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Fire Detection and Alarm System Basics
Fire Detection and Alarm System Basics
Fire Detection and Alarm System Basics
System Basics
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
A key aspect of fire protection is to identify a developing fire emergency in
a timely manner, and to alert the building's occupants and fire emergency
organizations.
This is the role of fire detection and alarm systems. Depending on the
anticipated fire scenario, building and use type, number and type of
occupants and criticality of contents and mission, these systems can
provide several main functions:
Second, they alert building occupants to a fire condition and the need to
evacuate.
They may also shut down electrical, air handling equipment or special
process operations, and they may be used to initiate automatic suppression
systems.
Fire Detection Principles
Manual Fire Detection - Pull Stations
Manual fire detection is the oldest method of detection. In the
simplest form, a person yelling can provide fire warning. In
buildings, however, a person's voice may not always transmit
throughout the structure. For this reason, manual alarm stations
are installed. The general design philosophy is to place stations
within reach along paths of escape. It is for this reason that they
can usually be found near exit doors in corridors and large
rooms.
2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.43.21 Spot Type Detector. A device in which the detecting
Element is concentrated at a particular location. Typical examples are
Bimetallic detectors, fusible alloy detectors, certain pneumatic rate-of-rise
Detectors, certain smoke detectors, and thermoelectric detectors.
Fire Detection Principles
Automatic Detectors – Photoelectric
2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.181.4 Light Scattering Smoke Detection. The principle of
using a light source and a photosensitive sensor arranged so that the rays from
the light source do not normally fall onto the photosensitive sensor. When smoke
particles inter the light path, some of the light is scattered by reflection and
refraction onto the sensor. The light signal is processed and used to convey an
alarm condition when it meets preset criteria.
Fire Detection Principles
Automatic Detectors – Photoelectric
In the normal case, the light from the light source on the left shoots straight
across and misses the sensor.
When smoke enters the chamber, however, the smoke particles scatter
the light and some amount of light hits the sensor.
A – Light Source
B – Photo Sensor
Fire Detection Principles
Automatic Detectors – Ionization
Ionization smoke detectors use an ionization chamber and a source of ionizing radiation
to detect smoke. This type of smoke detector is more common because it is inexpensive
and better at detecting the smaller amounts of smoke produced by flaming fires.
Inside the ionization detector is a small amount (perhaps 1/5000th of a gram) of Americium-
241. The radioactive element americium has a half-life of 432 years, and is a good source of
alpha particles.
An ionization chamber is very simple. It consists of two plates with a voltage across them,
along with a radioactive source of ionizing radiation.
2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.181.2 Ionization Smoke Detection. The principle of using a small amount of
radioactive material to ionize the air between two differentially charged electrodes to sense the
presence of smoke particles. Smoke Particles entering the ionization volume decrease the
conductance of the air by reducing ion mobility. The reduced conductance signal is processed and
used to convey an alarm condition when it meets preset criteria.
Fire Detection Principles
Automatic Detectors – Ionization
Ionization Smoke detectors
The alpha particles generated by the americium have the following property: They ionize the
oxygen and nitrogen atoms of the air in the chamber. To "ionize" means to "knock an electron off
of." When you knock an electron off of an atom, you end up with a free electron (with a negative
charge) and an atom missing one electron (with a positive charge). The negative electron is
attracted to the plate with a positive voltage, and the positive atom is attracted to the plate with a
negative voltage (opposites attract, just like with magnets). The electronics in the smoke detector
sense the small amount of electrical current that these electrons and ions moving toward the
plates represent.
When smoke enters the ionization chamber, it disrupts this current -- the smoke particles
attach to the ions and neutralize them. The smoke detector senses the drop in current between
the plates and sets off the horn.
Fire Detection Principles
Automatic Detectors – Heat/Thermal
Heat detectors are the oldest type of automatic fire detection device. They began
development of automatic sprinklers in the 1860s and have continued to the present
with proliferation of various types of devices.
Heat detectors that only initiate an alarm and have no extinguishing function are still in use.
Although they have the lowest false alarm rate of all automatic fire detector devices, they
also are the slowest in fire detecting. A heat detector is best situated for fire detection in a
small confined space where rapidly building high-output fires are expected, in areas where
ambient conditions would not allow the use of other fire detection devices, or when speed
of detection is not a prime consideration.
Heat detectors are generally located on or near the ceiling and respond to the convected
thermal energy of a fire. They respond either when the detecting element reaches a
predetermined fixed temperature or to a specified rate of temperature change. In general,
heat detectors are designed to operate when heat causes a prescribed change in a
physical or electrical property of a material or gas.
