FIRE ALARM SYSTEM TYPES

There are two general types of fire alarm

systems in use, these are
1. Conventional (traditional)
2. Addressable type
 FIRE ALARM SYSTEM TYPES
Conventional System
Conventional fire alarm systems use simpler technology and are suited to
smaller applications where they are more cost effective than an
addressable system.
A conventional fire alarm system may use fire detection zones, which are
usually represented by LEDs on the control panel. Each zone identifies a
specific area of the building in order to speed up the location of a fire.
Each zone is made up of a group of Automatic Fire Detectors and Manual
Call Points. In the event of a fire being detected either automatically or
manually, the system control panel will then operate the alarm.
In this type of system the physical wiring dictates the zoning and the
detector decides if its a fire condition or not.
 FIRE ALARM SYSTEM TYPES
Addressable Fire Alarm System
Addressable fire alarm systems, and their corresponding
control panels, are more advanced than their conventional
counterparts and offer a higher degree of programming
flexibility and single point detection.
The system can be configured to provide a wide range of
flexibility, with components controlling a variety of
devices. This works by each device in the system having its
own address, allowing the control panel to monitor and
control the state of each individual device connected to it.
 FIRE ALARM SYSTEM TYPES
Conventional Addressable
Lower initial equipment costs. Easier to install.
Defined location of fire/alarm More system status
not provided at the panel or information at the panel and
central station central station.
Can be easier to program. Input/Output programming
Limited expansion capability. much more flexible.
Usually much more room
available to expand
 Alarm Initiating Device

Alarm Initiating Device

These are the devices intended to
respond to any number of detectable physical
changes associated with fire convected
thermal energy.
 Alarm Initiating Device
1. Smoke Detector
A smoke detector is a device that senses smoke, typically as an indicator
of fire. Commercial security devices issue a signal to a fire alarm control
panel as part of a fire alarm system, while household smoke detectors,
also known as smoke alarms, generally issue a local audible or visual
alarm from the detector itself.
Two Basic Types
a. Photoelectric - It uses a photocell coupled with a specific light source.
It is basically a smoke detector chamber which causes an alarm signal
whenever a smoke enters the detector resulting to disrupts the light
beam inside the device.
b. Ionization It works whenever an invisible product of combustion
enters the chamber which leads to decrease the current between ve
and + ve plates thereby initiating a signal. It generally responds faster to
flaming fires versus smoldering fires.
 Alarm Initiating Device
2. Flame detector
A flame detector is a sensor designed to detect and respond to the
presence of a flame or fire. Responses to a detected flame depend on the
installation, but can include sounding an alarm, deactivating a fuel line
(such as a propane or a natural gas line), and activating a fire suppression
system.
Three Basic Types
a. Ultraviolet light (UV) It works by detecting the UV radiation emitted
at the instant of ignition. .
b. Infrared (IR) It monitors the infrared spectral band for specific
patterns given off by hot gases. It requires the flickering motion of a
flame
c. UV/IR - These detectors are sensitive to both UV and IR wavelengths,
and detect flame by comparing the threshold signal of both ranges. This
helps minimize false alarms.
 Alarm Initiating Device
3. Heat Detector
A heat detector fire alarm device is designed to respond when the
convected thermal energy of a fire increases the temperature of a
heat sensitive element.
Two Basic Types
a. Fixed temperature heat detectors It is the most common type
of heat detector. Fixed temperature detectors operate when the
heat sensitive eutectic alloy reaches the eutectic point changing
state from a solid to a liquid.
b. Rate-of-Rise (ROR) heat detectors It operates on a rapid rise in
element temperature of 12 to 15F (6.7 to 8.3C) increase per
minute, irrespective of the starting temperature.