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Health & Safety Directorate

Fire Alarm Systems – Technical Note 2

Installation and Design GuidanceResidential Buildings

(Ref: QM_HS_063)

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction.......................................................................................................3

2.0 Statement of Intent...........................................................................................3

3.0 Design Standards.............................................................................................3

4.0 General Requirements......................................................................................5

5.0 Design Issues – Fire Detection Category and Type.........................................5

6.0 Design Issues – Fire Alarm Panels..................................................................6

7.0 Design Issues – Manual Call Points.................................................................7

8.0 Design Issues – Sounders................................................................................7

9.0 Design Issues – Facilities for Hearing Impaired...............................................8

10.0 Design Issues – Fire Resistant Cabling............................................................8

11.0 Design Issues – Fire Alarm Batteries...............................................................9

12.0 Design Issues – Marking & Indicating of Fire Alarm Devices...........................9

13.0 Design Issues – Ceilings, Ducts, Voids and Variation Certificates...................9

14.0 Design Issues – Door Holders, Fire Dampers & other Automatically Released

Equipment.......................................................................................................10

15.0 Design Issues – Provision of Audible & Visual Warning at Internal Building

Boundaries – Connected to the Fire Alarm System.......................................10

16.0 General Commissioning Requirements..........................................................10

Appendix 1................................................................................................................13

QM_HS_063_ Fire Alarm Systems-Technical Note 2- Installation and Guidance-Residential BuildingsStatus: Live – October 2013Author: David Scott 2

1.0 Introduction

The following document is for the benefit of all parties concerned in the specification, design, installation, commissioning and handover of fire alarm systems in any building housing residential accommodation that is part of Queen Mary University of London’s demise. The maintenance of all Queen Mary University’s existing fire alarm systems, although not explicitly addressed in this guidance note, should be carried out under the instruction of the relevant campus maintenance manager and in accordance with: BS 5839: Part 1, 2002 + A2:2008:2013 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings – Part 1: Code of practice for system Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises.

This document outlines industry guidance and best practice and a general overview of Queen Mary’s fire safety objectives when installing fire detection. This should ensure communality of systems that all new & refurbished systems meet the College’s required fire alarm standard.

2.0 Statement of Intent

2.1 The provision of a means of giving warning to workplace building occupants and students in residences in the event of a fire is a legal requirement. The provision of automatic fire detection (AFD) provides warning to occupants who may be asleep and benefits property protection. In some instances it may act also as a compensatory feature for a lack of fire protection or where an extended travel distance may be present within a building. Therefore, the design, complexity and cost of a fire alarm system, including both capital and ‘whole life’ maintenance costs, will need to be considered carefully in the project design phase.

2.2 The following information will be of assistance to design consultants, project managers and contractors employed by Queen Mary, University of London or its agents. It is to be regarded as a general statement of requirements and is in addition to any British Standard recommendation or other instructions received from either the local fire service or building control authorities and college insurers. All contractors must be issued with a ‘Permit to Work’ by the relevant College Project, Maintenance Manager and/or Residential Building Manager.

3.0 Design Standards

3.1 Fire detection systems for all residential buildings where a sleeping risk is present should be designed, installed and commissioned in accordance with BS 5839: Part 1: 2013 and all relevant devices, control and indicating equipment and power supplies shall meet the relevant guidance in the BS EN 54 series. It is a mandatory requirement of this college that the company appointed to design, install, commission and maintain all fire alarm systems in any Queen Mary building, is not only competent to do so but can demonstrate their competence by way of a 3rd party certification scheme. Two such


Introduction

Statement of Intent

Guidance

schemes that Queen Mary University will accept is the British Approvals of Fire Equipment (BAFE) SP203 scheme or the Loss Prevention Council LPS1014 scheme.

