high content value applications.
 More expensive to install and prone to
false alarms.
 When properly selected and designed,
can be highly reliable.
 Two types: ionisation and
photoelectric or optical type.
Ionisation Type Smoke Detector
 Radio active source amplifier

Alpha particles

electrode To alarm circuit

Normal electric
Current flow

Positively charged ions Negatively charged ions

Ionisation type smoke detector :

Normal operation
 Radio active source amplifier

To alarm circuit
Electric current
Flow reduces
triggering alarm
smoke

Ions reduced

Ionisation type smoke detector :

Fire operation
Photoelectric or Optical
Smoke Detector

 Light scattered in a chamber if

smoke is present.
 More sensitive to large particles
such as smouldering fire, but less
sensitive to small particles such as
flaming fires.
Smoke Detector
 Parallel Light
Beam

Light Source Photocell

Lens
Lens

Photoelectric Type Smoke Detector :

Normal Operation
 Light Beam Scattered

Light Source Photocell

Lens

Smoke Particles

Photoelectric Type Smoke Detector :

Fire situation
Location of Smoke
Detectors
 Since installation of beams affect air
flow, smoke detectors, smoke detector
may be installed on underside of beam
for ceilings exceeding 4 metres in
height.
 Distance between smoke detectors for
flat ceilings should not exceed 10.2
metres for open areas and corridors.
Flame detectors
 Flame detectors are like a human eye.
 They have a vision angle for scanning the
area.
 Flame detectors are used in industrial
applications.
 Infra-red flame detectors
 Ultra-violet flame detectors
Infra-red scanning radiation detectors
Thank you