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Fire alarm and detection systems
sounders have to sound different to grade D units, with different tones used. Where there are hard of hearing residents, other methods of raising the alarm are needed, such as a visual unit or tactile systems including ‘vibrating pillows’. In terms of siting the detectors in dwellings, they should be placed between bedrooms and other rooms, 300mm from walls and light fittings.
Room size restrictions are
addressed by wall mounted detectors, which can only cover rooms less than 10m long or wide and with an area of less than 50m2
.
Ceiling obstructions must also be taken into consideration, with an obstruction rule applied for 10% of the room height.
Certification, testing and servicing Mr Lawrance referenced the ‘good certificates to use’ within the manual’s annexes, including annex D for designing, installing, commissioning and accepting grade A systems; and annex E for grade C, D1, D2, F1 and F2 models. He recommended that even if the actual certificates weren’t used, it was ‘important to still use the wording and put it into your own format’. A range of standards should be
adhered to for different elements of the system, including: • smoke alarms – BS EN 14604: 2005: Smoke alarm devices
• heat alarms – BS 5446-2: 2003: Fire detection and fire alarm devices for dwellings. Specification for heat alarms
• multi sensory fire detectors: • BS EN 54-29: 2015: Fire detection and fire alarm systems. Multi-sensor fire detectors. Point detectors using a combination of smoke and heat sensors
• BS EN 54-30: 2015: Fire detection and fire alarm systems. Multi-sensor fire detectors. Point detectors using a combination of carbon monoxide and heat sensors
• BS EN 54-31: 2014 + A1: 2016: Fire detection and fire alarm system. Multi- sensor fire detectors. Point detectors using a combination of smoke, carbon monoxide and optionally heat sensors
• BS EN ISO 14604: 2016: Fine ceramics (advanced ceramics, advanced technical ceramics). Methods of test for ceramic coatings. Determination of fracture strain
• BS 5446-2: 2003: Fire detection and fire alarm devices for dwellings. Specification for heat alarms
• smoke alarm systems for the deaf or hard of hearing – BS 5446-3: 2015: Detection and alarm devices for dwellings. Specification for fire alarm and carbon monoxide alarm systems for deaf and hard of hearing people
He added that ‘generally’ if a unit does not have a BS EN number on it, then it can be deemed non compliant, as it has had no third party testing, with those having a unit allowing for assurance that ‘the system has gone through testing’. He referenced the new table added in the 2019 revision for testing and servicing, which has the different system grades, type of detection and alarm system, and a wide range of other testing and servicing information.
24 JUNE 2020
www.frmjournal.com
This includes test frequency,
actions to be taken, service frequency by a competent person, the servicing procedures undertaken by said competent person, the records held from the property, and the battery change recommendation. Using a grade D system as an example, this would require a monthly test, operated by button on all units. If these are linked, only one need be tested in order to check all the other alarms. Testing a different unit every month with grade C and F systems, the same was recommended by Mr Lawrance, while grade A systems require a weekly test, and annex H provides a model certificate for the inspection and servicing for all systems.
Guidance and cladding Available guidance on fire alarms, as well as evacuation strategies and warning systems in such blocks and sheltered and supported housing, was also explored. He cited Approved Document B of the Building Regulations, the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Fire safety in specialised housing, and the Local Government Association’s Fire safety in purpose built blocks of flats. He shared his own experience
of having seen temporary fire alarm systems installed in blocks of flats ‘in which cladding does not satisfy the requirements of building regulations in relation to fire spread over external walls’, and made the important point that those involved in installation or building management
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