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.
Your Fire Safety Risk Assessment, which should be completed by a competent Fire Risk Assessor, will establish the category of Warehouse Fire Alarm System you will need. The category of Fire Alarm System will tell how much coverage is required.
Effective fire detection has many difficulties in warehousing and only an advanced smoke detection method can handle the particular needs of the environment. It can be hampered by many circumstances including high ceilings, endless rows of storage racks and crowded loading bays.
Some of the challenges to early Fire Detection in Warehouses are:
- Smoke Dilution (open spaces, high ceilings)
- Smoke Dispersion (HVAC, Natural Ventilation etc)
- Smoke Stratification (Poor Insulation, Solar Radiation, etc)
- Smoke Obstruction (Racks, Conveyors, AVS, AMRS, ETC)
The most common Fire Alarm Systems installed in warehouses are Point Detection, High Sensitivity Smoke Detection, Beam Detection & OSID Smoke Detection.
Point Detection is the most common and often the cheapest option form of Fire Detection for small warehouses. Smoke detectors are sensitive and can be installed in any environment where smoke, dust or steam would not normally be present. One limitation of point smoke detectors is that they cannot be fitted above 10.5 meters.
High-Sensitivity Smoke Detection (Aspirating Detection) is the most sensitive smoke detection system available. HSSD systems comprise an air sampling unit (ASU) from which red air sampling pipework is routed throughout the protected area.
Air is continuously drawn via apertures in the pipework to the ASU which uses laser technology to analyse the air quality. At the commissioning stage, the programmable threshold levels are set giving the facility a pre-alarm warning at the first threshold and a full alarm at the second threshold.
Applications for HSSD include very high bay warehousing, environments which are subject to extremes of temperature, e.g., cold stores, and areas with rapid air movement such as air conditioning plenum chambers.
Beam Smoke Detection is an extremely effective and efficient means of providing smoke detection to large open areas. Each beam detector provides a continuous line of detection across the protected area and initial installation and ongoing maintenance is simpler than alternative forms of detection. The latest generation of beam detection has been designed to overcome the traditional problems associated with this form of detection.
The beam detector incorporates a motorised head which automatically self-aligns when commissioning and then continually corrects alignment to compensate for building movement. Each respective beam detector is connected to a controller which is typically installed at an accessible height for ongoing user and engineer control.
Beam detection is an extremely effective and efficient means of providing smoke detection to large open areas. Each beam detector provides a continuous line of detection across the protected area and initial installation and ongoing maintenance is simpler than alternative forms of detection.
OSID Smoke Detection is an advanced type of beam detection. It consists of an emitter and a receiver. OSID utilises InfraRed and Ultraviolet light beams to provide superior detection of all smoke and greatly reduces false alarms in large open spaces.
OSID Smoke Detection offers significant benefits including:
- With a maximum detection length of up to 200m, OSID smoke detection is suitable for many applications such as shopping malls, atria, warehouses, concert halls and theatres, transport infrastructure, heritage applications and long corridors.
- UV and IR make OSID smoke detection resistant to birds, insects, reflections from nearby surfaces and airborne dust and it can operate in all lighting conditions. OSID’s use of a multi-pixel CMOS imaging chip with a wide viewing angle means it has excellent building movement and vibration tolerance without the use of moving parts or motor drives. Optical filtering, highspeed image acquisition and intelligent software algorithms also enable OSID smoke detection to provide new levels of stability and sensitivity with greater resistance to variations in lighting.
- OSID smoke detection can successfully be applied in areas where limited free space restricts the use of normal beam detectors such as through roof support lattice work, above gantry cranes, ductwork. OSID smoke detection can transmit it’s UV and IR beam through a gap as small as 20 cm.
VoidAlert™ is another great solution from Fixfire® and can be found in all kinds of industrial applications where conventional forms of Fire Detection are unsuitable.
From a design perspective, it is difficult to predict the amount of detection required and invariably, providing access for ongoing maintenance is a challenge.
VoidAlert™ heat sensitive sensor wire is installed through the protected area between the VoidAlert™ Remote Indicator and VoidAlert™ Test Point. The Test Point is typically installed in an accessible location to facilitate ongoing engineer maintenance.
The VoidAlert™ Test-Point’ incorporates a key switch with ‘normal’ and ‘test’ positions. Operation of the key switch tests the system for both ‘Open Circuit’ and ‘Fire’ conditions. In order to fault test the sensor-wire, the ‘test’ mode key position is selected, and a simulated fire signal is generated to activate the Fire Alarm System. VoidAlert™ can be interfaced with all types of Fire Alarm Systems including conventional and addressable.
Fixfire® widely installs all kinds of Detection in industrial and warehousing applications including HSSD (High Sensitivity Smoke Detection) e.g. for protection of high bay warehousing, Flame Detection for dust-laden or hazardous areas and Gas Detection to detect gas leakage in manufacturing processes.
Got a question about Fire Alarms Systems for Warehouse? Need a Fire Safety Risk Assessment? 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 08000891999
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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