Feature Fire Safety Offering control panel guidance Paul Bennett, managing director of Fascia Graphics, offers some
advice on how to choose a keypad or overlay for a fire/security panel Left and below: control panels are a key component of fire and
T
he London bombings in July 2005 and the riots across the UK in 2011 saw a surge in investment in the fire and security industry. As a consequence, the UK’s security industry is now worth £1bn with busi- nesses having turned to manufacturers to provide cutting edge systems. A vital component of these fire and security systems are the control panels which need to incorporate a simpli- fied, but very effective design. As a result, graphic overlays and membrane keypads have been growing in popu-
larity across the industry over the last few years, as manufacturers avoid older and more bulky keypads. These are chosen by manufacturers in the sector as they are extremely robust and can handle a variety of extreme conditions. Keypads are also versatile, and can be used on a variety of different products including elec- tronic access control panels and CCTV, intruder alarms, fire detection and control panels, gates, barriers, door entry systems and backlit aircraft in- flight panels and control displays. In many cases, flame retardants can be incorporated into the manufactur- ing process. For instance, Fascia man- ufactures keypads and overlays which incorporate Lexan flame retardant clear polycarbonate films that have a listing of UL94-V0. These films are suitable for most applications and can be used effectively when thermoform- ing, hydroforming, embossing, die-cut- ting, folding and bending.
Help is at hand
Before going into production, it’s a good idea to get some advice from an experienced manufacturer. Fascia are able to advise on the steps to take when thinking of producing a mem- brane keypad or graphic overlay,
which would include: ●
Appearance - a tailor-made design
Protection for Dubai International Airport’s new A380 concourse T
he new Concourse A of Dubai International Airport, officially opened in January this year, has had 265 Fireray end to end infrared beam smoke detectors installed as part of its fire pro- tection system. There are now a total of 860 Fireray products installed throughout the airport’s four terminals, which feature the type of high ceilinged indoor areas that the range is well suit- ed to protect.
The new Concourse A is the world’s only purpose built facility for the Airbus A380 (in operation), and also features the world’s first multi-level boarding for first and business class passengers directly from the respective lounges. Concourse A consists of a public space of 528,000m2
spread across 11 floors, and the
capacity to handle 15 million passengers a year. The lounges span the entire length of the concourse,
18 security systems
can include embossing techniques, chrome ink technology or a brush fin-
Shielding - overlays and keypads can be shielded from radio frequency interference (RFI) and electromagnetic
ished stainless steel effect. ●
waves (EMC). ●
Sealability - Fascia has the ability to IP (ingress protect) keypads up to IP68,
Backlighting or LEDs - fibre optics, surface mounted light emitting diodes (LEDs) or electro-luminescent back illumination can be incorporated into any design.
to prevent water or dirt intrusion. ●
Fascia Graphics
www.fasciagraphics.co.uk T: 01249 460 606
Enter 210
making them the largest in the world, and feature high ceilings, a sweeping architectural design and modern aesthetics throughout. The Fireray’s ability to detect smoke over a 100m path between the trans- mitter and receiver heads, coupled with its minimal- ist visual impact and easy installation made a good choice to protect the facility. The first Fireray products were installed in the
airport 15 years ago, and have suited the environ- ment and served their purpose since then to the extent that they have been specified again and again for refits, renovations and new additional developments. The latest installation of 265 Fireray end to end units was supplied by Jamal al Majid, local Dubai agent for Edwards. Fireray
www.ffeuk.com T: 01462 444 740
Enter 211 MAY 2013 Electrical Engineering
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