Central alarm monitoring

[Sherpa]

If you have a large site with multiple alarm panels reporting back to a single head end computer, what (if any) standards apply to the network and the head end computer?. As the computer is the principle 24/7 alarm annunciator should have 24 hour battery back up and how do you prove the integrity of the software?

[Big_Fella]

The computer, I assume is only used for reporting i.e. if there is an activation on a particular building it is only signaled through to the computer as a fire condition?

Is it used from here to them summons the brigade?  Or is this done locally at the panel of origin if at all?  Do each of the buildings have it's own fire strategy and fire marshall to ensure the building is evacuated?

Sorry for so many questions

[Sherpa]

It is a campus style arrangement and this computer is the only means of summoning the fire brigade when the buildings are unoccupied.

During working hours the staff use the telephone to summon the fire brigade and then the fire wardens supervise the evacuation.

[Big_Fella]

If it's the only was to summons the fire bridage when unoccupied, the first things I would expect is the integrity of the cabling to the computer.  It should be an enhanced fire resistant cable as it would be classed as a 'critical' cable.

The computer base systems are generally only used for reporting and viewing, and nothing really more than that.  If it is being used for other things i.e. signalling the brigade etc. it should have a ups system in place for such mains failure purposes as a minimum

[Sherpa]

Thanks Big Fella,

Does any body know what standards (BS5839 or BS61508?) should be applied to the integrity of the network and the computer.