Angus has been involved in developing and writing British and International Fire & Safety standards since the mid-1980s. The list of standards that he has participated in is impressive and includes BS5839-1, BS8629, EN54-18 and ISO7240-2. Angus utilises his extensive experience to provide an authoritative perspective on the key issues that affect the Fire & Security Industry today.
The decision to review the standard was based on concerns with respect to the reliability of radio systems being used in Evacuate Alert, ”EA”, systems; pressure from the FIA to reconsider the recommendation that EA systems should not be integrated with Fire Detection and Alarm, “FDA”, systems and questions raised with respect to the recommendations for networked EA systems. A number of other changes were made during the opportunity to review the standard.
These notes are drafted with respect to the final draft for approval to publish, issued by BSI in November 2022.
Changes
The following changes are listed in the order of the standard.
Title - the wording was rearranged to make it more consistent with other standards.
User - the term user was changed to ‘premises management’ where the reference was to the person or organisation having control of the building.
Forward - changes to ADB for England are noted, and the recommendation that EA systems are not integrated with other systems was reviewed but retained until such systems become better understood. The concern is that if the EA system could be triggered automatically, rather than under the control of the FRS, occupants of the flats could be put at undue risk.
Scope - a minor change was made to scope.
Normative references - were updated to reflect changes in the referenced standards.
Terms and definitions - the definition for ‘user’ was removed.
Consultation and definition of responsibilities - reference was made to the publication of BS 8644-1 recommending that the design, installation, commissioning and handover of the system should form part of the building information pack.
Variations - A recommendation was added that the impact operational functionality, or visual appearance, should not be subject to a variation. The following were also added. Variations identified during installation and commissioning should be recorded with a justification for subsequent approval.
Variations should be recorded in the relevant certificate and in the log book.
System Components, commentary - A reference to BS EN 54-13 was included, noting that it would be appropriate to use this standard to confirm compatibility of components for EA systems.
System components, recommendations - Visual EA devices complying with BS EN 54-23 were included as acceptable by way of a note.
A new recommendation was added that visual EA devices should be different from any other visual alarm devices with a flat.
Monitoring, integrity and reliability of circuits external to the EACIE - failure of a radio EA device should be indicated within 400s, and fault indications should continue to be displayed during an evacuation condition. This is to ensure that the FRS are aware of any device failures during evacuation.
System integrity - If external power supplies are located in areas that are accessible to unauthorised persons, the housing should comply with the same requirements as the EACIE.
Cables that connect the EACIE to external power supplies should be appropriately protected from vandalism or rodent attach. E.g. by the use of metal conduit.
EA sounders and audibility - The recommendation that voice messages are not used is explained and clarified in the commentary. The sound pressure recommendation of 60dBA in habitable rooms is clarified, that it relates to the situation with all doors closed.
Arrangements for disabled people - The recommendations were simplified, by removing the requirement to label any interface or terminals provided to assist in the subsequent addition of EA devices for the hard of hearing.
Siting of EA devices - A note was added, drawing attention to the fact that it might be appropriate to fit EA devices in non-domestic occupancy locations, such as a gym.
EACIE, commentary - clarification is given that for retrofit systems, tenants might not give permission to fit EA devices in their flat. This situation should be made clear at the EACIE to ensure that FRS is aware of devices that were not fitted.
EACIE, recommendations - A number of detailed cllarifications were made to the text, relating to: premises with multiple entrances, durability of the special label for the EACIE, reference to flats not provided with EA devices, that the event log should also record activations and key press operations, and interfacing to a social alarm system and remote monitoring of system status was included as permissible.
Networked systems - Originally networked systems were not included as it was considered that they were unlikely and therefore the recommendations were unnecessary. Feedback from manufacturers indicated that such systems might be desirable, so a section on networked systems was included, with particular attention given to the robustness of remote equipment and the reliability of interconnecting cable. Such cables should follow diverse routes or be at least suitably separated to minimise the risk of damage in the case of fire.
Cables, wiring and other interconnections - the reference to BS 4678-4 trunking was replaced with BS EN 50085-1.
Radio-linked systems - Concern that radio systems might not be sufficiently robust in the event of fire, was expressed by some in the fire detection industry. As a result this was investigated by contacting manufacturers of radio BS 5839-9 communication systems, which are considered to have a similar operational requirement EA systems. It was subsequently considered by radio experts that compliance with BS EN 54-25 offered a similar level of robustness, albeit expressed using different terms. A number of cautionary notes and recommendations were proposed and subsequently rejected by the committee on the basis that sufficient time for discussion had not been provided, and that the existing text was considered sufficient. Clarification was made, however, that the failure of a radio outstation should be given the same limitation as the failure of an EA circuit fault.
