BS 5839 & Sheltered Schemes

[Tadees]

In BS 5839 it mentions that one way of alerting residents in the flat of fire origin to evacuate quickly is by use of detectors linked to the communal fire detection & fire alarm system but such a system does not readily facilitate filtering of false alarms by an ARC.  There is an audible signal in the flat, but not in the common parts or any other flat.

Questions
1. What is the point of the detectors in the flat being linked to the communal system if there is no audible signal in the common parts?
2. Why does such a system not readily facilitate filtering of false alarms by an ARC?
3. If filtering of false alarms is not facilitated by such a system why would a sheltered scheme adopt it and why is it in the BS?

[colin todd]

Q1  The simplicity of having a single commercial type (a la BS 5839-1) system throughout the premises, instead of a mixed system with a communal fire alarm system/ domestic smoke alarms.  Simpler to maintain, test etc.
Q2 Normally the ARC does not get the addressable info, so don't know what flat the signal is coming from.  They simply get a single signal saying its Happy Valley Housing Scheme.  How can they filter? there is no one to talk to and no means of communicating with anybody anyway.  The caveat "normally" is inlcuded because you could do it (albeit not very elegantly) by putting an addressable relay in each flat and connecting that to the social alarm system.  They then get the signal and can filter, in which case no need for the flat detectors to trigger the communal system ARC tx.
Q3 See question 1.  It is a free country (primarily because comrade Corbyn is about to be discarded to the same sheltered housing as Michael Foot where every day will be a Saints day holiday).  If people want to do things a different way, a BS should not stop them so long as the objective is achieved.

[Tadees]

Thanks Colin.  Much appreciated.