3.2 Unwanted Alarms – Queen Mary University is committed to reducing unwanted fire alarm signals in all of its building’s and have several initiatives in place such as fitting protective covers to detectors and changing detection from smoke to fixed heat during construction or other works which could cause an alarm. More information can be found in the document Fire Safety Guidance for Project Managers. All those responsible for Project Management, should ensure that provisional sums, resources and time are provided to employ the Universities’ appointed fire alarm maintenance company to undertake this task before any construction works commence in any building. This procedure of covering devices and changing to heat detectors is not advisable in buildings where there is a sleeping risk and in all instances college Fire Safety Advisers should be consulted in the first instance to research alternative solutions. Subsequently, fire alarm system designers are to take considerable care to ensure that their fire alarm design proposal continues to reduce unwanted fire alarms. This can be achieved through thoughtful consideration and understanding of room/space function where the detection is to be provided and an appreciation of the common causes of fire alarm activations in a residential environment primarily occupied by young adults; such as cooking, showering, aerosols etc. This will help substantially to reduce the potential for unwanted alarms. In addition to the design principles outlined in BS 5839: Part 1, 2002 + A2:2008:2013 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings – Part 1: Code of practice for system Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises Section 3: Limitation of false alarms, the design principles below should be followed without exception.

3.3 Currently, Queen Mary University adopts a single stage, simultaneous evacuation procedure across all buildings, including residential sleeping accommodation, and every activation results in fire service attendance via external fire alarm monitoring stations. However each newly installed or refurbished fire alarm system should have the following capabilities;

1. The activation of one multi sensor bedroom detector via smoke obscuration will result in local sounder(s) activating in the whole flat to warn occupants of that flat. This will generate a pre-alarm signal to allow for an investigation to be carried out but the signal will not activate the sounders in the rest of the building unless:

the bedroom multi sensor detects heat gain as well as the previous smoke obscuration, or

there is further obscuration of the head, or a second detector activates (any type), or any manual call point is activated.

If this pre-alarm is not acknowledged on the buildings fire alarm panel within an agreed time frame then the system shall enter full fire alarm mode that results in all sounders activating and the fire service being summoned.


Guidance

2. The activation of one multi sensor bedroom detector (and problem detectors located outside bathrooms/kitchens for example) via smoke obscuration will result in the base sounder activating in the bedroom only. The buildings fire alarm sounders will be inhibited as per BS EN 52-2 Type A dependency. After an agreed timeframe e.g. 60 seconds, the fire alarm panel will automatically reset the device. If further obscuration or heat is detected after the 60 second period on the same device or another device is activated elsewhere i.e. double knock, either within the 60 seconds or afterwards then the full building fire alarm will activate.

Note; the operating principle for each fire alarm system and the method of signal transmission of the pre-alarm conditions are to be agreed with Buildings Management and College Fire Safety Advisers during the design consultation stage.

. 4.0 General Requirements

4.1.1 All new fire alarm systems provided in College properties must use standard equipment and open protocols to ensure communality of systems, efficient maintenance, control of software and engineering access. No other fire alarm panels or systems will be acceptable unless written permission from Queen Mary University of London’s Electrical Maintenance Manager and/or Residential Building Manager and a member of the College Fire Safety Team is obtained.

Loop Capacity- In accordance with good engineering practice all addressable system loops should be designed so that numbers of devices on each loop is limited to ensure there is approximately 20% spare capacity on each loop. This will allow for a degree of flexibility were significant design changes occur to the building.

5.0 Design Issues – Fire Detection Category and Type

5.1 The design fire safety objective for all Queen Mary University of London’s residential buildings fire alarm systems is life safety, giving the earliest possible warning of fire to all occupants in the building. This will enable occupants to leave the building before any fire outbreak can become established and prevent escape. To achieve this, automatic fire detection is to be provided in all escape routes, bedrooms, kitchens and any other room or area that poses a high fire risk. Subsequently, all new and refurbished fire alarm systems that are to be installed in any residential building are to meet a minimum standard of BS 5839 Part 1 2013 - Type L2/M and a maximum standard of Type L1/M provision for automatic fire detection. The extent of L2 coverage required should be identified during the design phase and in consultation with college Fire Safety Advisers.

5.2 Only fire detection equipment and peripheral devices manufactured and tested by Apollo Fire Detection Ltd are to be used for all new fire alarm systems. This will ensure commonality of systems across all Queen Mary University of London Estate.


