Raft Lighting incorporating detection

[Cullenloon]

Dealing with a school that wishes to have a "FOIL" lighting system installed.

The production company is a reputable firm:
www.whitecroftlighting.com/datasheets/Foil.pdf

In the pamphlet, page 15, they advertise its capability to have detectors and fire alarm systems installed into the raft fitting. They also state they have fitted this system into "many" schools. I have concerns regarding the abilty of smoke detectors functioning as required in such a fitting.

Has anyone dealt with this lighting system in a school incorporating detection or other fire alarm components?

Many thanks in advance
CL

 

[John Webb]

I've not seen this equipment in use but both diagrams and photos show detectors mounted on the underside of the suspended 'Foils'. This would mean that without detectors on the ceiling proper and unless the fire was under one of the foils there would be delayed detection until the area above the foils had filled. If the ceiling was very high (ie as in older schools) this delay could be excessive.

I can also see potential problems with the heated type causing odd airflows which might deflect combustion products away from detectors.

The same comments also apply to sprinklers.

Possibly need to invoke the 'ceiling void' rule for detection and sprinklers if the gap between the 'foils' and the ceiling is of that order or more? Also possibly for sprinklers the need for sprinklers under the foils if their width forms an obstruction to ceiling-mounted sprinklers?

[David Rooney]

If the foil is greater than 600mm from the ceiling then the fitting of smoke detectors or heat detectors won't comply.

It seems to me another one of those very poorly thought through products the firm has obviously researched and decided there is a market, that architects may love, electrical firms will install and fire alarm engineers will get left carrying the can having to explain to the "design team" why their preferred lighting option doesn't comply.

[Mike Buckley]

Surely the point must be that the siting of the detector heads must comply with BS 5839. If it does comply by being mounted on the foils fine, if it doesn't, then they must be sited elsewhere. Simples