Most of fires that has led to destruction of property and lives could have been prevented were there mechanisms in place to alert occupants of a fire incidence. Installing a fire alarm system is essential in protecting you and your loved ones from fires. There are several fire alarm systems in the market and as such knowing which system will best work for your unique situation and setting is key. In addition to conformity to BS standards, the system you choose will greatly depend on your fire risk assessment, budget and requirements of occupants.
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| Fire Alarm System |
A fire alarm system is composed of alarm initiating devices, alarm notification appliances, fire control units, power supplies and wiring. It is usually set to work automatically and in some cases manually. The detectors sense certain levels of smoke or heat indicating presence of fire and the the sounders are set off to alert occupants of fire.
Which fire alarm system would you go for?
(a) Conventional fire alarm systems
These ones work by dividing a building into a number of zones with detectors and call points wired in a dedicated circuit to the control panel. Each zone requires a set of wires and a zone. When fire is detected, the control panel indicates from which the zone is coming from but the specific point of fire has to be searched manually.
They are unable to differentiate a false alarm signal to an actual fire signal thus detects even tobacco smoke, dust or steam. This leads to false alarm. However, they are very cost effective especially for smaller buildings.
(b) Addressable Fire Alarm system
These ones maintains a constant two way communication from the device to the control panels. Each device is allocated its own unique identity in the panel and thus in case of a fire incidence, the control panel identifies the specific device that sent a signal. This allows for someone to pinpoint the exact position of fire thus saving on time as you will not need to search for the device that produced the signal. There is reduced risk of false alarm signals as they are intelligent and able to differentiate between a real fire signal and a false alarm signal.
(c) Wireless Fire Alarm Systems
This is a full analogue addressable system but without the cabling. It utilises radio frequencies to link devices in a system. They are very expensive to purchase but easy to install, eliminates the need for cable tests after installations and very much suited in buildings where wiring is prohibited or might be difficult to carry out.
(d) Aspirating Fire Alarm System.
They are very sensitive and can detect fires at the very early stages far much quicker than any other system. They work by constantly analysing and sampling the surrounding air. They draw in air by fans, or pipe and holes. The drawn in air is passed through a highly sensitive precision detectors which analyses the air and generates warning of potential fire when smoke particles are detected. They should only be used where early warning signs is required as they are very expensive to install and maintain.
(e) Special Alarm For Deaf and Voice Systems
These systems are specifically designed for those with hearing impairment. The fire alarm system is allowed to connect to a pager which receives a message and vibrates in case of fire.
In large busy spaces with numerous exits, there is prerecorded voice message issuing out instructions and fire safety steps in case a fire is detected.
Which ones would you go for?
Relemech Services LTD, will design a system precisely to your situation and requirement. We will precisely determine the number of devices in your system and ensure that you will have a reliable system that will alert you in good time in case of a fire incidence. Call us on +254780122255 or email us: info@relemech.co.ke.