Guidance

5.3 Details can be found at: www.apollo-fire.co.uk

All new fire alarm systems will be hard wired; however, there may be some instances in which wireless systems need to be adopted. .Written confirmation is to be provided by the relevant maintenance manager and College Fire Safety Advisers where necessary.

The designer should, in all cases, follow Queen Mary University of London’s design objectives detailed below in addition to the principles and guidance provided in BS 5839 Part 1 (Para 21.1.7. & 21.2.). The fire alarm system design process must involve a building survey and a visual inspection of every area to be covered to ensure the correct type of detection is provided.

Only Apollo XP95 ‘Optical’ Smoke Detectors should be used in escape routes. All detectors in escape routes should be located as remotely as possible from the kitchen and communal shower doors. In some cases it may be necessary to provide an additional detector in the escape route to ensure there is no smoke detection located beside the kitchen and communal shower room doors. Only Apollo XP95 fixed heat detectors are to be provided in each kitchen.

All manual call points should be located within each cluster flat adjacent to the exit door and not in the central staircases. All final exit call points in the central staircases should be located in consultation with Fire Safety Advisers and may require a “screamer device and cover”.

Apollo Discovery multi-sensors are to be used in every bedroom and be programmed to meet the local conditions by selecting the mode 4.

Mode 4 – Least sensitive setting using both Heat & Smoke monitoring and reacting at around less than 5% obscuration of the optical head – this is the recommended setting for all bedroom accommodation.

All multi sensors that are to be installed in bedrooms should be ceiling mounted and located as remotely as possible from any fitted en-suite to mitigate the risk of an alarm by steam, whilst still within the recommendations of BS 5839 Part 1 2013.

6.0 Design Issues – Fire Alarm Panels

Only Fire Alarm Panels which use Open Protocol and have been agreed with the Estates Electrical Maintenance Manager must be used. All but very small systems should be fully addressable. The following fire alarm panel manufacturer should be considered in the first instance as they are currently the only manufacturer to provide advanced software programming that can meet the Colleges’ Unwanted Fire Alarm Reduction strategy:

Advanced Electronic Ltd (See: www.advel.co.uk)


Guidance

http://www.advel.co.uk/

http://www.apollo-fire.co.uk/

Generally, the panel should be compatible and capable of using and switching between all modes of Apollo detection heads including XP95 and Discovery using alarm confirmation facilities. In addition, where necessary, have adjustable ‘time to alarm’ and be programmable to meet local conditions.

7.0 Design Issues – Manual Call Points

7.1 The following Manual Call Points (MCPs) or equivalent standard should be used for all systems:

Apollo XP95 KAC Alarm Company Limited

8.0 Design Issues – Sounders

There must be a single tone throughout the building. After any changes to the fire alarm system involving the sounders, the resulting tone must be matched to existing. Experience has found that it is necessary to have higher sounder levels to motivate some students to evacuate. Therefore, Queen Mary, University of London requires a higher level of audibility than that quoted in BS 5839 Part 1 2013. As such the average sounder noise level throughout the building should meet or exceed;

75 dB (A) in all accommodation areas including the bed head.

However, the noise level within the staircase can be maintained at 60 dB (A).

Consideration should be given to further reducing the sounder noise levels in the vicinity of the installed fire evacuation lifts and Disabled Refuge areas to enable two-way communication. This can only be done following a risk assessment and after consultation with the College Fire Safety Advisers. If this facility is required, then a ‘variation certificate’ can be issued.

The following standard sounders should be considered in the first instance:

Apollo – loop driven sounders or equivalent which should have a defaulted setting of 90+dB (A)

Fulleon – further information at: www.cooperfulleon.com

Standard 8” or 10” ringing bells, where appropriate.

Project Managers, Consultants and Contractors should consider contingency funds from the project to be available at pre-contract, to ensure that additional sounders can be installed at commissioning should the sound pressure coverage fall below acceptable levels in any particular area.


Guidance

http://www.cooperfulleon.com/

At the commissioning of the system (regardless of the size of installation), a sound pressure check MUST be carried out, with sound levels being recorded on a log sheet. The log is to be submitted with the ‘Commissioning Certificate’. Any shortfall is to be addressed by installing additional sounders in the area.