Commissioning and Handover - Documentation was updated to require that the address of each device was included and network schematic or node lists should be included, where appropriate. A reference to all long term maintenance consumables should be itemised and included in the handover pack.
Maintenance, inspection, testing and servicing - Clarification is given that weekly testing of the AE system is not appropriate. A reference to note 2 is added to the first recommendation. The frequency of annual inspections was relaxed to allow for 1 months tolerance either way. The EACIE controls should be checked for correct operation as part of the annual service.
Modifications to the system - An additional recommendation was added: if changes are made to the system such that the EA load is increased, the system should be operated in full load conditions and the output voltage should be confirmed as being at least 95% of nominal.
The clause titled User responsibilities was changed to ‘Premises Management’, and the opening sentence was amended accordingly.
Bibliography - references to BS 5839-6 and BS 5839-9 were deleted.
Consulting a Compliance Expert will ensure that you comply with the design, installation and ongoing maintenance requirements of a system.
Got a question about evacuation systems? Need help installing a Fire Alarm or Emergency Evacuation System? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 89199
Following the recommendations of BS5839 Part 1 2017 (Fire Alarm British Standard), it is a mandatory requirement to have an up to date, clear and accurate Fire Alarm Zone Chart adjacent to your Fire Alarm Control Panel and any repeater panels you have in your premises.
The purpose of the Zone Chart is to assist persons responding to an alarm to quickly identify the specific location in the building and to help the Fire Brigade understand the building layout before they enter.
When the Fire Alarm System is installed, the building is divided into Fire Zones. Any Manual Call Point (Red Box) or Fire Detector that is fitted will trigger a particular zone when activated.
The Zone Chart shows the division of each zone area with a ‘You are Here’ arrow to identify the position of the Fire Alarm Panel. The view of the building should be orientated in relation to the Fire Alarm Panel position to minimise confusion.
What is involved in producing a Zone Chart?
- Hard copy
- Or preferably AutoCAD (dwg) format
You have a legal duty of care to dispose of waste legitimately and safely via a licensed waste carrier. Failure to do so can result in prosecution, even if you have outsourced the disposal to a third party.
The Fixfire® Extinguisher Recycling Process is your reassurance that any Fire Extinguishers we remove from your premises have been disposed of in a safe and legal manner. 97% of each processed Fire Extinguisher is recycled.
Our contracted Extinguisher Recycling Unit (ERU) is a dedicated facility offering a service for the safe processing and recycling/disposal of fire extinguishers. The facility operates closely with the local Water Authority and the Environment Agency to develop safe, efficient and environmentally friendly processes, ensuring that ISO14001 certification is upheld.
Got a question about Fire Extinguisher Disposal? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
False Fire Alarms remain a huge concern within the education sector- interrupting already carefully scheduled, planned and well-prepared lessons or even causing major disruption and distress to exams.
Clearly, these false alarms cause significant inconvenience and disruption to students, staff, and visitors. They compromise everyone’s safety in the school and present a significant risk to the local community since the Fire Brigade will prioritise the school over other emergency callouts.
Solutions you should consider:
The first and most straightforward way is to use anti-tamper products.
Fixfire® supplies a wide range of solutions designed to protect Fire Alarm Devices from inadvertent damage or deliberate misuse/vandalism.
Products include:
- Local plastic cover flaps which attach directly to manual call points.
- The stopper consists of a clear, tamperproof, tough polycarbonate cover, frame and spacer that retrofits over a break glass call point. When lifted to operate the break glass unit, its optional battery powered integral sounder emits a piercing 96dB (at 1m). Immediate attention is drawn to the area and a prankster will either run or be caught!
- A range of steel web stoppers designed to protect fire detectors and warning devices. They are constructed from heavy-duty galvanised steel rod which is plastic-coated for durability and external use.
- A range of polycarbonate enclosures are available for the protection of devices such as fire alarm control panels and associated control equipment. The enclosures combine tough rugged construction with stylish design and offer excellent protection with a key lock for authorised access.
We also provide anti-tamper devices for fire extinguishers and associated products.
KeyCall® is a patented anti-ligature Fire Alarm and Access Control call point. It is designed to use the same key as the doors, providing simple operation for staff whilst eliminating nuisance activations by service-users.
KeyCall® has been developed by Fixfire® specifically for approved applications where standard versions would be vulnerable to abuse.
It is one of the best solutions for SEN schools and it is also compatible with a wide range of Conventional and Addressable Fire Alarm Systems.
Got a question about False Fire Alarms? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
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