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Showing posts from February, 2018

FDAS | Emergency Communication Systems

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  Emergency Communication Systems (ECS) are designed to alert and evacuate occupants of a building in case of emergency situations. This is a segment of an Fire Detection and Alarm System that broadcasts the existence of a fire or an emergency situation, or sends information necessary to facilitate an appropriate action. ECS Basic Types Emergency Voice Alarm Communication (EVAC) This is a segment of an Fire Detection and Alarm System that broadcasts information during an emergency to the occupants of a building or facility and instructs appropriate actions to them, such as evacuating. it is conveyed by audible or visible means, or both. Two-way Emergency Communications System This is a segment intended for use by the building fire safety personnel or by the fire fighters and first responders to both exchange information and to communicate information, such as condition of local environment, condition of persons, to give assurance that help is on the way, or any other instructions. ...

Why we use the end of line resistor in fire alarm system?

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  Kidde EOL-15 End of Line Resistor 15K Ohm The function of an end of line (EOL) resistor is to monitor the integrity of the circuit in a fire alarm system. This is achieved by placing the resistor at the end of the wiring loop, completing the electrical circuit. The control panel of the fire alarm system continuously monitors the resistance of the circuit, which should match the resistance value of the EOL resistor. Any changes from readings may indicate a potential issue, prompting the system to signal a trouble condition. An EOL resistor should always be installed as the last device in the loop and never inside the control panel. Placing resistors anywhere other than the end of the line does not serve a purpose. Open Circuit Detection When there is a break in the wiring or a device is disconnected, it creates an open circuit. This means that the electrical current cannot complete its path through the circuit, resulting in an increase in resistance. The EOL resistor, pl...

FDAS | Notification Appliances

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    The alarm sound from audible notification appliances shall b e clearly audible throughout the floor and / or  building in which they are installed. It should be sufficient to warn and initiate evacuation of all occupants for whom the alarm sound is intended. A sufficient number of audible notifications appliances shall be used to produce a minimum sound level of 65 dBA, or 10 dB above the ambient noise level having a duration of at least 30 seconds, whichever is greater, measured 1.4 meters above the floor in the area required to be served by the system. The sound level produced by audible notification appliances and the ambient noise combined shall not exceed 115 dBA. If the sound level required is higher than 115 dBA, visual notification appliances such as strobes shall be used in addition to the audible notification appliances generating the maximum allowable sound level. In bars, nightclubs, and other entertainment places where the ambient noise level is high, the...

FDAS | Deciding between a Single Panel and a Network Panel

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  Each building shall have at least one fire alarm control panel (FACP). However, two or more panels networked together shall be required in the following setting below. ♦ If the number of buildings in a multi-building complex exceeds three, or; ♦ If the total floor area of all the buildings in a multi-building  complex exceeds 40,000 square meters. For each panel in the network shall protect approximately the same floor area.   In a network of panels, there shall be at least one network display that shows the alarms and troubles of all panels in the network. The network display shall also be able to acknowledge, silence, and reset all alarms and trouble alerts. Location and Environments The fire alarm control panel or network display shall be located in the fire command center of the building or complex. In the absence of a fire command center, it should be located ideally in a position clearly visible from the main entrance of a lobby. However, if it is located in anoth...

FDAS | Design Requirements

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    The general purpose of a Fire Detection and Alarm System is to detect at the earliest  stage of a fire, and to give a announce via an alarm to alert the occupants so that appropriate action can be decided. The alert display within the FDAS shall also be notified  so that an appropriate action and maintenance can be initiated to keep the system in normal operating condition at all times. All the individual components of an Fire Detection and Alarm System shall be compatible with each other. Suggest to have one brand for a system. All system equipment shall be approved and listed by institutions  recognized by the relevant authority, and suitable for use in the Philippines, considering ambient conditions such as temperature and relative humidity, and electricity supply of 220 Vac at 60 Hz. If any equipment is located in an area where it is exposed to corrosion, high humidity, extreme temperature or other special condition, the design and installation shall be ...

FDAS | Central Station Alarm Monitoring for Commercial Establishments

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  Photo Credits | Macrovector   If necessary all installed Fire Detection and Alarm System should subscribe to the alarm monitoring services of a central station. All alarm signals received by the monitoring central station shall be forwarded or redirected to the nearby fire fighting authorities. The competence of the operators of the central station shall be certified by the manufacturer of the receiving system of equipment, or by an organization acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Central station monitoring services are the best way to maintain peace of mind and keep your establishment secured 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Central station alarm monitoring connects your alarm systems to an Underwriters Laboratory (U.L.) listed Central Station which is expected to respond any time an alarm is triggered. The central station will then notify the appropriate authorities of the incident so that help comes quickly. This can be very important if no one is on the ...

Fire Detection and Alarm System and R A 9292

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I have a presentation to electronics engineering students in Iligan Institute of Technology – Mindanao State University, the title “ Fire Detection and Alarm System” or FDAS. Safety is a common word we hear in industries but some of the world seems to ignore this and the obvious reason was that the city enforcement of laws are weak. The goal was to spread the awareness on RA9292, the electronics engineering law inclusion to the National Building Code which is crucial to protect building occupants from harm and prevent damage to property. There are 3 important phases of fire detection and alarm system; the time element, notification (manual and automatic alarm) and activation. The idea of FDAS was to sense signs of fire and alert personnel to prevent fire from getting bigger. Why do we need FDAS when we already have some fire extinguisher?  To answer that question lets discuss the fire department response time. First the ignition where combustion starts and fire grows undete...