Visual Alarms – Visual alarms are to be provided (visual flashing Red strobe lights or LED technology) in the following locations only:

Any noisy environments such as plant rooms/roof plant rooms etc. Where disabled or hearing impaired persons may use communal

facilities, such as common rooms, kitchens, WC’s and shower rooms. In designated flats identified by Queen Mary for use by hearing impaired

persons the bedroom, en suite and communal kitchen. To identify and locate the main Fire Alarm Panel particularly in property

with identical frontage and where there is more than one entrance

9.0 Design Issues – Facilities for Hearing Impaired

9.1 Queen Mary, University of London has a specific policy and procedures for accommodating people with disabilities. Please discuss with the Disability and Dyslexia Service and the College Fire Safety Advisers. It will not be necessary to provide blanket coverage of a building with supplementary visual alarms due to the on-going installation of Deaf Watch systems in all residential buildings.

10.0 Design Issues – Fire Resistant Cabling

10.1 All cables used in the installation of Fire Alarms Systems, are to meet the requirements of BS 6387 and 7629 in design, construction and installation.

10.2 All cables shall be coloured Red, unless there are overriding aesthetic reasons for white to be used. Special attention is to be paid to the terminating of cables to ensure that earth faults are eliminated.

10.3 The following cables should be used in all instances:

FP 200 Gold

MICC cabling is required where routes provide mission critical signals, or pass through high risk or vulnerable areas (as required under BS 5839 Part 1:2013).

10.4 Fixing – All fire alarm cabling is to be fixed to the structure of the building in a cable tray or cable management system, using metal ties only and usually fitted at 1m intervals. No other fixing method is acceptable. Where such cable runs penetrate fire resisting walls and floors, fire stopping should be applied in accordance with the ASFP Red Book using 3rd party certified products and installed by 3rd party accredited companies.


Guidance

11.0 Design Issues – Fire Alarm Batteries

11.1 It is strongly recommended that standby batteries for fire alarm systems in residential buildings should last for a minimum of 60 hours and not the as specified 24 hours in the British Standard. This will ensure the system can fully operate and provide warning of fire over the weekend period were a power failure to occur.

12.0 Design Issues – Marking & Indicating of Fire Alarm Devices

12.1 Labelling – All fire alarm devices are to be permanently marked, using suitable adhesive labels, to indicate the device zone and address number.

12.2 Identification – Where remote or hidden detectors/devices are placed in voids, ducts or above ceilings, a suitable LED repeater indicator is to be provided in a logical, adjacent location and suitably labelled specifying: type of device: address number and remote device location.

13.0 Design Issues – Ceilings, Ducts, Voids and Variation Certificates

13.1 Ceiling Voids – Generally, where a void is 800mm deep or more it is only to be provided with appropriate automatic fire detection (irrespective of category of system) where the designer has identified a fire risk as part of the building survey, in accordance with BS 5839: Part 1 2013 22.2 Note 4. Examples of such risks would be: electrical panels/generators, electrical heating systems, electrical components excluding insulated wiring, or anything the system designer identifies as being a risk. This is to seek to ensure that any outbreak of fire does not spread uncontrollably from one area to another (due to a lack of fire compartmentation) before the alarm is raised. A variation certificate should be issued by the fire alarm designer in these cases.

13.2 Voids – Any void where automatic fire detection is provided must be fully accessible and not obstructed and access panels must be available directly below the detector. These should provide a clear vertical path to allow maintenance and a testing pole to be used.

13.3 Ducts – Any duct where automatic fire detection is provided must be fully accessible and not obstructed, to allow for maintenance of the head. Access panels must be provided directly below the detector to allow maintenance and a testing pole to be used.

13.4 Variation Certificates – Any variation must be agreed by all relevant parties, be it as a result of a risk assessment by a competent person: either a 3rd party accredited fire alarm designer or College Fire Safety Adviser, and communicated to Queen Mary by way of a variation certificate. This certificate must detail all variations from the standard BS5839 Part 1 2013, the reason for the variation and which party(s) requested the variation i.e. the user, the designer, installer etc.


