Qatar Civil Defence Particular Requirement QCDFSS-6.

3
Approved Products

Mimic Panels Plan Submission Details

With the increasing numbers of fire alarm systems installations and the myriad of types of systems available on the market, in Sept 2007 the QCD perceived the need for uniform application of the requirements for the provision of fire alarm systems and issued QCD FSS 6.3 This Particular Requirement addresses the need for providing fire alarm systems and clearly defines what types of systems are required for each type of occupancy.

It establishes the code against which compliance will be checked and defines parameters and limits for the installation of devices. It also addresses the needs of fire fighter and first responders. Where Fire Alarms Systems are prescribed either by Table 1 or by the NFPA101, it is a requirement that these systems also provide information for Fire Fighters.

Table 1

Table 1 lists in the left hand column the various types of occupancies and their height. The 2nd column lists the limiting floor area where each type of system is required.

Examples Single Storey Residential buildings regardless of their size do not require a fire alarm system. If the building has up to 4 storeys and a foot print of 400 m2 or greater, then as a minimum a manual fire alarm system is required. Residential buildings up to the high rise limit require a manual alarm system regardless of the size of its foot print.

High Rise Residential buildings require an automatic and manual fire alarm systems system. Other Occupancies are dealt with in a similar fashion considering the proposed occupants, the height of the building and the floor area all of which affect the number of occupants and their ability to flee a possible fire.

Fire Alarm Systems Designs and their configurations are required to conform to the NFPA 72. These codes in turn require components to be listed for the service they are intended.

The QCD implements a Product Approval system that ensure fire alarm products sold and marketed in Qatar do meet minimum performance standards.

The testing standards mentioned in the NFPA codes are American standards such as ASTM and ANSI however the QCD does accept other internationally recognized performance standards such as BS, EN and German VDS. All products relied upon for fire life safety must not only have been tested for performance but shall also carry Product Certification from a recognized certification agency acceptable to the QCD to ensure that what was tested is what is actually delivered and installed in Qatar.

QCD requires Mimic Panels to provide simplified information for fire fighters responding to call outs. Every fire alarm system shall have a mimic panel that shows graphically the layout of the protected property and it shall indicate using illuminated red LED's the source and location of the alarm.

The types of alarm required to be indicated on the Mimic Panels shall are Sprinkler Flow Switches, Automatic Detectors and Manual Call Points.

The intention of these mimic panels is to simplify the transmission of basic information to the fire fighters to get them quickly to the location of the alarm. Subject to the size and or complexity of each floor, Mimic Panels may be required on each floor. Where the floor area is less than 1,000m2 a zone chart without the indicating LED's is permitted. The location of devices shall be shown on this chart.

Fire Alarm Systems Plans submitted to the QCD for approval As part of the Building Permit Process must be submitted in accordance with Fire Safety Handbook No. 1

Pages 16 and 17 clearly specify the details that are required to be shown on the plans.