2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.43.9 Heat Detector. A fire detector that detects either
abnormally high temperature, or rate of temperature rise, or both.
2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.43.18 Rate-of-Rise Detector. A device that responds when the
temperature rises at a rate exceeding a predetermined value
Fire Detection Principles
Automatic Detectors – Combination
Combination detectors contain more than one element which responds to fire. These detectors
may be designed to respond from either element, or from the combined partial or complete
response of both elements. An example of the former is a heat detector that operates on both
the rate-of-raise and fixed-temperature principles. Its advantage is that the rate-of-rise element
will respond quickly to rapidly developing fire, while the fixed-temperature element will respond
to a slowly developing fire when the detecting element reaches its set point temperature. The
most common combination detector uses a vented air chamber and a flexible diaphragm for the
rate-of-rise function, while the fixed-temperature element is usually leaf-spring restrained by a
eutectic metal. When the fixed-temperature element reaches its designated operating
temperature, the eutectic metal fuses and releases the spring, which closes the contact.
2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.43.4 Combination Detector. A device that either responds to more than
one of the fire phenomena or employs more than one operating principle to sense one of these
phenomena. Typical examples are a combination of a heat detector with a smoke detector or a
combination of rate-of-rise and fixed temperature heat detector. This device has listings for each
sensing method employed.
Fire Detection Principles
Automatic Detectors – Flame
A flame detector responds either to radiant energy visible to the human eye (approx.
4000 to 7700 A) or outside the range of human vision. Similar to the human eye, flame
detectors have a 'cone of vision', or viewing angle, that defines the effective detection
capability of the detector.
With this constraint, the sensitivity increases as the angle of incidence decreases.
Such a detector is sensitive to glowing embers, coals, or flames which radiate energy
of sufficient intensity and spectral quality to actuate the alarm. Each type of fuel, when
burning, produces a flame with specific radiation characteristics. A flame detection
system must be chosen for the type of fire that is probable. For example an ultraviolet
(UV) detector will respond to a hydrogen fire, but an infrared (IR) detector operating in
the 4.4 micron sensitivity range will not. It is imperative therefore; that a qualified fire
protection engineer is involved in the design of these systems, along with assistance
from the manufacturer's design staff.
2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.43.8 Flame Detector. A radiant energy-sensing detector that
detects the radiant energy emitted by a flame.
2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.43.16 Radiant Energy-Sensing Fire Detector . A device that
detects radiant energy, such as ultraviolet, visible, or infrared, that is emitted as a
product of combustion reaction and obeys the laws of optics.
Fire Detection Principles
Automatic Detectors – Flame
Due to their fast detection capabilities, flame detectors are generally used only in high-
hazard areas, such as fuel-loading platforms, industrial process areas, hyperbaric
chambers, high-ceiling areas, and atmospheres in which explosions or very rapid fires
may occur. Because flame detectors must be able to 'see' the fire, they must not be
blocked by objects placed in front of them. The infrared-type detector, however, has
some capability for detecting radiation reflected from walls.
2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.43.15 Projected Beam-Type Detector. A type of photoelectric light
obscuration smoke detector wherein the beam spans the protected area.
2007 NFPA 72, 3.3.181.3 Photoelectric Light Obscuration Detection. The principle
of using a light source and a photosensitive sensor onto which the principal portion of
the source emission is focused. When smoke particles enter the light path, some of the
light is scattered and some of the light is absorbed, thereby reducing the light reaching
the receiving sensor. The light reduction signal is processed and used to convey an
alarm condition when it meets preset criteria.
Fire Detection Principles
Automatic Detectors – Air Sampling
(1) Initiating device circuits and signaling line circuits that transmit an alarm or
supervisory signal, or notification appliance circuits that allow all connected
devices to operate during a single open or a nonsimultaneous single ground
fault on any circuit conductor, shall be designated as Class A
(2) Initiating device circuits and signaling line circuits that do not transmit an
alarm or supervisory signal, or notification appliance circuits that do not allow
all connected devices to operate beyond the location of a single open on any
circuit conductor, shall be designated as Class B
2007 NFPA 72, 6.4.2.2. An open or ground fault condition shall result in the
annunciation of a trouble signal at the protected premise within 200 seconds as
required in 4.4.7
Class B Circuits
4.7K
EOLR
•Conventional
•Addressable
•Analog Addressable
Conventional Systems
Conventional control panels range in size from 1 zone
to over 100 zones.
Zones typically consist of some or all of the initiating
devices in an area or floor of a building.