Guidance

Two common examples that will result in Queen Mary seeking a variation certificate from the fire alarm designer are:

The requirement for detection in voids over 800mm in height to be risk assessed and blanket coverage is not to be provided.

Lobbies over 1m² with no significant fire risk do not need detection unless a risk assessment indicates otherwise.

14.0 Design Issues – Door Holders, Fire Dampers & other Automatically Released Equipment.

14.1 Where security Access Control Systems are to be installed in a building, it will be necessary for them to be interfaced with the fire alarm system so that all doors on escape routes locked by access control fail safe on fire alarm activation. This interface must not be connected to the sounder circuit of the system. Further details can be obtained from the Colleges’ Fire Safety Team and/or the London Fire Brigade.

15.0 Design Issues – Provision of Audible & Visual Warning at Internal Building Boundaries – Connected to the Fire Alarm System.

15.1 Where there is an adjoining building boundary it will be necessary to provide visual and audible warning signs connected to each building’s fire alarm system. This is to give warning that the building a person is entering is in fire alarm situation.

16.0 General Commissioning Requirements

Design, Installation, Commissioning and College Acceptance Certificates.

16.1.1 The provision of the appropriate design, installation and commissioning certificates containing information based on the ‘Model Certificates’ shown in BS 5839 Part 1 2013 Annex H, are to be provided by the appropriate parties. Copies of the certificates are to be issued as following:

All original certificate(s) are to be placed in the Operational & Maintenance (O & M) Manuals.

A copy of each certificate to be issued to the Electrical Maintenance Manager.

A copy of each certificate to be issued to the Queen Mary Fire Safety Team

A copy of the variation certificate if appropriate to be issued as above.

16.1.2 Design Certificate – is to be provided in all cases by the Design Contractor on completion of the design stage of the fire alarm.


Guidance

16.1.3 Installation Certificate – is to be provided in all cases by the Installing Contractor of the fire alarm system, on completion of the installation stage.

16.1.4 Commissioning Certificate – Is to be provided in all cases by the Commissioning Contractor (if different from the installing contractor) on completion of the testing and commissioning stage of the fire alarm.

16.1.5 Client Acceptance Certificate (Queen Mary, University of London) – This is to indicate that the client has witnessed the fire alarm system in operation and that they have accepted the system that has been installed as being capable of giving warning of fire, meets all other design objectives and that a “Soak” period has been carried out. The fire alarm system’s operation should be witnessed on site by the following College personnel/key stake holders, whose contact details can be found in Appendix 1;

Relevant Project Manager(s) Relevant Maintenance Manager(s) Relevant Maintenance Operatives as required Representative from Security Management Fire Safety Adviser(s)

This witnessing process will include witnessing certain cause and effects, such as:; ensuring the panel addressing is clear and correct, panel operation, grounding of lifts, activation of refuge systems, supply and extract systems shut off, motorised dampers closing, audio visual shutting down, operation of fire shutters, doors on access control and/or powered open devices failing safe in the open position (list not exhaustive).

This certificate, which can be found in Appendix 2, should be provided by the relevant Project or Maintenance Manager, issued and signed by all College personnel who have been present, with any comments or recommendations from each key stake holder. This certificate should then be placed in the O+M manuals. On completion of any remedial works identified, the Acceptance Certificate can then be provided to the Commissioning Contractor.

16.1.6 Only on completion of the ‘Acceptance Certificate’ witnessed by a College nominated person:

may a new system become the primary ‘warning in case of fire’ for the building; or,

(where the fire alarm system has been replaced/upgraded etc.) may the old system be switched off and decommissioned. The new system may then become the primary ‘warning in case of fire’ for the building.

16.1.7 Where an addressable fire alarm system is provided, the programming of the device address must be done so as to ensure that its location accurately matches the panel reading to prevent confusion by staff, contractors or the Fire Brigade in locating the device. Subsequently, the following information as a minimum should be programmed to be displayed on the panel for each device;


Guidance

Device number; 001, 002, 003 etc. Device type; MCP/SD/HD/MS/CV etc. Device location; bedroom number, room/area description etc. Loop number; 1,2,3, etc. Zone number, 1,2,3,4,5 etc.

