FIRE SAFETY
a lot more flexible when it comes to system design. Unsurprisingly, Nittan chose to use the FSK protocol in our Evolution fire detection systems.
Product range
Poorer quality fire detection systems frequently have a limited range of devices and accessories, meaning you may have to take a mix and match approach to get the system you want, which isn’t ideal. It’s far better to create a fire detection system from one manufacturer, as the different elements of that system have been designed to work in harmony for end-to- end system performance. If you start using different manufacturers’ devices within one system, and it isn’t performing as you expect, who is to blame? Which company do you turn to for assistance? If it’s all sourced from one manufacturer, the answer is simple.
Better quality systems also frequently come with more innovative product. A smoke sensor with a built-in sounder, for example, saves you the cost of buying two separate products, i.e. the sensor and a separate base or wall mount sounder, plus it is quicker to install, and doesn’t require any additional wiring. Neither does it require a separate device address point. Nittan’s EV- PYS Sensor with built in-sounder, for example, could save at least 15/20 minutes per point to install when compared with fitting separate sounder products. When you are dealing with a large system, this becomes a significant saving. Of course, this solution has the added bonus of being more aesthetically pleasing.
Addressing false alarms raised by steam
In many cases, these innovative products have been designed to solve specific problems that customers have identified, and that manufacturers have then fed back into the R&D process. Designed specifically to address the issue of false alarms caused by steam, Nittan’s EV-DP and EV-DPH sensors are a good example of this. They feature Dual Optical technology, which uses the standard infra- red light, plus a second blue LED, to provide a more accurate measurement of
expansion, but you need to have a good quality system in place first.
A smoke sensor with a built-in sounder saves the cost of buying two separate products, and is also quicker to install.
particles within the chamber. By calculating the ratio of these light sources, which operate at different wavelengths, the detector can determine the particle size, and thus distinguish between smoke and non-combustion products such as steam and dust.
Installation times
A considerable part of the cost of a fire detection system can be attributed to labour. Seeking out equipment that is quick and straightforward to install and commission is therefore a sound approach. Better quality systems nearly always have this aspect designed into them, so that while they may come at a higher price, they work out to be quicker to install, and therefore more cost-effective, than their cheaper counterparts.
This doesn’t only apply to the devices, but also to the control panels. Good quality control panels come with a number of time-saving features, ranging from simple ‘select & click’ programming for engineer configuration, through to ‘installer-friendly’ touchscreens, Auto-learn, Loop Detection, and On-board Scope facilities for ease of commissioning and fault finding. These panels often come with remote diagnostics, which makes for a quicker resolution, and has the added benefit of reducing the number of tradespeople on a hospital or other healthcare site.
System expansion
Buildings are frequently reconfigured to take into account extensions and change in usage. When this occurs, the fire detection system will also need to be adapted to ensure that it provides the correct level of protection.
Dual Optical devices accurately distinguish between smoke and non- combustion products such as steam.
86 Health Estate Journal September 2021
This can be disruptive, time-consuming, and expensive, but can be minimised if, in the first instance, you install a panel that allows a peer-to-peer network. Panels that use this can easily expand the system to enable the panel to communicate with any other compatible fire panel, remote terminal, or network peripheral. Some Nittan panels require the addition of a network card to facilitate this, but our evolution1 panel even comes complete with an integral network card at no additional cost. There are other methods of reducing the negative impact of system
Training and technical support I doubt if there’s a person reading this that hasn’t at some point bought something online that’s ‘super cheap’, and then regretted not buying it from a reputable company when something goes wrong, as there is then no recourse, and no help. The same applies to professional products and services, including fire detection systems. Reputable manufacturers who make good quality products are there to provide you with the support you and your installer might need, including problem resolution site visits.
‘Buyer beware’
A good quality fire detection system doesn’t just meet the minimum criteria set down in the relevant standards; it has had years of industry experience and substantial R&D resources put into its design and manufacture, to deliver a system that is reliable, that understands the needs of the installer and end-user, and that is forward-looking. To dismiss these benefits and opt for a low-cost, low-quality system is ultimately a false economy.
hej
Lee James
Lee James, General manager, Product Marketing, at Nittan Europe, has over 25 years’ dedicated fire industry experience. His commercial astuteness was acquired by having spent some 15 years in product management, as well as marketing and sales. His background in electrical engineering gives him a strong technical insight within this industry. He has industry leadership experience, having previously been a member of the UK Fire Industry Association – Extinguishing Committee and various working groups. He also represented the British Standards Institute as a UK Technical Expert on the CEN committee drafting an EN standard – Reduced Oxygen Systems for Fire Prevention.
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