Some control panels zone capacity is expandable
while others are not, limiting its usefulness if a facility
adds additional buildings or rooms.
Conventional Systems
Zone 1
4.7K
EOLR
Zone 2
FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE
FACP SILENT KNIGHT SILENT KNIGHT SILENT KNIGHT SILENT KNIGHT SILENT KNIGHT
NAC 1 4.7K
EOLR
SILENT KNIGHT
NAC 1 4.7K
EOLR
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE!
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
NAC #1
4.7K
4.7K
EOLR
RJ RJ
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
SILENT KNIGHT
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
003
(Fan Shutdown) FIRE!
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
RJ RJ
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown) 003
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
FACP Addressable
Relay Module
003
(Fan Shutdown) FIRE!
NAC #1
4.7K
EOLR
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
SMOKE DETECTOR
FRONT DESK
POINT 006 A=061 < Replay
NORMAL F=189
Analog Addressable Systems
Addressable
Addressable Addressable Input Module Addressable Addressable
Heat Sensor Smoke Sensor (Waterflow) Pull Station Smoke Sensor
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
HEAT DETECTOR This analog value corresponds
MECHANICAL ROOM to the amount of heat or
POINT 001 A=062 smoke in that detectors area
NORMAL F=190 of coverage. Higher = more.
Analog Addressable Systems
Addressable
Addressable Addressable Input Module Addressable Addressable
Heat Sensor Smoke Sensor (Waterflow) Pull Station Smoke Sensor
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
HEAT DETECTOR If the analog value exceeds
MECHANICAL ROOM the alarm threshold, an alarm
POINT 001 A=062 occurs. This alarm threshold is
NORMAL F=190 calculated by the panel.
Analog Addressable Systems
Addressable
Addressable Addressable Input Module Addressable Addressable
Heat Sensor Smoke Sensor (Waterflow) Pull Station Smoke Sensor
004
001 002 006
005
Addressable
Relay Module 003
(Fan Shutdown)
10K
EOLR
NAC #1
INPUT MODULE Input/output modules do not
WATERFLOW relay analog values to the
POINT 004 A=N/A panel as they are monitoring
NORMAL F=N/A or controlling on/off devices.
Analog Addressable
Features
An analog addressable control panel is capable of
several enhanced features not available on conventional,
and some addressable systems.
Drift Compensation / Maintenance Alert
210
Range (.5% - 4% per foot obscuration)
180 that U.L. requires, to be listed as a
150 smoke detector.
120
90
60
30
210
On the other side of the graph, the range
180 of analog values for the detector is
150 plotted. In this case the range is 0-255.
120
90
60
30
60
30
30
90
Calibration Curve
60
30
60
30
90 Maintenance
60 Normal
30
30
30
30
30
30
90 Maintenance
60 Normal
30 < Replay
.5% 1% 2% 3% 4% per foot obscuration
Communication Protocols
Digital
Comparing Protocols
Addressable
Addressable Addressable Input Module Addressable Addressable
Heat Detector Smoke Detector (Waterflow) Pull Station Smoke Detector
004
001 002 006
005
003
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
24v
looking for voltage rather
than the length of a pulse.
0 0 0
Digital Protocol
Even if a source of
interference causes
rounding off of the digital
pulses the voltage is still
1 1 1 1
24v
present for the panel to
determine the digital
0 0 0
value.
Digital Protocol
Digital protocol panels do
not typically require
special cabling since
interference does not
1 1 1 1
24v
pose any substantial
signal problems.
0 0 0
Retrofits can be done
using existing cable.
Non-digital Loop Response
When an alarm occurs on many non-digital protocol
systems, some panels must continue polling until it
reaches the alarming device, before an alarm is initiated.
Larger systems with hundreds of points can cause
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
003
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
003
FIRE!
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
003
FIRE!
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
003
FIRE!
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
003
FIRE!
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
003
FIRE!
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
003
FIRE!
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
ALARM
POINT 001 ALARM!
HEAT DETECTOR
15-Jan-00 3:10 PM
Non-Digital Loop Response
Addressable
Addressable Addressable Input Module Addressable Addressable
Heat Detector Smoke Detector (Waterflow) Pull Station Smoke Detector
FIRE FIRE
004
001 002 SILENT KNIGHT
006
005
003
FIRE!
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
004
001 002 006
005
003
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
004
001 002 006
005
003
FIRE!
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
004
001 002 006
005
003
FIRE!
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
004
001 002 006
005
003
FIRE!
Addressable
Relay Module
(Fan Shutdown)
ALARM
POINT 001 ALARM!
HEAT SENSOR
15-Jan-00 3:10 PM
THE END