Heritage premises AFD

[AnthonyB]

Fire alarm engineers site is temporarily down so I will ask here.....

A listed building used for offices, staff flats and weddings/conferences, needs a fire alarm upgrade due to insufficient AFD and only one call point (4 floors, multiple exit points!).

In some areas, mainly circulation areas, the ceiling decor & possible listing restrictions mean it may be both physically & legally difficult to place point detectors appropriately.

As the ceilings are highish, would a beam detector suit? I've heard use of aspirating systems as well, but there could be issues with the sampling pipework (& cost!)

[Bruce89]

My first action would be to try to seek from the appropriate bodies what precisely would be acceptable. I only say this as in your post you state "it may...".

[kurnal]

Yes I have dealt with a similar situation where beams have been used successfully. In my case they had to be sited some distance below the ceiling due to heritage considerations - but were accepted by all parties. However aspriating systems using capillary size sampling pipes have also been used in similar circumstances, also VSD was taking off a couple of years ago but not heard much about it of late.

[CWEENG]

Depending on what you mean by “physically & legally difficult” but could a radio system be an option?

[kurnal]

Theres a useful general guide here:-

http://www.systemsensoreurope.com/English/Guides/Beam_application_guide.pdf

[colin todd]

What is the ceiling height, Tony.

[AnthonyB]

About 4  to 4.5 meters for the corridors, the area around the grand stairs in the centre is about 9 or 10 from ground to a raised roof light at first floor.

I've suggested a hybrid system reusing the existing MICC cabled detection zones and the required additions as wireless if all wireless is cost prohibitive in the short term.

The site has a few headaches such as staff flats without independent access and the fact that whilst ample exit width is available for the numbers expected at events it involves doors hung the wrong way, but it makes for an interesting job! 

[kurnal]

it involves doors hung the wrong way, but it makes for an interesting job! 

Just had the same issues at your local Town Hall  you just have to give them the choice of solutions and let them decide which they can achieve. Not seen roof top walkways from window exits along the gutters six storeys up for a long time. I am used to heights but it spooked me. Served a Kurno prohibition on em.

[David Rooney]

About 4  to 4.5 meters for the corridors, the area around the grand stairs in the centre is about 9 or 10 from ground to a raised roof light at first floor.

I've suggested a hybrid system reusing the existing MICC cabled detection zones and the required additions as wireless if all wireless is cost prohibitive in the short term.

The site has a few headaches such as staff flats without independent access and the fact that whilst ample exit width is available for the numbers expected at events it involves doors hung the wrong way, but it makes for an interesting job! 

We've put hybrids in all sorts of listed jobs from theatres to Ambassadors Residences ..... work very well ...... Sterling do also make a wireless beam detector but haven't used it yet....