Fire alarm systems

[BLEVE]

Would be the first to admit have little enough knowledge on this subject but would like to know more?

[Clevelandfire 3]

What would you like to know?

[BLEVE]

Everything Cleveland

[Chris Houston]

You should read British Standard 5839 Part 1.  It is quite easy to read.

[Mike Buckley]

I think Seimens still run one day events at the Moreton on fire alarms which are free and include lunch, also the FIA run courses on Fire Alarm systems.

There are probably others.

[Galeon]

I would see if you could latch onto an engineer locally to you and see it from the front end

[BLEVE]

Cheers
Mike, Chris & Galeon

[AnthonyB]

Worth also subscribing to the forum on firealarmengineers.com as well.

[Wiz]

Would be the first to admit have little enough knowledge on this subject but would like to know more?

Bleve, if you have very little knowledge of fire alarms, like most things, the subject cannot be covered with just a couple of pages of explanation.

If you search the internet you will find masses of information regarding the basics of fire alarm systems. There is also much you can find by searching old Firenet posts although some of these may be a bit in-depth for beginners. As previously suggested www.firealarmengineers.com is where most of the fire alarm engineers live these days after drifting away from Firenet.

You also need to first make yourself au fait with the terminology used within the industry and what you can understand from the descriptions of that terminology.

I would suggest that you make sure you first have an understanding of what is meant by:

four-wire systems
three-wire systems
two-wire systems
non-addressable (or conventional) systems
addressable systems
cie
mcp
awd
automatic detection (various types)

In my opinion only then should you attempt to read BS5839 Part 1 (although it does contain a useful list of Terms and Definitions that may help with the above.)

Once you have a better idea of the basics and terminology come back with some specific questions and there will surely be people here willing to answer them

[AnthonyB]

It was a lot easier when things were conventional & I used the Manuals of Firemanship Book9 and a handy Home Office workbook to get my basic knowledge many moons ago.

Now it can be quite complex (just read some of the posts on firealarmengineers.com!).

The level of knowledge you need depends on what you need to do. I couldn't install, programme and fully service a system, but I can assess and specify the cover required and spot some of the more obvious non conformities (which always aren't the same as things that make the system unable to meet the legal requirements of the site) as well as identify older systems.

It helps to have a good engineer as a partner in this stuff and I have someone who I use for queries, estimating (which is important to clients) and the more intricate derails of design and flaw finding.

[colin todd]

Note to Moderator: would it be alright to plug my book. LOL

[kurnal]

I very much doubt it Colin. Exactly which book would you be referring to?

[colin todd]

You know, Big Al, the excellent reference work on fire alarms and their design, installation, commissioning and maintenace in accordance with BS 5839-1, as opposed the companion book I wrote on BS 589-6, or the one I co-authored on voice alarm systems, or the one i wrote as a general guide on fire safety, known as a comrehensive guide to fire safety, all available from BSI via their website, along of course with PAS 79, none of which I would plug on this site.

[kurnal]

none of which I would plug on this site.

I am glad to hear it.

I just dont see why anyone, having forked out £150 for  BS5839-1 should then wish to part with even more readies to read a book about it - after all they already know the ending?

It reminds me of those books we used to have at our (English) school that told us how we should interpret the great classics. I preferred to make up my own mind. Or does your book set out to unravel some of the hidden meaning and background to the recommendatons? Like why 4 seconds? Why not 2 or 7?

[jokar]

Colin,

You've written books!  Are they in English?