Power supplies for residential fire alarm.

[Tom Sutton]

I received the following enquiry recently.

I was wandering if you could help me. I live in a Housing Association property in North Wales. I'm trying to discover what the rules are about powering fire alarms.

At the moment, my fire alarm is powered through my electricity meter, so every time we run out of electric, and we are not about to activate the "emergency" £5, the fire alarm is run on battery power.

I was wandering if this is legal, or whether or not it complies with BS5839 pt 6. We recently had the electric company over to replace our old card fed meter with a key fed meter, but he said he couldn't change the meter as the fire alarm was powered through it. So, we contacted the housing association, and they sent an electrician around, but he said everything was ok, and that is how it should be.

So, I’m really confused as to how it is meant to be powered, either via a dedicated meter, or whether it is ok to be powered via the card meter.

I see no problems providing the battery has a 72 hour duration and consider it satisfactory but can I have the experts view just in case I have missed something.

[FSO]

Assuming this is a grade D system there should not be a problem with this. As you say, providing there is 72 hour back up.

If this was a grade A or B system, then it is a no no. It does specifically mention card operated meters in 5839pt6.

Jay

[Graeme]

Part 6 does mention that they should not be used for Grade A and B sytems

[Dinnertime Dave]

Sorry I think there is more of an issue here. doesn`t the report into the Harrow Court fire mention this problem?

Any new build or refurbishments we deal with we always recommend any electrically operated fire safety items should run off the building supply. Nobody ever disagrees when the reasons are explained.

[wee brian]

As I recall the 72 hours was specifically to allow for the situation where the meter runs out on Friday evening and the occupants dont get round to recharging their payment key until Monday.

I dont think the HC installation met this spec.

[Chris Houston]

I think it is wrong to assume that people with power meters will be so quick to top them up.  It they had spare cash, they would probably avoid running out in the first place as the emergency credit costs more than the normal credit.

[Tom Sutton]

Thank you all for your input, much appreciated, but in the enquiry I saw two questions,

1. I was wondering if this is legal, or whether or not it complies with BS5839 pt 6.
2. How it is meant to be powered, either via a dedicated meter, or whether it is ok to be powered via the card meter.

My interpretation according to BS5839 pt 6 was, it did comply with the BS and a dedicated meter was not required. Also card meters are acceptable other than for grade A and B systems.

I do not disagree with any of the comments made however I do not understand what a HC installation means.

[Allen Higginson]

I received the following enquiry recently.

I was wandering if you could help me. I live in a Housing Association property in North Wales. I'm trying to discover what the rules are about powering fire alarms.

At the moment, my fire alarm is powered through my electricity meter, so every time we run out of electric, and we are not about to activate the "emergency" £5, the fire alarm is run on battery power.

I was wandering if this is legal, or whether or not it complies with BS5839 pt 6. We recently had the electric company over to replace our old card fed meter with a key fed meter, but he said he couldn't change the meter as the fire alarm was powered through it. So, we contacted the housing association, and they sent an electrician around, but he said everything was ok, and that is how it should be.

So, I’m really confused as to how it is meant to be powered, either via a dedicated meter, or whether it is ok to be powered via the card meter.

I see no problems providing the battery has a 72 hour duration and consider it satisfactory but can I have the experts view just in case I have missed something.

Most,if not all,of the association properties that I mainatin are self contained flats with a fire alarm zoned to cover the communal areas and each flat.The mains is derived from the landlords supply which covers the communal lighting,door access system etc.
Is this an actual fire alarm system or is it mains smokes with battery back up (which people still call their fire alarm) which are installed in the houses of previously mention association - if it's the latter then it's not relevant  provided the battery is up to it.

[Tom Sutton]

I have further information.

1. The flat is a maisonette, and we are on the 1st floor (we live above a community centre).
2. It is self contained.
3. It is occupied by me and my partner only; there are no other families here.
4. The floor area is around 50sq m.
5. The whole building it two floors, but our flat is the upper floor, and except for the attic/loft (which is not used), none of the floors are above 4.5m above ground level.
6. I would estimate that the age of the building is no more than 10 years old.

My assessment would be it is a group D system which conforms to the ADB in force at the time and meets the requirements of BS 5839-6:1995. If I am right then the situation is satisfactory.

[Tom Sutton]

Thanks for all your comments.