How Fire Alarm Design Supports Milton Keynes Buildings

Fire alarm systems are designed before they are installed, so the decisions made beforehand are crucial. A good design for a fire alarm system will allow for effective detection, a safe evacuation and minimal false alarms.

Choose the Right Alarm Category

The BS 5839:2017 Fire Alarm Systems Code of Practice also recommends the classification of fire alarm circuits into various categories, from L1 Life protection (automatically activated throughout the whole building) to L5 Life protection (manually activated only) and M for manual-only activation. A system designed to L3 will protect only the means of escape and is expected to be automatically activated throughout the protected area(s). However, a responsible person may fail to identify potential inadequacies of such a system.

Match Detectors to Each Area

Heat detectors are usually more suitable for kitchens and locations with plants than smoke detectors as they are less likely to activate from nuisance alarms due to steam or dust. Optical smoke detectors are typically best for areas with sleeping occupancy or large open plan areas as they are better at detecting slow developing fires, or smouldering.

Map Your Zones Carefully More on Fire alarms Milton Keynes can be found at //isefireproducts.co.uk/fire-alarm-systems/milton-keynes/.

Zones should be designed so that each forms a single floor or area, and therefore the panel fault display will give a rough idea of where a fault area is. This is particularly important as the first few minutes of a fire are critical, and must be used to evacuate the area of fire as quickly as possible.

Link Alarms to Other Building Systems

Fire alarms that Milton Keynes engineers fit are often linked into other building systems. For example access control, lifts and ventilation systems that control ventilation to name but a few. The crucial point about these systems is that they need to be tested as part of the overall commissioning of the fire alarm system. They are not ‘extras’ that can be added and then tested independently.