FDAS | Areas where detections is not necessary

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These are areas in the establishment where detectors are not necessarily required. ♦ Toilet and or bathroom with a floor area of less than 4 square meter. ♦ Exhaust ducts exhausting from toilets and or bathrooms. ♦ Any walk-in type enclosure with a floor area not more than 1 square meter provided its content is of minimal fire risk, or one with floor area not more than 0.5 square meter if it contains electrical or communication equipment. ♦ The spaces under raised floor with a height of 250 mm or less. ♦ The spaces above drop ceiling with a height of 1 meter or less without combustible materials. ♦ Concealed spaces under the roof with a height of 1 meter or less without combustible materials. ♦ Covered paths, balconies, open-sided covered walkways and staircases, overhanging roof areas, verandas, provided they are not used for storage of goods. ♦ The area under structures  such as platforms, ducts, and the like, within a protected  room or areas, which are less than 3 meters i...

FDAS | Areas where detection is required

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  These are areas or spaces where detection is required. ♦ The spaces under raised floor more than 600mm in height. If conventional detection are used, they should be wired as a separate alarm zone. ♦ The spaces above drop ceiling more than 1 meter in height. If conventional detection are used, they should be wired as a separate alarm zone. ♦ Concealed spaces under the roof more than 1 meter in height. If conventional detectors are used, they should be wired as a separate alarm zone. ♦ Stairwells, with detection at each floor level. ♦ Return air ducts of air conditioning system using sampling tubes. ♦ Tunnels linking two or more buildings. ♦ Vaults or the like. ♦ Vertical shafts. In places of assembly, the stage and enclosed platform used in occupancy. The Enclosed Platform , is a partially enclosed portion of an assembly room the ceiling of which is not more than one hundred fifty five centimeters (155cm) above the proscenium opening of which is designed or used for the presentati...

FDAS | General Requirements II

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  The Fire Detection and Alarm System SHALL comply with the installation requirements specified on Philippine Electronics Code Book II (Chapter 3). The properly designed, installed, and accepted Fire Detection and Alarm System SHALL undergo an annual testing and inspection by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for reacceptance (refer to PEC II Chapter 4). The primary power supplied to the fire alarm control panel, and to the entire system, SHALL be from a DEDICATED and EXCLUSIVE branch circuit. The secondary power supply SHALL have sufficient capacity to operate the system under normal non-alarm condition for a minimum of 24 hours, and at the end of that period, capable of operating all alarm notification appliances and emergency communications system for a period of 30 minutes. Detectors, manual fire alarm stations, notifications appliances, emergency communications devices, and annunciators SHALL be installed throughout all parts of the building, facility, structure, or hous...

FDAS | General Requirements I

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    All buildings, facilities, houses, structures, and premises, except those specified here, SHALL have a Fire Detection and Alarm System that complies with the requirements of the Philippine Electronics Code book II (Fire Detection and Alarm System), and also provision of RA 9514. The Fire Detection and Alarm System SHALL be for the protection of life or property, or both, by detecting and notifying the existence of fire, smoke, heat, or other emergencies that impact and affect the protected premises. The Fire Detection and Alarm System SHALL have one or more of the following functions, specified below. ♦ Automatic detection of smoke and/or heat, and manual fire alarm signal initiation. ♦ Activation of fire alarm notification appliances. ♦ Emergency communications system. ♦ Activation of annunciators. ♦ Monitoring of abnormal conditions in fire suppression system. ♦ Activation of fire safety functions. ♦ Transmission of alarm signal to an off-premise Central Station. The Fir...

FDAS | Power Suppy Options

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  The Power supply is the source of electricity that provides the power needed to operate the Fire Alarm Control Panel and including all devices connected to it. A fire alarm system serves many functions and the differences between the functions can be a bit confusing, so I created a visual guide to fire alarm basics. A fire alarm system is an important part of the overall fire protection and life safety of a building. Primary Power This is the 220Vac power supply voltage from the electrical utility company. Inside the Fire Alarm Control Panel it is then converted to the system voltage of 24Vdc. An engine-driven generator (this is not a standby generator, or a site generator meeting the requirements in NFPA 72), and Stored-Energy Emergency Power Supply System (SEPSS), or a co-generation system. Secondary Power In case of power failure of the primary power supply, the batteries (serving as the secondary power supply) automatically switch over to provide uninterrupted power to th...

The Difference Between Addressable and Conventional Fire Alarm Systems

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Photo Credits | Georg Pik In both residential and commercial settings, fire alarm systems serve as indispensable tools for detecting and promptly notifying individuals of fire emergencies. Given the hazard fires present to life and property, it is essential to choose an appropriate fire alarm system to ensure the safety of our business. Selecting the right system will ultimately depend on the fire safety needs of your home or business, as well as your budget.   Fire alarm systems are essential for the early detection and notification of fire emergencies. Two common types of fire alarm systems used in residential and commercial buildings are conventional and addressable fire alarms.    Conventional Fire Alarms They consist of multiple fire detectors and devices connected to a central control panel. The detectors are divided into zones , and each zone is associated with a specific area or floor of the building. When a fire is detected in a particular zone, the corr...