Integration of sprinkler system to addressable fire alarm system

[kurnal]

I am devising a fire strategy for a conversion of an existing building to become a care home. Residential sprinklers to BS9251 and a bit will be installed as a compensatory feature for a number of  weaknesses in the design and layout of the old building.

The question concerns the integration of the two systems on the fire alarm panel to give the staff clear unambiguous information if a fire arises. The fire alarm and detection system will be analogue addressable to BS5839 part 1 2002 system category L1.

Sprinklers are critical to the fire safety of this building so I am suggesting that each of the five floors should have its own zone control valve and flow switch. I would like to configure the system such that when the sprinkler operates, each sprinkler zone will report to the fire alarm panel as a fire alarm zone in its own right and  will give address information that confirms the fire alarm and detection system alert.

For example if the fire is in room 120 on the first floor, I would like the fire alarm to report this in the normal way, then if the sprinklers operate for this to show on the fire larm panel as sprinklers operating first floor  as well as sounding the sprinkler control panel alarm .

Have I overlooked some technical reason (BS5839/ EN54 or BS9251) as to why this may be a bad idea?

[Big_Fella]

Very normal now to monitor individual zones of the sprinkler system onto the fire alarm system.  We are currently commissioning a fire alarm system in this way, in a care home, in which each floors sprinkler system is individually monitored and reports back to the fire alarm panel as an individual address on the system

[Wiz]

All sounds sensible Prof.

Just wire the flow switch to an input interface on to the addressable fire alarm system. When the flow switch operates it signals the interface and you can then obviously configure the operation of the interface to do whatever you need on the fire alarm system; ring bells, operate zone indicators show text message etc etc.

[colin todd]

Unnecessarily expensive. Better to spend the money on entertainment for the wrinklies. If the addressable fire alarm system operates and then the sprinkler pressure switch operates, what do you think the chance is that the sprinkler head that has operated is NOT on the same floor as the addressable detector???

[AnthonyB]

I've seen life safety installations where instead of integrating (other than to set off the fire alarm) they have a separate sprinkler valve monitoring panel that not only reports for fire but also monitors and displays faults, primarily that of the valve being shut, whereas I've seen installations where like your suggestion al alarm and fault functions are integrated with the fire alarm panel & the sprinkler system just has it's water motor gong and no separate panel.

There is no clear pattern as to which method is used where, seems to be down to the designers, BCO & FSO's whim in some cases - some people would prefer a separate 'at a glance' panel for the sprinklers

[Allen Higginson]

I maintain a site where the sprinklers are monitored via switch monitors but instead of just monitoring the flow switch it picks up tamper,air pressure and water flow - it can be right pain sometimes as sometimes the contacts of the sprinkler switches don't make.we have also had to fit timer relays set at thirty seconds to overcome drops in the water pressue causing false alarms.

[kurnal]

Thanks to all for your replies.
In answer to Colin yes on a direct application of BS9251 no zoning and an independent alarm from the sprinkler may fit the bill. However there are other reasons for going beyond the BS in this case. (structural, layout and management issues as PHE is not possible).

This does bring an opportunity to integrate the systems to work well together- and I believe the minimal costs of an extra four flow switches will improve the quality of the intelligence during the initial stages of an emergency for the benefit of the senior carer in charge, allow more effective monitoring of persons at risk  during an emergency evacuation and in the unlikely event of accidental damage to a head leading to unwanted discharge, the rapid mitigation of any damage and disruption that may arise. In the scheme of things the extra cost is not significant. 

   

[Wiz]

As Prof. K says the extra information provided for just a little extra cost may be beneficial.

[SeanW]

Hi, you may also like to monitor the sprinkler valves via an input interface for fault, i.e if the valve for whatever reason is closed it will send a fault signal to the fire panel reporting valve closed.

This in my opinion is a good way of monitoring your sprinkler system and providing important information to the client about the status of that particular sprinkler zone.

[Allen Higginson]

See 3 back - thats covered as well!

[Galeon]

If you are using a tank and pump arrangement , still go for a flow switch , pressure switches are a pain .
You shouldn't get any nuisance alarms of the flows , that was more of a tendency where you were towns mains fed directly.

As Buzz correctly said most interfaces you can slug via a dip switch to give you a slight delay , or do it at the panel , most of them can be programmed to do so.

Tamper is a must , as agreed.