FEATURE FIRE & SECURITY SKY-HIGH SAFETY


floors cannot use lifts in a fire emergency, therefore limiting their means of escape, and potentially significantly slowing down evacuation. This concern is heightened again when considering the needs of the very old, very young, and those with mobility issues, who need the greatest period of time possible to exit in an emergency. For this reason, interconnected alarm systems are growing in popularity in high rises. An interconnected system means that every CO, smoke and heat alarm in the building is linked, and if one is triggered, all of the others will also activate. This ensures that every occupant is alerted to the danger, no matter where in the building they are, thus speeding up their evacuation and providing as much time as possible to contact emergency services and to assist vulnerable occupants. Honeywell’s wireless interconnected


home safety system, for example, uses a flood type network; ensuring interconnected alarms send and receive information from each alarm in the network. Therefore, the time taken for every alarm to sound is significantly reduced, crucially allowing more time to evacuate in an emergency. Wireless systems offer a number of


When it comes to the detection of carbon monoxide (CO), smoke and heat, it is crucial to be aware of the most effective alarm systems and where to site them for the greatest level of safety, says Emma Segelov, of Honeywell


C


onstruction of high-rise buildings has grown rapidly in recent years,


and this brings a new challenge when it comes to fire safety. According to recent figures, there is an average of two fires a day in London apartment blocks alone. Fortunately, electricians are able to provide essential advice on CO, smoke and heat alarm provision when working on a high- rise project. This helps to ensure occupants are given the maximum evacuation time possible in the event of a CO leak or fire. Alarm systems themselves can also provide an easy upsell opportunity to help electricians generate extra revenue from a job.


2 MAY 2017 | ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 6 Fundamentally, all buildings, especially


tall buildings, need to have comprehensive processes to ensure occupants are appropriately alerted to any dangers as quickly as possible. The challenge presented here lies in alerting an entire building to a problem that has developed in one area. For example, in the case of a dangerous CO presence or outbreak of fire, an alarm might alert those in the immediate vicinity, and potentially those nearby, but not


necessarily those on other floors. This poses a serious issue and means that certain individuals may not be


alerted to a hazard in their building until it has developed into a seriously threatening


situation. This is especially problematic when we consider that those on higher


benefits, not least that they are quick, easy and cost effective to install. Wireless systems that incorporate high-quality, sealed units are just as reliable as wired variations, especially if the alarms can be locked to the wall for protection against damage or tampering. In addition, wireless options keep disruption to a minimum and avoid the risk of potential damage to wires in a wired system. Given the benefits these systems can


offer in terms of alerting occupants throughout the entirety of a building, it seems likely that safety conscious building managers will increasingly be investing in interconnected CO, fire and heat alarms. This comprehensive approach to safety is compounded by the CO and fire safety regulations, which came into effect in 2015. This legislation tightened parameters on home safety in the rented property sector, requiring landlords to install a smoke alarm on every floor of each property, and a CO alarm in any room that contains a solid fuel-burning appliance. By understanding how interconnected


systems work and why they should be specified in large-scale developments, electricians can help to protect those living and working in high-rise buildings - while giving their business a boost at the same time.


Honeywell www.homesafety.honeywell.com


/ ELECTRICALENGINEERING


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