16.1.8 Designers and/or commissioners are also to provide a cause and effect chart in electronic format that details the following (not exhaustive):

Shut down of M+E unless essential to protect critical plant/equipment.

Shut down of Gas Solenoid Valve (GSV)

Operation of any safety equipment such as fire curtains/smoke barriers

Operation of any further fire safety related equipment such as smoke

vents

Open or closure of any installed and interfaced fire dampers, especially

those that effect the means of escape

Hold-open devices or power open doors relayed to the fire alarm system

that affect the means of escape from the building or the comparmentation

of the building

The effect on electronically locked doors

16.1.9 As built drawings and zone chart information is to be supplied as part of the commissioning of the fire alarm system as follows:

Clear fire alarm zone information in ‘A4 Word’ format, is to be provided in a suitable ‘clip frame’ position adjacent to the fire alarm panel. This is to provide quick reference to incident location.

‘As Installed’ drawings are to be provided on hard copy A1 sheets and an electronic AutoCAD 2004 Version format scale of 1:50, 1:100 or 1:200 as appropriate.


Guidance

Appendix 1

Queen Mary University Acceptance Certificate for the fire alarm system at:

…………………………………………………………………………………

Campus:

Mile End

Whitechapel

Charterhouse Square

West Smithfield

Other

I/We being the competent person(s) appointed by Queen Mary University of London accept the fire alarm system and have witnessed its operation and its ability to raise the fire alarm in the aforementioned building.

As a competent person, appointed by Queen Mary University of London, I can confirm that; (fire safety adviser to complete)

All installation work appears to be satisfactory (visual only).

The system is capable of giving a fire alarm signal and has been witnessed.

All doors fitted with access control and/or power open devices fail safe in the open position.

The facility for remote transmission of alarms to an alarm receiving centre appears to operate correctly (delete if not applicable).

I confirm that this fire alarm system is considered acceptable to be used to provide the primary means of raising the alarm in the event of fire in the aforementioned building?

Yes

No


Appendix

Name (in block letters): …………………………………………………………………………………..Position: ……………………………………………………………………………...........Signature: …………………………………………………………………………………..Date: …..………………………………………………………………………………

It is recommended that the following work/comments/remedial works should be addressed by the fire alarm contractor before the system can be fully accepted by Queen Mary University of London:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The following documents and instruction has been provided to the relevant Queen Mary University Project or Maintenance Manager; (PM or MM to complete):

A hard copy of and an electronic AutoCAD compatible copy of the ‘As fitted” drawings’.

Operating and maintenance instructions including panel type and operation

The associated fire alarm panel keys and reset codes have been provided.

Sufficient representatives of the users have received training on the fire alarm system to include silencing and resetting of the system and the avoidance of false alarms.

Certificates of design, installation and commissioning.

A log book (if requested by Queen Mary Estates Department)


Appendix

Name (in block letters): ……………………………………………………………………………………Position: ……………………………………………………………………………...........Signature: …………………………………………………………………………………..Date: …..………………………………………………………………………………

The following persons were present during the on-site fire alarm demonstration;

1. …………………………………………………………………………………

2. …………………………………………………………………………………

3. …………………………………………………………………………………

4. …………………………………………………………………………………

5. …………………………………………………………………………………

6. …………………………………………………………………………………

7. …………………………………………………………………………………

8. …………………………………………………………………………………

9. …………………………………………………………………………………

10. …………………………………………………………………………………


Appendix

Document Control

Initial Data

Author: Mr David Scott

Position: Fire Safety Adviser

Checked by: Mr Dennis Browne

Position: Fire Safety Manager

Approved by: Marion Richards

Position: Director of Health and Safety

Status: Live

Date of Issue: March 2013

Version number Date of alteration and re-issue

Details of Changes Changes made by

1 October 2013Review and changes made to whole document David Scott

2 February 2016 Filepath changed from QMUL_OHSD_FS021

Darren Mulkerrins-Ford


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