High risk areas
a fire and a medical alert (more information about this is available in the case study on page 30).
EN 54 system
The Fire Protection Association’s (FPA’s) Fire Prevention on Construction Sites: Joint Code of Practice (JCOP) (9th edition) reinforces the need for construction site fire alarms to be BS EN 54-25 compliant. This essential reference document advises that ‘components of automatic fire detection and alarm systems should be marked as complying with EN 54 (paragraph 13.8)’. Wireless fire alarm systems incorporate manual call points that can be activated by anyone, or automatic heat /smoke detectors that provide 24/7 coverage even when the site is vacated at nights and weekends.
EN 54 compliant wireless fire alarm systems
which incorporate a medical alert facility enable a person to easily raise an alarm from any of the call points without prompting a complete site evacuation. The technology incorporates an optional inspection delay, so that site managers have the time to establish if a false alarm has been raised. This feature can also be used to organise a staged evacuation process.
Another positive feature of this type of
technology is that it gives site managers a pre alarm function, allowing them to turn off the alarm sounder on other stations and enable a lower level alert without triggering a full evacuation. An isolation test mode allows individual call points to be tested without the need for a full system alarm. A range of units make up the system,
including call points, interfaces, heat detectors, dust resistant smoke detectors, links and a base station. When specifying these kinds of fire and medical alert systems, they should be compliant with key safety standards, including HSG168, the Structural Timber Association guidelines and the FPA’s JCOP, and installed to meet BS 5839.
Wired vs wireless
Using an EN 54 wireless fire alarm and medical alert system that is designed specifically for construction sites has the principal benefit of avoiding the need for specialist trades to install fixed wire cabling. That makes placing the fire and medical alarm call points a much quicker and simpler process – there is no need for wires, and an unlimited number of units can be paired wirelessly with just a few button presses.
FOCUS
www.frmjournal.com DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019
29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
